THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, COSTA, WILLIAMS, STACK, FONTANA, FARNESE, McILHINNEY, BRUBAKER, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, DINNIMAN, LEACH, YUDICHAK AND SOLOBAY, MARCH 6, 2012

REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 6, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An

act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public

welfare laws of the Commonwealth," further providing for

definitions and programs relating to domestic violence and

rape victims services.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The definitions of "domestic violence center,"

"rape crisis center" and "rape crisis program" in section 1202

of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public

Welfare Code, added June 18, 1982 (P.L.544, No.157), are amended

to read:

Section 1202.  Definitions.--As used in this article:

* * *

"Domestic violence center" means:

(1)  an organization which has as its primary purpose the

operation of domestic violence programs; or

(2)  the coordinating body of [an organization] organizations 

which has as its primary purpose the operation of domestic

violence programs.

* * *

"Rape crisis center" means:

(1)  an organization[,] which has as its primary purpose the

operation of rape crisis programs; or

(2)  the coordinating body of an organization which has as

its primary purpose the operation of rape crisis programs.

"Rape crisis program" means a program which has as its

primary purpose the provision of direct services to victims of

sexual assault, including, but not limited to, crisis

intervention, counseling, victim advocacy, information and

referral, victim-witness and assistance, accompaniment through

the medical, police and judicial systems as well as providing

community education and prevention programs on rape and sexual

assaults.

* * *

Section 2.  Section 1204 of the act, added June 18, 1982

(P.L.544, No.157), is amended to read:

Section 1204.  Program Grants Authorized.--The department

shall make grants to domestic violence centers and rape crisis

centers for the operation of domestic violence programs and rape

crisis programs consistent with this article. [In awarding

grants, the department shall consider the population to be

served, the geographical area to be serviced, the scope of the

services, the need for services, and the amount of funds

provided from other sources] Grants may be made to domestic

violence centers and rape crisis centers in whatever combination

or manner is considered to ensure the most effective delivery of

victim services. The department shall adopt regulations that

establish a formula and eligibility for grants that shall

provide for access to services in every community and consider

the following for each center receiving a grant: the number of

residents in the municipalities to be served, the type and

extent of services to be provided, the level of demand for

services, the level of unmet services, the degree to which

grants under this article are used for direct services to

victims and dependents, the degree to which other funding

sources are used to complement or support such services and

cost-efficiency and nonduplication of services. Other factors

may be considered only to the extent they impact on the delivery

of services to victims and dependents. The department shall

require that each center receiving a grant complies with

appropriate accounting standards and may promulgate regulations

regarding forfeiture of grant money for failure to comply with

appropriate accounting standards.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.