THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BEAR, STURLA, THOMAS, BOYD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, FLECK, GEIST, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GROVE, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, M. KELLER, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROAE, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SCAVELLO, STERN, SWANGER, TRUE, TURZAI AND VULAKOVICH, MARCH 10, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, MARCH 10, 2009  

AN ACT

Providing for the establishment, implementation and

administration of a retiree welfare-to-work mentoring

demonstration program for certain individuals; and imposing

additional powers and duties on the Department of Aging.

The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1)  Nationally, employment retention and job advancement

for former welfare clients and other low-wage workers have

been a major focus in work force development.

(2)  Mentoring provides an avenue for job advancement for

those clients so that they can continue to not only be

productive but also to enjoy prosperity and stay on the job.

(3)  One specific program in place for several years in

Kansas, known as the Kansas Welfare to Work Senior Mentoring

Initiative or "Mentoring Works," was exceptionally effective,

exceeded planned enrollment and job placement goals,

generated enthusiastic interest among employers and moved

individuals from welfare to work. The program received an

award from the United States Committee for the Celebration of

the United Nations International Year of Older Persons 1999-

United States Committee's National Awards for Excellence in

Aging Programs. The United States Department of Labor named

the program the winner of the 1999 "Architect of Change

Award" for what labor defines as "the most innovative and

forward thinking program in the workforce development

system."

(4)  The Retiree Mentoring Works Program is advantageous

for business and government because it addresses problems on

the employment site, thereby alleviating costly turnover for

companies and because it ensures job retention so that

welfare rolls can be reduced.

(5)  By giving benefits to employers, they are made part

owners in a program that is helping solve America's pressing

problem of transitioning people from welfare to work and that

ensures that those people will remain productive, independent

Americans with pride and dignity.

(6)  Retiree mentors pragmatically teach welfare clients

to fight their war on poverty by working their way to

prosperity.

(7)  Pennsylvania is fortunate to have a significant

percentage of older persons, and in fact, Pennsylvania's 60

and older population is expected to be 25% of the total

population, or more than 3 million people, by the year 2020.

(8)  Inherent in our demographic distinction is the deep

well of knowledge and expertise found in this Commonwealth's

population of retired individuals.

(9)  It is incumbent upon the General Assembly,

therefore, to utilize the valuable network of retired

Pennsylvanians who may be willing to share their knowledge

and expertise for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania

Retiree Mentoring Works Demonstration Program Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Client."  A resident of this Commonwealth who receives or

has received welfare payments or who is a low-wage worker.

"Department."  The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.

"Program."  The Pennsylvania Retiree Mentoring Works

Demonstration Program established by this act.

Section 3.  Pennsylvania Retiree Mentoring Works Demonstration

Program.

(a)  Establishment.--There is established within the

department a demonstration program to be known as the

Pennsylvania Retiree Mentoring Works Demonstration Program. The

purpose of the program shall be to provide mentoring services to

assist clients to find and retain employment.

(b)  Mentors.--

(1)  The department shall select retired individuals who

are at least 60 years of age to serve as mentors in the

program. The mentors shall assist clients in removing

barriers that have been major obstacles to finding and

retaining quality employment in rural, urban and suburban

regions of this Commonwealth.

(2)  While serving under the program, mentors shall not

be construed as contractors, employees or agents of the

department or the Commonwealth and shall not have a right or

privilege to any benefits by virtue of such service, except

as otherwise provided under section 5(b).

Section 4.  Powers and duties of the department.

(a)  Mentor recruitment and training.--The department shall

establish a process for recruiting quality retiree mentors,

training those mentors and purchasing the needed technology to

make the program operational.

(b)  Funding opportunities.--The department may seek

potential funding opportunities in the form of grants through

government agencies as well as private sector dollars to fund

the program.

(c)  Interagency cooperation.--The department shall work in

cooperation with the Team PA Workforce Investment Board, the

Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Public

Welfare to ensure the success of the program. The program shall

be a resource to the retention, advancement and rapid re-

employment services of the Department of Public Welfare.

(d)  Local cooperation.--The department shall work in

cooperation with the designated area agencies on aging

established in section 2206-A of the act of April 9, 1929

(P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, to

provide local involvement in the program.

(e)  Annual report.--The department shall prepare and submit

an annual report on the program to the General Assembly. The

report shall include pertinent information regarding the

effectiveness of the program, as well as findings and

recommendations for changes that may be deemed necessary to

improve the program's outcome.

Section 5.  Responsibilities of mentors.

(a)  General rule.--Retiree mentors shall serve as advisors,

counselors and teachers to clients in one-on-one scenarios where

they cover topics, including, but not limited to, job-seeking

and job-keeping skills, work ethic and responsibility as a

trusted employee.

(b)  Expenses.--Retiree mentors shall be reimbursed for

expenses incurred by them, as determined by the department.

Section 6.  General guidelines.

The department shall develop general guidelines to provide

for the administration of the program no later than three months

after the effective date of this section. Implementation of the

program shall commence no later than six months following

development of the guidelines.

Section 7.  Termination of program.

The program shall terminate three years from the date of

implementation.

Section 8.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.