PRINTER'S NO. 444
No. 4 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY McILHATTAN, MANDERINO, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO,
LESCOVITZ, CAPPABIANCA, READSHAW, S. H. SMITH, M. BAKER,
BELARDI, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN, CURRY,
FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FLICK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GRUCELA,
HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HUTCHINSON, R. MILLER, NICKOL, PHILLIPS,
PISTELLA, RAYMOND, SANTONI, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STAIRS, SURRA,
E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, WILT, WOJNAROSKI, COSTA,
SCRIMENTI, PETRARCA, M. COHEN, L. I. COHEN, LYNCH, BEBKO-
JONES, SCHULER, BARD, PIPPY, C. WILLIAMS, RUBLEY, FREEMAN,
JOSEPHS, BENNINGHOFF, BARRAR, SEMMEL, HARHART, MUNDY, HABAY,
COLEMAN, R. STEVENSON, STURLA, ROSS, SAINATO, DeLUCA, BUNT,
YOUNGBLOOD, LEWIS, RYAN, MICHLOVIC, STEELMAN, McCALL, TRICH,
SAYLOR, FLEAGLE, FORCIER, BOYES, ADOLPH, J. BAKER, BROWNE,
ZUG, ARGALL, MAHER, T. STEVENSON, HARPER, D. EVANS, BLAUM,
COY, EACHUS, CRUZ, MYERS, JAMES, LEDERER, WASHINGTON,
KIRKLAND, J. WILLIAMS, KELLER, GRUITZA, STETLER, SAMUELSON,
MANN, STABACK, BISHOP, DALLY, ORIE AND STERN,
FEBRUARY 5, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 5, 2001
AN ACT
1 Authorizing the maintenance and operation of multipurpose
2 service centers for displaced homemakers and single parents;
3 and providing for powers and duties of the Department of
4 Education.
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 Displaced
9 Homemaker and Single Parent Self-Sufficiency Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
1 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
2 context clearly indicates otherwise:
3 "Displaced homemaker" or "single parent." An individual who:
4 (1) Has worked in the home, providing unpaid household
5 services for family members.
6 (2) Is not gainfully employed or is underemployed.
7 (3) Has had, is experiencing or would have difficulty in
8 securing adequate employment.
9 (4) Has been dependent on the income of another family
10 member but is no longer supported by such income, or has been
11 dependent on government assistance but is no longer eligible
12 for such assistance, or is supported as the parent of minor
13 children by government assistance or other support.
14 "Multipurpose service center." A community-based
15 organization, local educational agency, postsecondary school,
16 institution of higher learning or area vocational education
17 school that provides the services specified in section 4 for
18 displaced homemakers and single parents.
19 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
20 Section 3. Powers and duties of secretary.
21 (a) Contracts.--The secretary may enter into contracts with
22 and make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for
23 purposes of supporting existing multipurpose centers, known as
24 "New Choices/New Options Career Development Centers."
25 (b) Application.--An application to become a multipurpose
26 service center shall be submitted annually to and approved
27 annually by the secretary. The secretary shall either approve or
28 disapprove the application prior to the multipurpose service
29 center being eligible to receive State funding. The application
30 shall include a statistical assessment of the service area and
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1 the service needs thereof, including proven experience and
2 success in assisting displaced homemakers and single parents to
3 achieve self-sufficiency as currently demonstrated by the
4 multipurpose service center and a demonstration of fiscal
5 support and stability.
6 (c) Revocation of approved application.--The secretary may
7 revoke the approval of a multipurpose service center if the
8 center fails to meet the criteria established under section 4.
9 The approval of a multipurpose service center shall remain in
10 effect unless revoked by the secretary.
11 Section 4. Multipurpose service centers.
12 (a) Services to be provided.--A multipurpose service center
13 shall provide the following:
14 (1) Job counseling services which shall:
15 (i) Be specifically designed for a person entering
16 the job market after a number of years as a homemaker and
17 include life skills training and counseling to prepare
18 displaced homemakers and single parents to enter and
19 sustain training and employment.
20 (ii) Operate to counsel displaced homemakers and
21 single parents with respect to appropriate job
22 opportunities, including high skill or high wage jobs
23 leading to self-sufficiency.
24 (iii) Prevocational training and educational
25 services including outreach and information about such
26 other programs which are determined to benefit displaced
27 homemakers and single parents to achieve economic self-
28 sufficiency.
29 (iv) Provide training-related support services,
30 including, but not limited to, dependent care,
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1 transportation, tuition, books, equipment and tools.
2 (v) Job search skills training to prepare displaced
3 homemakers and single parents for writing resumes,
4 completing job applications and employment interviewing.
5 (2) Job training, educational and job placement services
6 which shall provide information, direct training, referrals
7 to institutions providing postsecondary education credits or
8 other training that is appropriate for the individual to
9 become economically self-sufficient, including basic
10 education and bilingual programs when appropriate. Training
11 shall include courses offered through varied sources which
12 shall:
13 (i) Develop, in collaboration with State and local
14 government agencies and private employers, placement
15 programs for jobs in the public and private sectors.
16 (ii) Provide financial assistance in the payment of
17 expenses related to training and assist displaced
18 homemakers and single parents to gain admission to
19 existing public and private job training programs and
20 opportunities and determine eligibility for financial
21 aid.
22 (iii) Assist in identifying community needs and
23 creating new jobs in the public and private sectors.
24 (3) Information about and referrals to appropriate
25 health education sources shall be provided.
26 (4) Financial management services which provide
27 referrals for information with respect to insurance, taxes,
28 estate and probate problems, mortgages, loans and other
29 related financial matters.
30 (5) Outreach and information services with respect to
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1 Federal and State employment, education, health and
2 unemployment assistance programs which the secretary
3 determines would be beneficial to displaced homemakers and
4 single parents.
5 Section 5. Allocation of State funding.
6 (a) Projected expenditures to be submitted.--A multipurpose
7 service center shall submit projected expenditures to the
8 secretary for review prior to allocation of funding. The
9 secretary shall establish eligibility criteria which
10 multipurpose service centers must annually meet in order to
11 qualify for assistance under this act.
12 (b) Priority in allocation of funds.--The secretary shall
13 allocate and distribute State funding among multipurpose service
14 centers. Priority for financial assistance shall be given to
15 those multipurpose service centers that received State
16 assistance during fiscal year 1998-1999.
17 Section 6. Evaluation.
18 The secretary shall prepare and furnish to the General
19 Assembly a report, not later than one year after the effective
20 date of this act, which report shall include a thorough
21 assessment of each multipurpose service center.
22 Section 7. Nondiscrimination.
23 No person shall on the ground of sex, age, race, color,
24 religion or national origin be excluded from participating in,
25 be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
26 under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part with
27 funds made available under this act.
28 Section 8. Effective date.
29 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
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