PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2589 PRINTER'S NO. 4238
No. 2102 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY CESSAR, ITKIN, PETRONE, PISTELLA, STABACK, McCALL,
ROONEY, FAJT, LAUB, LEH, SATHER, MILLER, TRELLO, KING,
MIHALICH, LAUGHLIN, BELFANTI, FARMER, THOMAS, TRICH, PRESTON,
DERMODY, MERRY, KASUNIC AND CIVERA, OCTOBER 6, 1993
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 3, 1994
AN ACT
1 Establishing a self-help clearinghouse THE SELF-HELP <--
2 CLEARINGHOUSE within the Department of Public Welfare; and
3 adding to the powers and duties of the Department of Public
4 Welfare.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Creation of clearinghouse. <--
8 The Self-Help Clearinghouse of the Commonwealth is hereby
9 created. It shall function within and under the supervision of
10 the Department of Public Welfare.
11 Section 2. Duties of Department of Public Welfare.
12 The Department of Public Welfare shall have the following
13 powers and duties:
14 (1) To prepare guidelines for the operation of the Self-
15 Help Clearinghouse.
16 (2) To solicit proposals from nonprofit organizations
17 interested in participating in a Statewide Self-Help
1 Clearinghouse, review the proposals and approve and fund
2 within the limits of moneys allocated to the department the
3 proposal which best meets the objectives of the
4 clearinghouse.
5 Section 3. Self-help group development.
6 The Self-Help Clearinghouse shall provide assistance to
7 develop self-help groups throughout this Commonwealth by
8 providing technical aid to communities which shall include, but
9 not be limited to, the following:
10 (1) Consultation.
11 (2) Training.
12 (3) Technical advice.
13 (4) Publishing and distributing a Statewide directory of
14 self-help groups.
15 (5) Collecting and making available self-help
16 information and resource material.
17 Section 4. Effective date.
18 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
19 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <--
20 THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE SELF-HELP
21 CLEARINGHOUSE ACT.
22 SECTION 2. PURPOSE.
23 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
24 (1) THAT A NEED EXISTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SELF-HELP
25 GROUPS FOR EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO IS FACING
26 AN OVERWHELMING PROBLEM, ISOLATED AND ALONE. THIS ACCESS CAN
27 BE PROVIDED THROUGH A SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.
28 (2) SELF-HELP GROUPS PROVIDE MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR
29 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SHARING A COMMON PROBLEM, SITUATION,
30 CHARACTERISTIC OR CONDITION, INCLUDING ABUSE, ADDICTION,
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1 BEREAVEMENT, DISABILITIES, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL
2 RETARDATION, PARENTING AND LIFE SITUATIONS.
3 (3) SELF-HELP GROUPS ARE OFTEN HIDDEN AND NOT AVAILABLE
4 TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OR PROFESSIONALS TRYING TO ASSIST.
5 (4) SELF-HELP GROUPS FOSTER INNOVATIVE AND COST-
6 EFFECTIVE HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH
7 WHICH WILL REDUCE THE NEED TO UTILIZE THE TREATMENT SYSTEM
8 AND DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
9 (5) THERE IS INCREASING SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT SELF-
10 HELP GROUPS CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE HOSPITAL STAYS, REDUCE
11 EMOTIONAL TRAUMA AND GENERALLY INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE.
12 SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.
13 THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL
14 HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
15 CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
16 "CLEARINGHOUSE." THE SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE CREATED UNDER
17 SECTION 4.
18 "DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE OF THE
19 COMMONWEALTH.
20 SECTION 4. CREATION OF CLEARINGHOUSE.
21 THE SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE IS HEREBY CREATED. IT SHALL
22 FUNCTION UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
23 SECTION 5. DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.
24 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND ITS DUTY SHALL BE TO
25 ESTABLISH THE CLEARINGHOUSE AND PREPARE GUIDELINES FOR THE
26 OPERATION OF THE CLEARINGHOUSE.
27 SECTION 6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLEARINGHOUSE.
28 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CLEARINGHOUSE MAY INCLUDE ANY OF THE
29 FOLLOWING:
30 (1) COLLECTING, ORGANIZING, MAINTAINING AND
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1 DISSEMINATING SELF-HELP GROUP INFORMATION THROUGH A
2 COMPUTERIZED RESOURCE SYSTEM.
3 (2) PROVIDING IMMEDIATE AND DIRECT RESPONSES TO BOTH
4 CITIZEN AND PROFESSIONAL INQUIRIES ABOUT SELF-HELP GROUPS
5 THROUGH A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE SERVICE.
6 (3) PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTING MANUALS, NEWSLETTERS,
7 DIRECTORIES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON SELF-HELP ACTIVITIES IN
8 THIS COMMONWEALTH.
9 (4) ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF LOCAL
10 SELF-HELP GROUPS WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH BY PROVIDING
11 TECHNICAL AID TO COMMUNITIES WHICH MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
12 LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:
13 (I) CONSULTATION.
14 (II) TRAINING.
15 (III) TECHNICAL ADVICE.
16 SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
17 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JULY 1, 1995.
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