PRINTER'S NO. 3836
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2552
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, HILL-EVANS, TOOHIL, MERSKI, ULLMAN,
HOWARD, DRISCOLL, YOUNGBLOOD AND POLINCHOCK, MAY 26, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MAY 26, 2020
AN ACT
Providing for temporary services to aging-out individuals
through county agencies; and imposing duties on county
agencies and the Department of Human Services.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pandemic
Assistance for Transition-age Foster Youth Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Aging-out individual." An individual who:
(1) Was adjudicated a dependent child prior to March 1,
2020, and attained 18 years of age.
(2) Was authorized by a court prior to March 1, 2020, to
remain a dependent child after attaining 18 years of age.
(3) Either:
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(i) as of the effective date of this section, is no
longer a dependent child as a result of having attained
21 years of age; or
(ii) on or after the effective date of this section,
attains 21 years of age and no longer meets the
definition of a dependent child under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63
(relating to juvenile matters).
"County agency." As defined in 23 Pa.C.S. ยง 6303 (relating
to definitions).
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
Section 3. Scope of temporary services.
(a) Right to make election.--An aging-out individual may
elect to receive housing, case management and other support
services through a county agency.
(b) Duties of county agency.--
(1) The county agency shall provide written and verbal
notice to aging-out individuals of the temporary services
available under this act in a manner that is readily
understandable and youth-friendly. The county agency shall
document in each case file when and how notice was given and
whether services were accepted.
(2) If an aging-out individual elects to receive
services under subsection (a), the county agency shall
provide all appropriate support services as if the aging-out
individual remained as a dependent child under the
jurisdiction of the court.
(3) The county agency shall develop a transition plan
with an eligible aging-out individual prior to the
termination of temporary services.
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(4) On the effective date of this section and on a
monthly basis thereafter, the county agency shall provide the
department with a list of individuals who are eligible for
temporary services under this act. The list shall specify
which individuals continue to receive services, which
individuals declined to receive services and whether a
finalized transition plan is or was in place for each
individual listed.
(c) Duties of department.--
(1) The department shall, from funds appropriated or
otherwise made available to the department for the purpose,
award grants to county agencies for complying with the duty
under subsection (b).
(2) The department shall publicize, through its publicly
accessible Internet website and other communication outlets,
the services available under this act.
(3) The department shall share the information provided
by the county agency under subsection (b)(4) with the Office
of the Child Advocate.
Section 4. Funding.
(a) Duty of department.--Within seven days of the effective
date of this section, the department, through the Office of
Budget, shall submit a budget request to the Appropriations
Committee of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee of the
House of Representatives that provides an estimate of the amount
of money needed to satisfy the requirements of this act and the
source of funding, including any available funding from the
Federal Government, for the payment of the amount.
(b) Effect of grant award.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, the amount of a grant received
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by a county agency under this act shall not affect the
eligibility of, or amount awarded to, the county agency under
any need-based grant and budget process.
Section 5. Expiration.
This act shall expire December 31, 2020.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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