Merit Institute Merit

The Pennsylvania Merit-Based Credentialing Act (PA-ACSA)

Pennsylvania state companion to ACSA. Extends 63 Pa. C.S. Ch. 31 (Occupational Licensing Universal Recognition), Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and 72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq. tax-credit programs.

THE PENNSYLVANIA MERIT-BASED CREDENTIALING ACT (PA-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Pennsylvania General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Labor and Industry / Finance / Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Pennsylvania Merit-Based Credentialing Act (PA-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Pennsylvania enacted universal occupational-licensure recognition under Act 41 of 2019, codified at 63 Pa. C.S. Ch. 31 (Sec. 3101 et seq.); that the Pennsylvania Department of State administers occupational boards under 63 Pa. C.S. and the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs; that the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) operates under 24 P.S. Sec. 20-2001-A et seq.; that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry operates under 43 P.S.; that Pennsylvania’s tax-credit programs under 72 P.S. (Tax Reform Code) include the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC); and that PAsmart grants support workforce development. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH PENNSYLVANIA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Pennsylvania Recognized Merit Credential” or “PARMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Secretary of Education in coordination with the PASSHE Chancellor under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means an agency issuing an occupational license under 63 Pa. C.S.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Pennsylvania Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 63 Pa. C.S. Ch. 31 (Universal Recognition).
  • 63 Pa. C.S. (occupational licensing).
  • 24 P.S. (education; PASSHE).
  • 43 P.S. (labor and industry).
  • 72 P.S. (Tax Reform Code).

TITLE II — PENNSYLVANIA RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the PASSHE Chancellor, shall maintain a Pennsylvania Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“PARMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) 71 P.S. (State Civil Service Commission) shall be applied so that a PARMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Pennsylvania statute.

TITLE III — TAX INCENTIVE FOR SKILLS-BASED HIRING

Sec. 301. Pennsylvania Skills-Based Hiring Income-Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to 72 P.S. Sec. 7301 et seq. equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Pennsylvania-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is a PARMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  3. (c) Department of Revenue administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting PARMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA and 63 Pa. C.S. Ch. 31.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect 60 days following enactment, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Pennsylvania bills: PA-MEWRA, PA-GT&P, PA-AI-Workforce.