PRINTER'S NO. 1733
No. 1271 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, ORIE, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, WOZNIAK,
O'PAKE, WONDERLING, BOSCOLA, KITCHEN, C. WILLIAMS, FUMO AND
A. WILLIAMS, FEBRUARY 4, 2008
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
FEBRUARY 4, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for the National Guard Youth
3 Challenge Program.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 1109. National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
9 (a) Program established.--The department shall establish a
10 youth challenge program as provided for under 32 U.S.C. § 509
11 (relating to National Guard Youth Challenge Program of
12 opportunities for civilian youth).
13 (b) Description of program.--The youth challenge program
14 shall seek to improve the life skills and employment potential
15 of youths who are 16 through 18 years of age by providing
16 structured military-based training and supervised work
17 experience, together with the program's core components of
1 assisting participants with earning a high school diploma or its
2 equivalent, leadership development, promoting fellowship and
3 community service, developing life-coping skills and job skills
4 and improving physical fitness and health and hygiene.
5 (c) Length of program.--The youth challenge program shall
6 include at least a 22-week residential program and a 12-month
7 postresidential mentoring period.
8 (d) Requirements.--In order to participate in the youth
9 challenge program, the participant:
10 (1) Must be a resident of this Commonwealth.
11 (2) Must not be attending a secondary school.
12 (3) Must not have been convicted of a felony or be on
13 parole or probation.
14 (4) Must agree to drug testing.
15 (e) Administration.--Subject to 32 U.S.C. § 509 and its
16 implementing regulations and applicable agreements, the youth
17 challenge program may be staffed by an administrator and the
18 professional, technical and clerical employees necessary for the
19 performance of the youth challenge program's functions.
20 (f) Funding.--The department shall apply for Federal
21 matching funds, as provided for under 32 U.S.C. § 509, and for
22 any other funds that may be available for the program.
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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