PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 611
PRINTER'S NO. 956
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
668
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BENHAM, ORTITAY, PASHINSKI, WAXMAN, PROBST,
HOWARD, SCHLOSSBERG, BURGOS, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, CERRATO, ROZZI,
HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, PARKER, OTTEN, KRAJEWSKI AND FLEMING,
MARCH 23, 2023
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 21, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in fostering independence through
education, further providing for definitions, for fostering
independence waiver program, for outreach and for report.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2601-K of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 2601-K. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Kinship care." The care of a child by a relative or other
kinship caregiver of the child who has an established
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relationship with the child when the biological or custodial
parents of the child cannot care for the child.
"Kinship caregiver." An individual who has an established
relationship with a child and assumes legal responsibility for
the child. The term includes any of the following:
(1) A grandparent of the child.
(2) An aunt or uncle of the child.
(3) A family friend of the child.
(4) Any other relative or individual that legally
assumes responsibility for the child.
"KINSHIP CAREGIVER." AN INDIVIDUAL WHO:
(1) IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE; AND
(2) LIVES WITH AND HAS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CHILD.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 2602-K(c) and 2603-K(b)(2) and (3) of
the act are amended to read:
Section 2602-K. Fostering independence waiver program.
* * *
(c) Eligibility.--In order to receive a fostering
independence waiver under this section, an individual must [be a
current resident of this Commonwealth and eligible for the
Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant Program under
the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169,
113 Stat. 1822) as administered by the Department of Human
Services and must have applied for all available Federal and
State grants.]:
(1) Be a current resident of this Commonwealth.
(2) Be either of the following:
(i) Eligible for the Chafee Education and Training
Grant Program.
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(ii) Under the care of a kinship caregiver and would
have been eligible for the Pennsylvania Chafee Education
and Training Grant Program if not under kinship care.
(3) Have applied for all available Federal and State
grants.
* * *
Section 2603-K. Outreach.
* * *
(b) Duties of institutions of higher education.--Each
institution of higher education shall do all of the following:
* * *
(2) Disseminate the information prepared under
subsection (a)(1) to recipients of a [Pennsylvania Chafee
Education and Training Grant under the Foster Care
Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169, 113 Stat.
1822)] grant under the Chafee Education and Training Grant
Program who are individuals eligible under section 2602-K(c)
and all other individuals who are eligible under section
2602-K(c) and post the information prepared under subsection
(a)(1) on the institution's publicly accessible Internet
website.
(3) To improve retention, report to the department by
June 30, 2021, and June 30 each year thereafter all of the
following:
(i) The number of students receiving a [Pennsylvania
Chafee Education and Training Grant under the Foster Care
Independence Act of 1999] grant under the Chafee
Education and Training Grant Program.
(ii) The number of students who apply for the
program.
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(iii) The number of students participating in the
program.
(iv) The retention rates of students participating
in the program.
(v) The number of students who are participating in
the program and have unmet financial need.
(vi) Recommendations on how to improve outreach to
students who are or are potentially eligible for the
program.
(vii) Recommendations on ways in which to improve
the delivery of services to students who are eligible
under section 2602-K(c).
(viii) Impediments to retaining students who are
eligible under section 2602-K(c).
(ix) The number of students in kinship care who are
participating in the program.
* * *
Section 3. Section 2605-K(1) of the act is amended and the
section is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 2605-K. Report.
In order to determine and maximize the effectiveness of this
article, the department, in conjunction with the Department of
Human Services, shall collect information provided from
institutions of higher education under section 2603-K(b)(3) and
prepare an anonymized report to be submitted by August 31, 2021,
and by August 31 of each year thereafter, to the chair and
minority chair of the Education Committee of the Senate, the
chair and minority chair of the Education Committee of the House
of Representatives, the chair and minority chair of the Health
and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the chair and
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minority chair of the Children and Youth Committee of the House
of Representatives that contains all of the following:
(1) The number of students receiving a [Pennsylvania
Chafee Education and Training Grant under the Foster Care
Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169, 113 Stat.
1822)] grant under the Chafee Education and Training Grant
Program.
* * *
(9) The number of students in kinship care who are
participating in the program.
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
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