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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 2, 2022 10:24 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Pamela A. DeLissio and Rep. Sheryl M. Delozier |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Vehicle Registration & Driver’s License Check-Off |
| Child abuse and neglect is a significant problem throughout the United States as well as Pennsylvania. Over 3 million children per year are abused or neglected in the U.S., and over 40,000 are the subject of reports in Pennsylvania. It has been estimated that 1 in 1000 children in Pennsylvania are abused or neglected according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. For years, our state has taken a proactive role by instituting laws and programs aimed to reduce child abuse and neglect by investing in prevention programs, improving procedures, reporting, and investigation. The Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) is one of these efforts. It was established in December 1988 by Act 151 [11 P.S. §§ 2231- 2238 relating to the Children’s Trust Fund Act (CTFA)], operates under the administration of the 15-member CTF Board composed of legislative appointees selected by the House and Senate and citizens appointed by the governor and is supported by the Department of Human Services (DHS). The CTF is dedicated to funding community-based programs to prevent child abuse and neglect through three-year grants. Since its inception, the CTF has invested more than $40 million through 320 grants. The CTF grants are awarded in response to a Request for Application (RFA) process. Grantees may apply for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years. Selected grantees must provide a minimum local match of 25 percent of the requested CTF grant award for the first year and a minimum local match of a 50 percent of the requested grant award for the second and third years. The CTF is authorized to expend $1.4 Million per year (current authorized expenditure ceiling). Funds for the CTF are generated from a $10 surcharge on all applications for marriage licenses and divorce complaints. CTF funds are considered a state special fund that are non-lapsing. Donations to the CTF may be designated via annual state tax return and other external donations also contribute to the fund. Unfortunately, in the past ten years, the CTF has seen a decline in funding coming from marriage licenses and divorce complaints. Therefore, we need to continue finding ways to support this fund. To continue supporting the work of the CTF, we will be introducing legislation that will allow individuals renewing registrations or a driver’s license to include an optional $5 donation to the CTF. Child abuse has an incredibly detrimental effect on every life it touches, with its impact often lasting a lifetime. Studies have shown that child maltreatment is associated with a wide array of negative mental and health-related outcomes that impact both the child and the family. One of the most important strategies in eliminating child abuse is achieved by implementing measures of prevention. Please Join us in cosponsoring this legislation as we continue supporting every effort to prevent abuse and neglect in this very vulnerable population. |
Introduced as HB2437