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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1537                      PRINTER'S NO. 1621

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, ORIE AND KASUNIC,
           APRIL 13, 2004

        SENATOR M. WHITE, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, AS
           AMENDED, MAY 12, 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 APPROPRIATIONS.             <--

     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


     1  Pennsylvanians who implement environmental, educational, social
     2  and health programs benefiting their communities and the
     3  Commonwealth, and additional host organizations in counties not
     4  yet served, as appropriate.
     5  Section 3.  Declaration of policy.
     6     The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
     7         (1)  Pennsylvania has an active, talented and informed
     8     population of older residents who seek out activities and
     9     programs which contribute to the improvement of communities
    10     and individuals.
    11         (2)  Since 1997 the more than 20,000 active members of
    12     the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps have used their
    13     expertise and interest in protecting the environment to
    14     pursue projects related to water quality monitoring,
    15     environmental education, restoration and protection of our
    16     environment and homeland security.
    17         (3)  The Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program
    18     has been recognized by the United Nations, Renew America and
    19     other organizations as an innovative and unique program
    20     involving older citizens in creative ways to improve the
    21     environment and has been copied by many other states and
    22     countries around the world.
    23         (4)  Continuation and expansion of the Pennsylvania
    24     Senior Environment Corps provides older citizens with
    25     effective opportunities to be involved in positive activities
    26     that not only contribute to the protection and restoration of
    27     Pennsylvania's environment, but provide significant benefits
    28     to those involved with this program.
    29  Section 4.  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps.
    30     (a)  Continued support.--The departments shall continue
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     1  funding and support and jointly administer the Pennsylvania
     2  Senior Environment Corps and its network of chapters throughout
     3  this Commonwealth for the purpose of maintaining and expanding
     4  opportunities for this Commonwealth's older citizens to be
     5  involved in volunteer projects relating to water quality
     6  monitoring, environmental education, restoration and protection
     7  of the environment and homeland security.
     8     (b)  Program components.--The Pennsylvania Senior Environment
     9  Corps program shall include components that provide support for:
    10         (1)  Equipment and supplies required for successful
    11     programs.
    12         (2)  Networking and recognition opportunities.
    13         (3)  Training required for successful program
    14     implementation.
    15         (4)  Coordination and documentation, including by
    16     electronic means, of program activities.
    17         (5)  Reimbursement of the volunteers and their host
    18     organizations for direct program expenses that support
    19     successful recruitment and mobilization of the volunteers.
    20         (6)  Public education about the vitality and value of
    21     this Commonwealth's older citizens.
    22  Section 5.  Reporting requirements.
    23     (a)  Annual report.--The departments shall provide to the
    24  General Assembly an annual report on the Pennsylvania Senior
    25  Environment Corps program which includes information on:
    26         (1)  the impact of the Pennsylvania Senior Environment
    27     Corps on the achievement of the missions of the departments;
    28         (2)  the cost-effectiveness of the Pennsylvania Senior
    29     Environment Corps activities;
    30         (3)  the staff support of the departments for the
    20040S1041B1621                  - 3 -     

     1     Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps;
     2         (4)  the State, regional and local partnerships
     3     established by the departments and the Pennsylvania Senior
     4     Environment Corps for the purpose of advancing departmental
     5     missions and the success of the Pennsylvania Senior
     6     Environment Corps; and
     7         (5)  projections for future volunteer engagement in the
     8     Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps, its programs and the
     9     betterment of this Commonwealth's quality of life.
    10     (b)  Meeting with secretaries.--Representatives of the
    11  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program shall meet twice a
    12  year with the secretaries of the departments to provide
    13  information on accomplishments and challenges of the
    14  Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program.
    15  Section 6.  Appropriation.                                        <--
    16     The sum of $350,000 is hereby appropriated, in equal parts,
    17  to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department
    18  of Aging for the fiscal year July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005, to
    19  support the Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps program.
    20  SECTION 6.  APPROPRIATIONS.                                       <--
    21     THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS ARE HEREBY APPROPRIATED FROM THE
    22  GENERAL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004, AS
    23  FOLLOWS:
    24         (1)  THE SUM OF $150,000 IS HEREBY APPROPRIATED TO THE
    25     DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR SUPPORTING THE
    26     PENNSYLVANIA SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CORPS PROGRAM.
    27         (2)  THE SUM OF $150,000 IS HEREBY APPROPRIATED TO THE
    28     DEPARTMENT OF AGING FOR SUPPORTING THE PENNSYLVANIA SENIOR
    29     ENVIRONMENTAL CORPS PROGRAM.
    30  Section 7.  Effective date.
    20040S1041B1621                  - 4 -     

     1     This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.




















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