PRINTER'S NO. 2779
No. 2044 Session of 1986
INTRODUCED BY VEON, MANDERINO, PIEVSKY, IRVIS, STEWART,
KUKOVICH, MICHLOVIC, CARN, OLIVER, KOSINSKI, ACOSTA, TRUMAN,
ROEBUCK, DOMBROWSKI, FEE, STUBAN, SALOOM, COWELL, GALLAGHER,
DeLUCA, CAPPABIANCA, BALDWIN, SHOWERS, PRESTON, COHEN,
FATTAH, LINTON, WIGGINS, JOSEPHS, BARBER, DEAL, GRUITZA,
COLAFELLA, PISTELLA, RUDY, ITKIN, WASS, FOX, COY, DURHAM,
PRESSMANN AND AFFLERBACH, JANUARY 27, 1986
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, JANUARY 27, 1986
AN ACT
1 Providing that certain funds received under the Federal Job
2 Training Partnership Act shall be used to provide support
3 services related to job training; providing for eligibility
4 for such services; and making an appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Training
9 Assistance Act.
10 Section 2. Statement of purpose.
11 It is the intention of the General Assembly that job training
12 opportunities be available to those who most need training in
13 order to obtain life-sustaining employment. The purpose of this
14 act is to ensure that individuals without adequate means of
15 support to meet their basic personal needs may receive support
16 services necessary to enroll in and remain in appropriate job
1 training programs.
2 Section 3. Establishment of needs-based payment fund by private
3 industry councils.
4 Each private industry council established pursuant to the Job
5 Training Partnership Act (Public Law 97-300, 96 Stat. 1322)
6 shall set aside a minimum of 5% of funds received under Part A
7 of Title II of the Job Training Partnership Act to establish a
8 fund to provide needs-based payments to individuals in
9 particularly vulnerable economic situations, in order that they
10 might fully participate in training programs available under the
11 Job Training Partnership Act sponsored by the private industry
12 council. Private industry councils shall be eligible to receive
13 State matching funds of $1 for every $2 of Job Training
14 Partnership Act funds set aside for needs-based payments. State
15 matching payments shall be applicable only to the first 5% of
16 the total Part A Title II Job Training Partnership Act funds set
17 aside for needs-based payments. Matching funds shall be used
18 solely for needs-based payments.
19 Section 4. Eligibility for needs-based payments.
20 (a) Needs-based payments for individuals without other
21 income.--Needs-based payments shall be provided to individuals
22 participating in training who do not have any other source of
23 income in an amount as close to, but not exceeding, the amount
24 of $8 a day for each day of training which they attend. These
25 payments are to help defray the costs of transportation and to
26 help the participant meet his basic needs while in training.
27 Each private industry council must assure that payments are
28 disallowed for days of training which the participant fails to
29 attend, regardless of cause.
30 (b) Needs-based payments for individuals with other
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1 income.--Needs-based payments may also be provided to
2 individuals who have income from unemployment compensation,
3 public assistance or other sources in order to help defray the
4 costs of participation in training. Payments made to individuals
5 under this section shall not exceed $5 a day for each day of
6 training which they attend. Each private industry council must
7 assure that payments are disallowed for days of training which
8 the participant fails to attend, regardless of cause.
9 (c) Payments for individuals exhausting unemployment
10 compensation benefits while participating in a training
11 program.--Needs-based payments shall be provided to individuals
12 participating in training who exhaust unemployment compensation
13 payments during a training course and are not eligible for cash
14 assistance payments pursuant to the act of June 13, 1967
15 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, in an amount
16 not exceeding $177 a month. These payments are to help the
17 participant meet his basic needs while in training. Each private
18 industry council must assure that monthly payments are reduced
19 accordingly for days of training which the participant fails to
20 attend, regardless of cause. Payments under this section shall
21 be limited to three months in any calendar year.
22 (d) Need for needs-based payments in excess of available
23 funds.--Where need for needs-based payments exceeds available
24 funds, local private industry councils shall tighten eligibility
25 criteria or reduce benefits for needs-based payments. Every
26 effort shall be made to provide assistance with funds available
27 to those with the lowest incomes. Private industry councils
28 shall collect data on the need for such payments and the extent
29 to which they are able to meet the needs and shall submit a
30 yearly report to the Department of Labor and Industry no later
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1 than November 30 each year. The Department of Labor and Industry
2 shall compile the reports from the private industry councils and
3 submit to the General Assembly, no later than January 31 each
4 year, a Statewide report on the need for needs-based payments
5 and the ability of private industry councils to meet these needs
6 with available funds. The General Assembly shall have complete
7 access to all data upon which the annual report is based.
8 (e) Employment or training services.--Individuals who are
9 otherwise eligible for employment or training services may not
10 be denied such services by reason of being eligible for needs-
11 based payments.
12 (f) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "income,"
13 for the purpose of determining eligibility for needs-based
14 payments, means all income from whatever source derived,
15 including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, bonuses,
16 commissions, income from self-employment, alimony, support
17 money, cash public assistance and relief, the gross amount of
18 any pensions or annuities (including railroad retirement
19 benefits), all benefits received under the Social Security Act
20 (except Medicare benefits), all benefits received under State
21 unemployment insurance laws and veterans' disability payments,
22 all interest received from the Federal or any state government,
23 or any instrumentality or political subdivision thereof,
24 realized capital gains, rentals, workmen's compensation and the
25 gross amount of loss-of-time insurance benefits, life insurance
26 benefits and proceeds (except the first $5,000 of the total of
27 death benefit payments), and gifts of cash or property (other
28 than transfers by gift between members of a household) in excess
29 of a total value of $300, but does not include surplus food or
30 other relief in kind supplied by a governmental agency or
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1 property tax or rent rebate or inflation dividend.
2 Section 5. Appropriation.
3 The sum of $2,700,000, or as much thereof as may be
4 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Labor and
5 Industry for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, for
6 disbursement to private industry councils as matching funds for
7 Job Training Partnership Act funds for needs-based payments
8 pursuant to section 3. State funds shall be granted in the
9 amount of $1 for every $2 of Job Training Partnership Act funds
10 set aside by private industry councils for needs-based payments.
11 State matching payments shall be applicable only to the first 5%
12 of the total Part A Title II Job Training Partnership Act funds
13 set aside for needs-based payments.
14 Section 6. Effective date.
15 This act shall take effect July 1, 1986.
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