PRINTER'S NO. 1574
No. 1326 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY BALDWIN, THOMAS, ARMSTRONG, BELFANTI, BOYD,
CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CORNELL, CREIGHTON, FABRIZIO,
FAIRCHILD, GEIST, GILLESPIE, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY,
JAMES, LEACH, O'NEILL, PICKETT, PISTELLA, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO,
SHANER, STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WOJNAROSKI AND
YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 11, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
APRIL 11, 2005
AN ACT
1 Establishing the At-Risk Elderly Wireless Emergency Telephone
2 Program; conferring powers and duties on the Department of
3 Aging; and providing additional powers to the Area Agencies
4 on Aging.
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 At-Risk
9 Elderly Wireless Emergency Telephone Program Act.
10 Section 2. Legislative intent.
11 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
12 (1) The General Assembly intends to establish a program
13 that provides at-risk elderly persons with wireless emergency
14 telephone service to provide immediate access to the 911
15 emergency telephone number, as well as the prospective
16 protective services unit at Area Agencies on Aging.
1 (2) This act authorizes the Department of Aging to
2 develop a request for proposal for the purpose of entering
3 into a public-private partnership with a wireless
4 telecommunications provider.
5 (3) The partnership requires the provider to refurbish
6 and recycle wireless equipment to provide emergency telephone
7 services to at-risk elderly persons free of charge.
8 (4) This act will provide at-risk elderly persons living
9 independently in the community the access to emergency
10 contacts through the use of wireless telecommunications
11 systems allowing the at-risk elderly persons to continue to
12 live independently with the means to access necessary
13 emergency services.
14 Section 3. Definitions.
15 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
16 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17 context clearly indicates otherwise:
18 "AAA." An Area Agency on Aging, which acts as the local
19 representative of the Department of Aging.
20 "At-risk elderly person." A person who is at least 60 years
21 of age and has been identified by the Area Agency on Aging as a
22 person who is susceptible to or has a high probability of
23 incurring a danger to that person's daily living routine.
24 "Department." The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
25 "Eligible participant." A person who is at least 60 years of
26 age, who has been a resident of this Commonwealth for at least
27 90 days and is classified as at risk as identified by an Area
28 Agency on Aging.
29 "Program." The At-Risk Elderly Wireless Emergency Telephone
30 Program.
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1 "Request for proposal" or "RFP." As defined in 62 Pa.C.S. §
2 103 (relating to definitions).
3 Section 4. At-Risk Elderly Wireless Emergency Telephone
4 Program.
5 The At-Risk Elderly Wireless Emergency Telephone Program is
6 established. The department shall administer the program and
7 develop an RFP to provide each AAA the opportunity to enter into
8 a public-private partnership with wireless telecommunications
9 carriers to provide at-risk elderly persons with immediate
10 access to 911 emergency services, as well as the prospective
11 protective services unit.
12 Section 5. Program guidelines.
13 (a) Local guidelines.--Each AAA shall establish specific
14 guidelines regarding the administrative and operating procedures
15 of the program, including the acceptance of eligible
16 participants and carrying out the RFP process.
17 (b) Services.--The RFP shall describe the wireless carrier
18 services sought, including, but not limited to, free wireless
19 service to the 911 emergency telephone number and the
20 appropriate local protective services unit telephone number.
21 Section 6. Powers and duties of department.
22 (a) Cooperation.--The department in cooperation with the
23 Department of General Services shall develop an RFP pursuant to
24 the requirements of 62 Pa.C.S. § 513 (relating to competitive
25 sealed proposals).
26 (b) Project description.--The department shall provide each
27 AAA with a complete program description and the procurement
28 policies and procedures developed by the department.
29 (c) Public notice.--The department shall publicize the
30 program to the aging community.
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1 (d) Technical assistance.--The department shall provide
2 technical assistance through program implementation to each AAA
3 as needed.
4 Section 7. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect immediately.
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