HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 697, 1560, 1971, PRINTER'S NO. 2454
2100
No. 629 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY JUBELIRER, HOPPER, SHAFFER, HELFRICK, CORMAN,
PECORA, LOEPER, REIBMAN, RHOADES, ANDREZESKI, BRIGHTBILL AND
SHUMAKER, APRIL 12, 1983
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 19, 1984
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Senior Center Grant Program; providing for
2 grants to senior centers; imposing powers and duties on the
3 Department of Aging; and making an appropriation.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Senior Center
8 Grant Program Act.
9 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
10 (a) Purpose of program.--The purpose of the senior center
11 program in Pennsylvania is to facilitate the social, emotional
12 and physical well-being of older Pennsylvanians by the
13 establishment of and support for community-based services and
14 activities. Senior center programs are designed to enhance the
15 dignity, support the independence and encourage the involvement
16 of senior citizens in the community.
1 (b) Facilities.--In order to achieve this purpose, a
2 facility must be in a physical condition which provides an
3 atmosphere conducive to the functions of a senior center. The
4 center should be in compliance with all government safety
5 standards.
6 (c) Use of grants.--By establishment of the Senior Center
7 Grant Program, the General Assembly intends that grants provided
8 under this act be used to provide a physical facility conducive
9 to the achievement of 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 "Program." Senior Center Grant Program.
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.
25 There is hereby created a special Senior Center Grant
26 Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide a one-
27 time grant to senior centers for rehabilitation and renovation
28 of these facilities.
29 Section 5. Grant applications.
30 Grant application forms shall be developed by the department
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1 and distributed to all area agencies on aging. The regional area
2 agency on aging shall assist the senior center applying for a
3 grant under this act in completing the applications and verify,
4 in writing, on the grant application that the application
5 complies with all the requirements of section 6. The area agency
6 on aging shall then forward the application to the department
7 for its approval. Each application shall include a written
8 report, using a form developed by the department, assessing the
9 condition of the facility. The onsite inspection shall be
10 conducted by an inspector determined by the department.
11 Section 6. Grant requirements.
12 (a) Eligibility.--Grants not exceeding $50,000 per center <--
13 shall be given by the department to local area agencies on aging
14 for applying senior centers which have been approved by the
15 appropriate area agency on aging. Grants shall be given for any
16 and all of the following purposes in the following order or
17 priority:
18 (1) To comply with the act of April 27, 1927 (P.L.465,
19 No.299), referred to as the Fire and Panic Act, and other
20 applicable Federal, State or local safety standards and other
21 laws so designated by directives promulgated by the
22 department.
23 (2) To comply with the act of September 1, 1965
24 (P.L.459, No.235), entitled "An act requiring that certain
25 buildings and facilities constructed with Commonwealth funds
26 adhere to certain principles, standards and specifications to
27 make the same accessible to and usable by the physically
28 handicapped, and providing for enforcement," and section 504
29 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to modify the
30 senior center to make it accessible to the handicapped as
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1 designated by directives promulgated by the department.
2 (3) To assure that the senior center is in a condition
3 that provides for the health, welfare and safety of senior
4 citizens as determined by directives promulgated by the
5 department. This would include, but not be limited to, the
6 purchase of food service equipment for the facility.
7 (b) Leased facilities.--Senior center facilities which are
8 renovated with funds from the Department of Aging shall have
9 written leases for a period to be determined by the department
10 based on the amount of the renovations and taking into account
11 local market conditions for rental properties.
12 Section 7. Powers and duties of department.
13 The powers and duties of the department shall be:
14 (1) To accept grants from the Federal Government and any
15 other individual, agency or government for use in the
16 program.
17 (2) To promulgate such rules, regulations and directives
18 as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this
19 act.
20 Section 8. Appropriation.
21 (a) Funding.--For fiscal year 1984-1985, the sum of
22 $10,100,000 is appropriated out of the State Lottery Fund to the
23 Department of Aging for the Senior Center Grant Program to be
24 disbursed as follows:
25 (1) The sum of $8,000,000 is allocated to insure that
26 each area agency on aging shall receive an allocation
27 pursuant to the provisions of the allocation formula set
28 forth in section 2210-A(a) of the act of April 9, 1929
29 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
30 Any funds from this allocation not utilized or encumbered
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1 within one calendar year of the effective date of this act
2 shall revert to the department to be redistributed by the
3 department based on priorities established in section 6.
4 (2) The sum of $2,000,000 shall be allocated to insure
5 that each area agency on aging shall receive a minimum of
6 $15,000 per senior center following the distribution of funds
7 set forth in paragraph (1). Any funds from this allocation
8 not utilized or encumbered within one calendar year of the
9 effective date of this act shall revert to the department to
10 be redistributed by the department based on priorities
11 established in section 6.
12 (3) The sum of $100,000 may be used by the department
13 and the area agencies on aging for administration of the
14 program.
15 (4) All remaining funds shall be withheld by the
16 department for disposition in accordance with the provisions
17 of section 6.
18 (b) Duration of appropriation.--The appropriation made in
19 this section shall not lapse and shall remain available until
20 expended.
21 Section 9. Funding.
22 Funding for this program shall come from the State Lottery
23 Fund and shall be an eligible use for lottery funds, the
24 provisions of sections 2, 6 and 12 of the act of August 26, 1971
25 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery Law,
26 notwithstanding.
27 Section 10. Effective date.
28 This act shall take effect immediately.
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