PRINTER'S NO. 611
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
613
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY VANCE, BAKER, MENSCH, AUMENT, HUTCHINSON, ARGALL,
BROOKS, STEFANO, GORDNER, TARTAGLIONE, RAFFERTY, WOZNIAK AND
VULAKOVICH, MARCH 13, 2015
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 13, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in human services block
grant pilot program, further providing for definitions, for
establishment of human services block grant, for powers and
duties of the department and for powers and duties of
counties and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The heading of Article XIV-B the act of June 13,
1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, added
June 30, 2012 (P.L.668, No.80), is amended to read:
Article XIV-B
Human Services Block Grant [Pilot] Program
Section 2. The definitions of "block grant" and "county-
based human services" in section 1401-B of the act, added June
30, 2012 (P.L.668, No.80), are amended to read:
Section 1401-B. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Block grant." The Human Services Block Grant [Pilot]
Program established in section 1402-B.
"County-based human services." Programs approved by the
Department of [Public Welfare] Human Services and provided by
county governments through direct or contracted services,
supportive services and service coordination. The term includes
services designed to meet service needs of the following:
(1) Individuals in need of behavioral health services.
(2) Individuals with intellectual disabilities.
(3) Individuals in need of drug and alcohol treatment
services.
(4) Individuals who are homeless or at immediate risk of
becoming homeless.
(5) Dependent and delinquent children as defined in 42
Pa.C.S. ยง 6302 (relating to definitions).
(6) Low-income adults eligible to receive services under
the act of October 5, 1994 (P.L.531, No.78), known as the
Human Services Development Fund Act.
(7) Older individuals as provided for under section
2206-A of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, and eligible to receive
services under the Human Services Development Fund Act.
* * *
Section 3. Sections 1402-B, 1403-B(b) and 1404-B(5) of the
act, added June 30, 2012 (P.L.668, No.80), are amended to read:
Section 1402-B. Establishment of Human Services Block Grant
[Pilot] Program.
The following shall apply to the Human Services Block Grant
[Pilot] Program:
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(1) The Human Services Block Grant [Pilot] Program is
established for the purpose of allocating block grant funds
to county governments to provide locally identified county-
based human services that will meet the service needs of
county residents. A county's request to participate in the
block grant shall be on a form and contain such information
as the department may prescribe.
(2) The department may approve a county's request based
on the county's plan to provide human services and integrate
its human service programs. A county with a history of
participation or application to participate in the block
grant shall have priority over a county which has not
previously applied for the block grant. The department shall
also consider diversity in representation of counties,
regarding such factors as:
(i) Geographic location.
(ii) Total population.
(iii) Urban, rural and suburban population.
(iv) Proximity to a large urban area.
(v) County class.
(vi) Form of county government.
(vii) Whether the county is part of a local
collaborative arrangement.
(viii) The county's human services administrative
structure.
(3) [No more than 30 counties may participate in the
block grant in any fiscal year.] A county's participation in
the block grant is voluntary.
Section 1403-B. Powers and duties of the department.
* * *
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(b) Administration of [pilot] program.--The department shall
have the power and duty to:
(1) Monitor county governments' administration of the
block grant to ensure compliance with applicable Federal and
State requirements.
(2) Allocate and disburse block grant funds to counties
on a quarterly basis in accordance with section 1405-B.
(3) Provide technical support and assistance to
counties.
(4) Require counties to submit reports containing such
information pursuant to the implementation of this article
and in the form and by the deadline prescribed by the
department.
(5) Monitor, inspect or audit the financial, operating
and accounting records of any county agency or contracted
entity that receives any block grant funds if deemed
necessary by the department.
(6) Withhold, recover or reduce any block grant funds of
a county agency or contracted entity determined to have been
spent or disbursed in violation of Federal or State
requirements.
(7) Establish procedures for the annual submission,
review and approval process of county block grant plans for
the expenditure of block grant funds and the delivery of
county-based human services submitted under section 1404-
B(5). The department shall not approve a county plan which
proposes the elimination of any of the following county-based
human services:
(i) Community-based mental health services.
(ii) Intellectual disability services.
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(iii) Child welfare services.
(iv) Drug and alcohol treatment and prevention
services.
(v) Homeless assistance services.
(vi) Behavioral health services.
(8) Prepare and submit by January 1, 2014, and by
November 30 each year thereafter, a report to the chairman
and minority chairman of the Public Health and Welfare
Committee of the Senate, the chairman and minority chairman
of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairman
and minority chairman of the Health Committee of the House of
Representatives, the chairman and minority chairman of the
Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives and
the chairman and minority chairman of the Appropriations
Committee of the House of Representatives of the expenditures
of block grant funds by county governments to include:
(i) The allocation levels.
(ii) The expenditure levels.
(iii) The number of individuals served by the human
services provided.
(iv) Any other information deemed necessary by the
department, including any information which would
determine the effectiveness of the block grant.
(9) The annual report under paragraph (8) shall be made
available for public inspection and posted on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(10) Promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry
out this article.
Section 1404-B. Powers and duties of counties.
The local county officials of each county government
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participating in the block grant shall have the power and duty
to:
* * *
(5) Submit to the department an annual Human Services
Block Grant [Pilot] Plan to include the intended delivery of
county-based human services by client population to be
served, including a detailed description of how the county
intends to serve its residents in the least restrictive
setting appropriate to their needs and the distribution and
the projected expenditure level of block grant funds by
county-based human services allocated under this article in
such form and containing such information as the department
may require. Prior to submitting the annual Human Services
Block Grant [Pilot] Plan to the department, the county shall
hold at least two public hearings on the plan under 65
Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings), which shall
include an opportunity for individuals and families who
receive services to testify about the plan.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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