PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 697 PRINTER'S NO. 1560
No. 629 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY JUBELIRER, HOPPER, SHAFFER, HELFRICK, CORMAN,
PECORA, LOEPER, REIBMAN, RHOADES, ANDREZESKI AND BRIGHTBILL,
APRIL 12, 1983
SENATOR HOPPER, AGING AND YOUTH, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 6, 1983
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Senior Center Grant Program and Revolving Loan <--
2 Fund; providing for grants and loans to senior centers; <--
3 imposing powers and duties on the Department of Aging; and
4 making an appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Senior Center
9 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund Act. <--
10 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
11 (a) Purpose of program.--The purpose of the senior center
12 program in Pennsylvania is to facilitate the social, emotional
13 and physical well-being of older Pennsylvanians by the
14 establishment of and support for community-based services and
15 activities. Senior center programs are designed to enhance the
16 dignity, support the independence and encourage the involvement
17 of senior citizens in the community.
18 (b) Facilities.--In order to achieve this purpose, a
1 facility must be in a physical condition which provides an
2 atmosphere conducive to the functions of a senior center. The
3 center should be in compliance with all government safety
4 standards.
5 (c) Use of loans GRANTS.--By establishment of the Senior <--
6 Center Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund, the General <--
7 Assembly intends that grants and loans provided under this act <--
8 be used to provide a physical facility conducive to the
9 achievement of these goals as well as other purposes.
10 Section 3. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Area agency on aging." An agency designated by the
15 Department of Aging to administer and develop an area plan for a
16 comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older
17 people within the boundaries of a defined planning and service
18 area.
19 "Department." The Department of Aging.
20 "Fund." "PROGRAM." Senior Center Grant Program and Revolving <--
21 Loan Fund.
22 "Senior center." A facility where OWNED AND OPERATED BY A <--
23 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, RELIGIOUS GROUP OR PUBLIC AGENCY IN
24 WHICH older people gather and where services are delivered in
25 accordance with the policies and standards promulgated by the
26 department.
27 Section 4. Establishment of the Senior Center Grant Program.
28 and Revolving Loan Fund. <--
29 (a) Fund established.--There is hereby created a special
30 fund in the Treasury Department to be known as the Senior Center
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1 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund to which shall be credited
2 all appropriations made from the State Lottery Fund by the
3 General Assembly as well as repayment of principal and interest
4 on loans made pursuant to this act.
5 (b) Operation and administration of fund.--The fund shall be
6 operated and administered by the department.
7 (c) Amounts to be requisitioned.--Upon approval of a grant
8 or loan, the department shall routinely requisition from the
9 fund such amounts as shall be allocated by the department for
10 grants and loans to senior centers.
11 (d) Fund for loans to be revolving.--When and as the amount
12 so allocated by the department as loans to senior centers are
13 repaid to the department pursuant to the terms of the agreements
14 made and entered into with the department, the department shall
15 pay these amounts into the fund, it being the intent of this act
16 that the fund shall operate as a revolving fund whereby all
17 appropriations and payments made to the fund may be applied and
18 reapplied to the purposes of this act.
19 THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A SPECIAL SENIOR CENTER GRANT <--
20 PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE TO PROVIDE A ONE-
21 TIME GRANT TO SENIOR CENTERS FOR REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION
22 OF THESE FACILITIES.
23 Section 5. Grant and loan applications. <--
24 Grant and loan applications shall be developed by the <--
25 department and distributed to all area agencies on aging. The
26 regional area agency on aging shall assist the senior center
27 applying for a grant or loan under this act in completing the <--
28 applications and verify, in writing, on the grant or loan <--
29 application that the application complies with all the
30 requirements of either section 6 or 7 depending upon whether the <--
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1 application is for a grant, loan or both. The area agency on
2 aging shall then forward the application to the department for
3 their approval.
4 Section 6. Grant requirements. <--
5 (a) Eligibility.--Grants shall be given by the department to
6 applying senior centers provided the grant is for any or all of
7 the following purposes:
8 (1) To comply with applicable Federal, State or local
9 safety standards and other laws so designated by the
10 department in directives.
11 (2) To maintain the senior center in a condition that
12 provides for the health, welfare and safety of senior
13 citizens as determined by directives promulgated by the
14 department.
15 (3) To modify the senior center to make it accessible to
16 the handicapped as determined by directives promulgated by
17 the department.
18 (b) Maximum grant.--Grants issued pursuant to this act shall
19 be for a maximum of $10,000. No senior center may obtain a grant
20 or grants in the aggregate which exceeds $10,000.
21 Section 7. Loan requirements.
22 (a) Eligibility.--Loans shall be given by the department to
23 applying senior centers provided the loan is for purposes other
24 than those in section 6, is for purposes provided for in
25 departmental directives and complies with all other requirements
26 of this section.
27 (b) Maximum loan.--Loans issued pursuant to this act shall
28 be for a maximum of $10,000. No senior center may have
29 outstanding loans in the aggregate which exceeds $10,000.
30 (c) Department approval.--No loan shall receive final
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1 approval by the department unless the application contains,
2 without being limited to, the following provisions:
3 (1) Detailed cost estimates describing the need for the
4 loan.
5 (2) A financial plan to show amount of assets and
6 projected revenues for repayment of the loan.
7 (3) Proof of adequate insurance by the applicant for the
8 term of the loan. Adequate insurance shall be determined by
9 the department and shall include, but not be limited to, fire
10 and liability insurance.
11 (4) A statement on the loan application, signed by the
12 applicant, certifying that the loan recipient shall not
13 discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion or
14 national origin in the use of its facilities or employment
15 practices.
16 (d) Loan terms.--Loans made from the fund shall be for a
17 period of not more than ten years and subject to the payment of
18 interest of 2% annually.
19 (e) Defaults.--In the event of nonpayment of premiums
20 resulting in default by a loan recipient, the department shall
21 either take appropriate legal action or withhold and instruct
22 the area agency on aging of the loan recipient to withhold any
23 funds which are to be paid to the senior center by the
24 Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or both. Any funds
25 withheld shall be applied to repayment of the loan principal and
26 interest. The extent of nonpayment of premiums resulting in
27 default and the application of this subsection shall be
28 determined by the department by directive.
29 Section 8. Fund audits and reports.
30 (a) Fiscal year defined.--The fiscal year of the fund shall
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1 be from July 1 through June 30 of the succeeding year.
2 (b) Financial statement to be filed.--Ninety days prior to
3 the end of the fiscal year, the fund shall file a financial
4 statement including revenues, expenditures, status of
5 outstanding obligations and a report on the operation of the
6 agency with the Governor, the Auditor General and the General
7 Assembly.
8 (c) Audit by Auditor General.--The accounts, books and
9 records of the fund, including receipts, disbursements,
10 contracts, mortgages and other financial records shall be
11 audited and examined from time to time by the Auditor General.
12 SECTION 6. GRANT REQUIREMENTS. <--
13 (A) ELIGIBILITY.--GRANTS SHALL BE GIVEN BY THE DEPARTMENT TO
14 APPLYING SENIOR CENTERS PROVIDED THE GRANT IS FOR ANY OR ALL OF
15 THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
16 (1) TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT OF APRIL 27, 1927 (P.L.465,
17 NO.299), REFERRED TO AS THE FIRE AND PANIC ACT, AND OTHER
18 APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND OTHER
19 LAWS SO DESIGNATED BY DIRECTIVES PROMULGATED BY THE
20 DEPARTMENT.
21 (2) TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1965
22 (P.L.459, NO.235), ENTITLED "AN ACT REQUIRING THAT CERTAIN
23 BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTED WITH COMMONWEALTH FUNDS
24 ADHERE TO CERTAIN PRINCIPLES, STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO
25 MAKE THE SAME ACCESSIBLE TO AND USABLE BY THE PHYSICALLY
26 HANDICAPPED, AND PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT," AND SECTION 504
27 OF THE FEDERAL REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 TO MODIFY THE
28 SENIOR CENTER TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE HANDICAPPED AS TO
29 DESIGNATED BY DIRECTIVES PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
30 (3) TO ASSURE THAT THE SENIOR CENTER IS IN A CONDITION
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1 THAT PROVIDES FOR THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF SENIOR
2 CITIZENS AS DETERMINED BY DIRECTIVES PROMULGATED BY THE
3 DEPARTMENT.
4 (B) MAXIMUM GRANT.--GRANTS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT SHALL
5 BE FOR A MAXIMUM OF $20,000. NO SENIOR CENTER MAY OBTAIN A GRANT
6 OR GRANTS IN THE AGGREGATE WHICH EXCEEDS $20,000.
7 Section 9 7. Powers and duties of department. <--
8 The powers and duties of the department shall be:
9 (1) To accept grants from the Federal Government and any
10 other individual, agency or government for use in the fund <--
11 PROGRAM. <--
12 (2) To promulgate such rules, regulations and directives
13 as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this
14 act.
15 Section 10. Appropriation. <--
16 The sum of $10,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
17 necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the State Lottery Fund
18 to the Treasury Department for deposit into the Senior Center
19 Grant Program and Revolving Loan Fund.
20 Section 11. Limitation on time for initial loans.
21 No grant or loan shall be made under this act until 120 days
22 after the effective date.
23 SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION. <--
24 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1983-1984, THE SUM OF $10,000,000 IS HEREBY
25 APPROPRIATED OUT OF THE STATE LOTTERY FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
26 AGING FOR THE SENIOR CENTER GRANT PROGRAM. OF THIS AMOUNT,
27 $8,000,000 SHALL BE ALLOCATED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
28 ALLOCATION FORMULA SET FORTH IN SECTION 2210-A(A) OF THE ACT OF
29 APRIL 9, 1929 (P.L.177, NO.175), KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE
30 CODE OF 1929, AND $1,800,000 SHALL BE WITHHELD BY THE DEPARTMENT
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1 FOR DISPOSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 6.
2 THE REMAINING $200,000 MAY BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
3 AREA AGENCIES ON AGING FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. THE
4 APPROPRIATION MADE BY THIS SECTION SHALL NOT LAPSE AND SHALL
5 REMAIN AVAILABLE UNTIL EXPENDED.
6 Section 12 9. Effective date. <--
7 This act shall take effect immediately.
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