PRINTER'S NO. 1537
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 20040S1041B1537 - 2 -
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; 20040S1041B1537 - 3 -
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. D1L71JS/20040S1041B1537 - 4 -