Several bills from the 2008 legislative session were signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell during the past two weeks, including the fiscal year 2008-09 budget, providing enhancements to K-12 programs encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and a measure to significantly expand the Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) tax incentive program.
Last week, Gov. Rendell signed SB 1412 into law enabling the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to designate up to 15 new zones, allow for expansion of existing zones, and extend the expiration dates of existing unoccupied parcels. The KOZ program was created in 1999 and provides state and local tax incentives to businesses that develop old industrial sites and underused areas. DCED also will receive $50.7 million in general funds from the FY 2008-09 budget for the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund -- $1 million less than last fiscal year and $15.1 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships Industrial Resource Centers, down from $15.2 million in FY08.
Lawmakers supported several of Gov. Rendell’s STEM proposal’s aimed at building a highly-qualified workforce. The following K-12 initiatives are slated to receive funding in the upcoming fiscal year: