PRINTER'S NO. 1893
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1678
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY A. DAVIS, SANCHEZ AND A. BROWN, JUNE 23, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUNE 23, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to
consumer credit, establishing the Grieving Parent Temporary
Debt Relief Grant Program and the Grieving Parent Temporary
Debt Relief Fund; and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 6105. Grieving Parent Temporary Debt Relief Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt
Relief Grant Program is established in the department. The
department shall develop and implement grant program guidelines
for the distribution of grants from the fund.
(b) Eligibility.--A debtor whose child died due to gun
violence shall be eligible to receive a grant under the grant
program.
(c) Notice.--The department shall transmit notice of the
grant program availability to the Legislative Reference Bureau
for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
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(d) Permitted uses.--Grants shall be in the form of a
payment to a debtor for housing payments, public utility
payments, wireless communication payments or other payments
approved by the department.
(e) Grant amount.--Grants shall not exceed $10,000 per
applicant.
(f) Fund establishment.--The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt
Relief Fund is established as a special fund in the State
Treasury. Money in the fund shall be appropriated to the
department on a continuing basis for purposes of the grant
program.
(g) Sources of revenue.--
(1) The sum of $1,000,000 shall be appropriated from the
General Fund to the fund for the purpose of making grants
under this section.
(2) The fund may be supplemented by money received from
the following sources:
(i) Federal money appropriated to the department.
(ii) State money appropriated to the department.
(iii) Gifts and other contributions from public and
private sources.
(h) Report.--The department shall submit an annual report to
the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31 of each
year consisting of any supplemental money received under
subsection (g) and all grants made under this section.
(i) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Child." A minor child of a biological parent, stepparent or
adoptive parent or in the care of a legal guardian.
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"Creditor." An individual or person to whom money is owed
for the payment of a mortgage, rent or utility bill for gas,
electric, water, sewer, oil, propane or other services.
"Debtor." A biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent
or legal guardian of a child that is liable to a creditor.
"Fund." The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt Relief Fund
established under subsection (f).
"Grant program." The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt Relief
Grant Program established under subsection (a).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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