PRINTER'S NO. 697
No. 629 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY JUBELIRER, HOPPER, SHAFFER, HELFRICK, CORMAN,
PECORA, LOEPER, REIBMAN AND RHOADES, APRIL 12, 1983
REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, APRIL 12, 1983
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Senior Center Grant Program and Revolving Loan
2 Fund; providing for grants and loans to senior centers;
3 imposing powers and duties on the Department of Aging; and
4 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 Senior Center
9 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund Act.
10 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
11 (a) Purpose of program.--The purpose of the senior center
12 program in Pennsylvania is to facilitate the social, emotional
13 and physical well-being of older Pennsylvanians by the
14 establishment of and support for community-based services and
15 activities. Senior center programs are designed to enhance the
16 dignity, support the independence and encourage the involvement
17 of senior citizens in the community.
18 (b) Facilities.--In order to achieve this purpose, a
1 facility must be in a physical condition which provides an
2 atmosphere conducive to the functions of a senior center. The
3 center should be in compliance with all government safety
4 standards.
5 (c) Use of loans.--By establishment of the Senior Center
6 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund, the General Assembly
7 intends that grants and loans provided under this act be used to
8 provide a physical facility conducive to the achievement of
9 these goals as well as other purposes.
10 Section 3. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Area agency on aging." An agency designated by the
15 Department of Aging to administer and develop an area plan for a
16 comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older
17 people within the boundaries of a defined planning and service
18 area.
19 "Department." The Department of Aging.
20 "Fund." Senior Center Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund.
21 "Senior center." A facility where older people gather and
22 where services are delivered in accordance with the policies and
23 standards promulgated by the department.
24 Section 4. Establishment of the Senior Center Grant Program and
25 Revolving Loan Fund.
26 (a) Fund established.--There is hereby created a special
27 fund in the Treasury Department to be known as the Senior Center
28 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund to which shall be credited
29 all appropriations made from the State Lottery Fund by the
30 General Assembly as well as repayment of principal and interest
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1 on loans made pursuant to this act.
2 (b) Operation and administration of fund.--The fund shall be
3 operated and administered by the department.
4 (c) Amounts to be requisitioned.--Upon approval of a grant
5 or loan, the department shall routinely requisition from the
6 fund such amounts as shall be allocated by the department for
7 grants and loans to senior centers.
8 (d) Fund for loans to be revolving.--When and as the amount
9 so allocated by the department as loans to senior centers are
10 repaid to the department pursuant to the terms of the agreements
11 made and entered into with the department, the department shall
12 pay these amounts into the fund, it being the intent of this act
13 that the fund shall operate as a revolving fund whereby all
14 appropriations and payments made to the fund may be applied and
15 reapplied to the purposes of this act.
16 Section 5. Grant and loan applications.
17 Grant and loan applications shall be developed by the
18 department and distributed to all area agencies on aging. The
19 regional area agency on aging shall assist the senior center
20 applying for a grant or loan under this act in completing the
21 applications and verify, in writing, on the grant or loan
22 application that the application complies with all the
23 requirements of either section 6 or 7 depending upon whether the
24 application is for a grant, loan or both. The area agency on
25 aging shall then forward the application to the department for
26 their approval.
27 Section 6. Grant requirements.
28 (a) Eligibility.--Grants shall be given by the department to
29 applying senior centers provided the grant is for any or all of
30 the following purposes:
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1 (1) To comply with applicable Federal, State or local
2 safety standards and other laws so designated by the
3 department in directives.
4 (2) To maintain the senior center in a condition that
5 provides for the health, welfare and safety of senior
6 citizens as determined by directives promulgated by the
7 department.
8 (3) To modify the senior center to make it accessible to
9 the handicapped as determined by directives promulgated by
10 the department.
11 (b) Maximum grant.--Grants issued pursuant to this act shall
12 be for a maximum of $10,000. No senior center may obtain a grant
13 or grants in the aggregate which exceeds $10,000.
14 Section 7. Loan requirements.
15 (a) Eligibility.--Loans shall be given by the department to
16 applying senior centers provided the loan is for purposes other
17 than those in section 6, is for purposes provided for in
18 departmental directives and complies with all other requirements
19 of this section.
20 (b) Maximum loan.--Loans issued pursuant to this act shall
21 be for a maximum of $10,000. No senior center may have
22 outstanding loans in the aggregate which exceeds $10,000.
23 (c) Department approval.--No loan shall receive final
24 approval by the department unless the application contains,
25 without being limited to, the following provisions:
26 (1) Detailed cost estimates describing the need for the
27 loan.
28 (2) A financial plan to show amount of assets and
29 projected revenues for repayment of the loan.
30 (3) Proof of adequate insurance by the applicant for the
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1 term of the loan. Adequate insurance shall be determined by
2 the department and shall include, but not be limited to, fire
3 and liability insurance.
4 (4) A statement on the loan application, signed by the
5 applicant, certifying that the loan recipient shall not
6 discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion or
7 national origin in the use of its facilities or employment
8 practices.
9 (d) Loan terms.--Loans made from the fund shall be for a
10 period of not more than ten years and subject to the payment of
11 interest of 2% annually.
12 (e) Defaults.--In the event of nonpayment of premiums
13 resulting in default by a loan recipient, the department shall
14 either take appropriate legal action or withhold and instruct
15 the area agency on aging of the loan recipient to withhold any
16 funds which are to be paid to the senior center by the
17 Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or both. Any funds
18 withheld shall be applied to repayment of the loan principal and
19 interest. The extent of nonpayment of premiums resulting in
20 default and the application of this subsection shall be
21 determined by the department by directive.
22 Section 8. Fund audits and reports.
23 (a) Fiscal year defined.--The fiscal year of the fund shall
24 be from July 1 through June 30 of the succeeding year.
25 (b) Financial statement to be filed.--Ninety days prior to
26 the end of the fiscal year, the fund shall file a financial
27 statement including revenues, expenditures, status of
28 outstanding obligations and a report on the operation of the
29 agency with the Governor, the Auditor General and the General
30 Assembly.
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1 (c) Audit by Auditor General.--The accounts, books and
2 records of the fund, including receipts, disbursements,
3 contracts, mortgages and other financial records shall be
4 audited and examined from time to time by the Auditor General.
5 Section 9. Powers and duties of department.
6 The powers and duties of the department shall be:
7 (1) To accept grants from the Federal Government and any
8 other individual, agency or government for use in the fund.
9 (2) To promulgate such rules, regulations and directives
10 as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this
11 act.
12 Section 10. Appropriation.
13 The sum of $10,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
14 necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the State Lottery Fund
15 to the Treasury Department for deposit into the Senior Center
16 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund.
17 Section 11. Limitation on time for initial loans.
18 No grant or loan shall be made under this act until 120 days
19 after the effective date.
20 Section 12. Effective date.
21 This act shall take effect immediately.
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