PRINTER'S NO. 1607
No. 1298 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, MAY 5, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," providing for family resource
6 networks.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11 article to read:
12 ARTICLE XIV-A
13 FAMILY RESOURCE NETWORKS
14 Section 1401-A. Short title.
15 This article shall be known and may be cited as the Family
16 Resource Networks Act.
17 Section 1402-A. Definitions.
18 The following words and phrases when used in this article
19 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1 context clearly indicates otherwise:
2 "Department." The Department of Education of the
3 Commonwealth.
4 "Eligible school." A school with 60% or more of its students
5 eligible for the free or reduced price meal programs under the
6 National School Lunch Act (60 Stat. 230, 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et
7 seq.) at the school.
8 "Program." A family resource network which promotes the
9 availability, coordination, integration and utilization of
10 social and health services, associated resources and ancillary
11 resources to meet the needs of children and families in
12 addressing issues that may serve to limit student academic
13 achievement and containing at least the components described
14 under section 1404-A(b).
15 Section 1403-A. Programs.
16 The board of directors of a school district may authorize the
17 development and implementation of a program for eligible schools
18 within the school district.
19 Section 1404-A. Family resource networks.
20 (a) Family resource networks.--A family resource network
21 shall:
22 (1) Be located within the area from which the school's
23 students it serves are drawn and shall be readily accessible
24 to that population.
25 (2) Forge mutual long-term relationships with
26 governmental agencies and community service organizations to
27 meet the nonacademic needs of students and families.
28 (3) Assist schools, students and their families with the
29 delivery of social and health care services.
30 (4) Assist with the coordination and integration of
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1 services by linking public and governmental service agencies
2 and public and private community groups and organizations
3 with schools.
4 (b) Program components.--Every family resource network shall
5 develop and implement programs that, at a minimum:
6 (1) Make referrals to health care and social service
7 providers and agencies.
8 (2) Support existing family support and parent education
9 programs.
10 (3) Provide updated information about program needs,
11 availability of services and the location of such programs
12 and services.
13 (4) Promote underutilized services and programs.
14 (5) Recruit service providers and agencies to provide
15 health and social services that are needed and currently
16 unavailable to students and their families.
17 (6) Collaborate and coordinate services with local
18 nongovernmental and governmental health and social service
19 agencies.
20 (7) Provide advice, consultation, training and resource
21 information to schools about available health and social
22 service programs.
23 (8) Establish partnerships between the schools and other
24 organizations which include, but shall not be limited to,
25 community-based organizations and local civic organizations,
26 faith-based institutions, business and professional groups,
27 environmental groups, neighborhood organizations and
28 organizations or groups focusing on crime prevention issues.
29 (9) Develop and sustain community programs for school
30 volunteers to support and participate in school programs and
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1 activities.
2 (10) Ensure that counseling and counselors are available
3 and accessible to students and their families which address,
4 among other things, full-time, part-time and summer
5 employment training and placement, substance abuse issues,
6 family crisis issues and mental health issues.
7 Section 1405-A. Funding.
8 (a) Payments to school districts.--Subsequent to approval of
9 an application by a school district with one or more eligible
10 schools under its authority, the department shall pay to the
11 school district for an eligible school a portion of the costs to
12 implement and continue programs under this article.
13 (b) Technical assistance.--The department shall provide
14 technical assistance to school districts in completing the
15 initial application for funding.
16 (c) Funding amount; uses.--The maximum funding award will be
17 established by the department. Funds provided by the department
18 to a school district for an eligible school shall be used to
19 defray the costs incurred by the eligible school in developing,
20 implementing and continuing programs under this article.
21 (d) Applications, review and award.--The department, in
22 consultation with the Governor's Children and Families Cabinet,
23 shall develop an application process for school districts making
24 application pursuant to this section. The application shall be
25 published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and may be placed on the
26 department's World Wide Web page.
27 (e) Guidelines.--The department shall develop guidelines for
28 the purpose of advising and assisting eligible schools in
29 establishing, operating and maintaining programs and family
30 resource networks, which shall be published in the Pennsylvania
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1 Bulletin and may be placed on the department's World Wide Web
2 page.
3 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003, or
4 immediately, whichever is later.
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