Pennsylvania State Government

General Sites

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA Power Port)
  The official state site allows you to customize it as well as search.
  • Government Agencies
    Broken down by official, branch, agency, commission, etc. this is the easiest way to find a state agency.
• Recovery.pa.gov
  Pennsylvania expects to receive an estimated $16 billion from the federal government's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This Web site is a window for you to see first-hand how and where that money is being used to promote economic recovery in the commonwealth.
• ReadyPA.org
  A disaster preparedness site from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Includes information on pandemics for swine flu.
• Department of General Services
  Information about General Services, how to do business with the Commonwealth, and the state's current needs in construction, real estate and commodities.
  • Pennsylvania Manual
    Provides information on the Pennsylvania government structure and the state Constitution.
  • Pennsylvania's Surplus Property Programs
• Pennsylvania Bulletin
  The information included at this site has been derived directly from the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the Commonwealth's official gazette for information and rulemaking.
• Pennsylvania Code
  The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 34 Pa.B. 3852 (July 17, 2004). Information included at this site has been derived directly from the Pennsylvania Code, the Commonwealth's official publication of rules and regulations. Cite all material in the Pennsylvania Code by title number and section number. Example: 1 Pa. Code § 17.51. You can search or browse the code by category (education, environmental protection, health & safety, liquor, recreation, transportation, etc) or by county (charters of county, city, borough, etc)

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The Executive Branch

• Governor's Office
  Contains a biography, major news briefs and other communications, policy initiatives, information on staff.
• Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  information on Pennsylvania state parks and forests (including a guide to Pennsylvania trees); rails-trails; heritage parks; recreational sites in each county; topography and geology; DCNR grants; press releases and organizational information.
• Department of Education
  Information on K-12 Schools, Higher and Adult Education, Libraries, Education Reform Initiatives, and Teaching in Pennsylvania.
  • Commonwealth Libraries
  • Game Commission
    Conserves and manages wildlife diversity and their supporting ecological communities, and provides a diversity of recreational opportunities for consumptive and nonconsumptive wildlife users, on an equitable and sustained basis, for the benefit of present and future generations. You can buy hunting licenses on their website.
  • State System of Higher Education
    14 universities including Indiana University of Pennnsylvania and California University of Pennsylvania.
  • Department of Environmental Protection
    
  • Department of Health
    The state administers federally funded programs like WIC.
  • COMPASS
    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Application for Social Services
    This website offers a self-screening questionnaire that can tell you which social services you and the members of your household may be eligible to receive. Their online application lets you apply online for social services offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • Department of Revenue
    File income tax returns online.
  • Department of State: Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
    License Verification
    An online database that you can search by last name, first and last name, or by license number to verify that a professional is licensed to practice. You can also renew a license.
  • Department of the Treasury
    Includes Pennsylvania's Unclaimed Property Database.
    • The Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program
      Formerly known as the Tuition Account Program (TAP), the nowU Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program helps Pennsylvania families plan for and afford the future costs of education with two tax-deferred and tax-free state-sponsored 529 plans.

  • Public Utility Commission
    The Public Utility Commission regulates and supervises the rates and service of the state's public utilities, including electricity, water, natural gas and telephone. They also regulate taxis and other transportation vehicles.
  • State Civil Service Commission
    The Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission administers a merit system for state agencies having civil service employes and for local government agencies that have contracted the services of the Commission. It establishes conditions of employment to attract qualified persons of character and ability to the Commonwealth, and appoints and promotes them on the basis of merit and fitness
  • State Data Center
    the official source for population, economic and demographic data
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  The Legislative Branch

  • Pennsylvania General Assembly
    Find your state representatives for Pennsylvania House and Senate. Search or browse the state Senate and House bills.
    • Senate of Pennsylvania
    • Pennsylvania House of Representatives
  • Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus
    Provides information and news on current issues, members.
  • Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
    Top issues, news, session information.
  • Pennsylvania Senate Democrats
    Provides the latest news about what is happening in the state Senate from a Democratic perspective, as well an information on their major legislative initiatives. Audio versions of news is also available.
  • Pennsylvania Senate Republican News
    Information on Republican State Senators, news, committees.
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  The Judicial Branch

  • Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
    The official site of the Pennsylvania Courts.
  • Court of Judicial Discipline of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    The Court of Judicial Discipline has jurisdiction over all judicial officers in Pennsylvania, and must hear and decide formal charges which are filed against a judicial officer.