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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 1537

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 1041 Session of 2004


        INTRODUCED BY PIPPY, M. WHITE, BRIGHTBILL, O'PAKE, MOWERY,
           LOGAN, LEMMOND, BOSCOLA, GORDNER, MUSTO, COSTA, RAFFERTY,
           C. WILLIAMS, WOZNIAK, KITCHEN AND ORIE, APRIL 13, 2004

        REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, APRIL 13, 2004

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for the continuation of the Pennsylvania Senior
     2     Environment Corps volunteer program administered by the
     3     Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of
     4     Aging; and 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 Pennsylvania
     9  Senior Environment Corps Act.
    10  Section 2.  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     "Departments."  The Department of Environmental Protection
    15  and the Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
    16     "Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps."  The established
    17  Statewide network of county-based host organizations for older
    18  Pennsylvanians who implement environmental, educational, social


     1  and health programs benefiting their communities and the
     2  Commonwealth, and additional host organizations in counties not
     3  yet served, as appropriate.
     4  Section 3.  Declaration of policy.
     5     The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
     6         (1)  Pennsylvania has an active, talented and informed
     7     population of older residents who seek out activities and
     8     programs which contribute to the improvement of communities
     9     and individuals.
    10         (2)  Since 1997 the more than 20,000 active members of
    11     the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps have used their
    12     expertise and interest in protecting the environment to
    13     pursue projects related to water quality monitoring,
    14     environmental education, restoration and protection of our
    15     environment and homeland security.
    16         (3)  The Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program
    17     has been recognized by the United Nations, Renew America and
    18     other organizations as an innovative and unique program
    19     involving older citizens in creative ways to improve the
    20     environment and has been copied by many other states and
    21     countries around the world.
    22         (4)  Continuation and expansion of the Pennsylvania
    23     Senior Environment Corps provides older citizens with
    24     effective opportunities to be involved in positive activities
    25     that not only contribute to the protection and restoration of
    26     Pennsylvania's environment, but provide significant benefits
    27     to those involved with this program.
    28  Section 4.  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps.
    29     (a)  Continued support.--The departments shall continue
    30  funding and support and jointly administer the Pennsylvania
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     1  Senior Environment Corps and its network of chapters throughout
     2  this Commonwealth for the purpose of maintaining and expanding
     3  opportunities for this Commonwealth's older citizens to be
     4  involved in volunteer projects relating to water quality
     5  monitoring, environmental education, restoration and protection
     6  of the environment and homeland security.
     7     (b)  Program components.--The Pennsylvania Senior Environment
     8  Corps program shall include components that provide support for:
     9         (1)  Equipment and supplies required for successful
    10     programs.
    11         (2)  Networking and recognition opportunities.
    12         (3)  Training required for successful program
    13     implementation.
    14         (4)  Coordination and documentation, including by
    15     electronic means, of program activities.
    16         (5)  Reimbursement of the volunteers and their host
    17     organizations for direct program expenses that support
    18     successful recruitment and mobilization of the volunteers.
    19         (6)  Public education about the vitality and value of
    20     this Commonwealth's older citizens.
    21  Section 5.  Reporting requirements.
    22     (a)  Annual report.--The departments shall provide to the
    23  General Assembly an annual report on the Pennsylvania Senior
    24  Environment Corps program which includes information on:
    25         (1)  the impact of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment
    26     Corps on the achievement of the missions of the departments;
    27         (2)  the cost-effectiveness of the Pennsylvania Senior
    28     Environment Corps activities;
    29         (3)  the staff support of the departments for the
    30     Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps;
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     1         (4)  the State, regional and local partnerships
     2     established by the departments and the Pennsylvania Senior
     3     Environment Corps for the purpose of advancing departmental
     4     missions and the success of the Pennsylvania Senior
     5     Environment Corps; and
     6         (5)  projections for future volunteer engagement in the
     7     Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps, its programs and the
     8     betterment of this Commonwealth's quality of life.
     9     (b)  Meeting with secretaries.--Representatives of the
    10  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program shall meet twice a
    11  year with the secretaries of the departments to provide
    12  information on accomplishments and challenges of the
    13  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program.
    14  Section 6.  Appropriation.
    15     The sum of $350,000 is hereby appropriated, in equal parts,
    16  to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department
    17  of Aging for the fiscal year July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005, to
    18  support the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program.
    19  Section 7.  Effective date.
    20     This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.







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