PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 444 PRINTER'S NO. 1751
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, STERN, ARMSTRONG, CIVERA,
ZIMMERMAN AND STRITTMATTER, FEBRUARY 5, 2001
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
APRIL 30, 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.
1 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
2 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
3 context clearly indicates otherwise:
4 "Displaced homemaker" or "single parent." An individual who:
5 (1) Has worked in the home, providing unpaid household
6 services for family members.
7 (2) Is not gainfully employed or is underemployed.
8 (3) Has had, is experiencing or would have difficulty in
9 securing adequate employment.
10 (4) Has been dependent on the income of another family
11 member but is no longer supported by such income, or has been
12 dependent on government assistance but is no longer eligible
13 for such assistance, or is supported as the parent of minor
14 children by government assistance or other support.
15 "Multipurpose service center." A community-based
16 organization, local educational agency, postsecondary school,
17 institution of higher learning or area vocational education
18 school that provides the services specified in section 4 for
19 displaced homemakers and single parents.
20 "Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
21 Section 3. Powers and duties of secretary.
22 (a) Contracts.--The secretary may enter into contracts with
23 and make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for
24 purposes of supporting existing multipurpose centers, known as
25 "New Choices/New Options Career Development Centers."
26 (b) Application.--An application to become a multipurpose
27 service center shall be submitted annually to and approved
28 annually by the secretary. The secretary shall either approve or
29 disapprove the application prior to the multipurpose service
30 center being eligible to receive State funding. The application
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1 shall include a statistical assessment of the service area and
2 the service needs thereof, including proven experience and
3 success in assisting displaced homemakers and single parents to
4 achieve self-sufficiency as currently demonstrated by the
5 multipurpose service center and a demonstration of fiscal
6 support and stability. THE APPLICATION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE AN <--
7 EXPLANATION OF HOW THE MULTIPURPOSE SERVICE CENTER WILL
8 COORDINATE WITH THE LOCAL TEAM PENNSYLVANIA CAREER LINK CENTER
9 UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, OR
10 SIMILAR SUCCESSOR TO SUCH A CENTER, IN ORDER TO ENHANCE SERVICES
11 TO CLIENTS AND AVOID DUPLICATION.
12 (c) Revocation of approved application.--The secretary may
13 revoke the approval of a multipurpose service center if the
14 center fails to meet the criteria established under section 4.
15 The approval of a multipurpose service center shall remain in
16 effect unless revoked by the secretary.
17 Section 4. Multipurpose service centers.
18 (a) Services to be provided.--A multipurpose service center
19 shall provide the following:
20 (1) Job counseling services which shall:
21 (i) Be specifically designed for a person entering
22 the job market after a number of years as a homemaker and
23 include life skills training and counseling to prepare
24 displaced homemakers and single parents to enter and
25 sustain training and employment.
26 (ii) Operate to counsel displaced homemakers and
27 single parents with respect to appropriate job
28 opportunities, including high skill or high wage jobs
29 leading to self-sufficiency.
30 (iii) Prevocational training and educational
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1 services including outreach and information about such
2 other programs which are determined to benefit displaced
3 homemakers and single parents to achieve economic self-
4 sufficiency.
5 (iv) Provide training-related support services,
6 including, but not limited to, dependent care,
7 transportation, tuition, books, equipment and tools.
8 (v) Job search skills training to prepare displaced
9 homemakers and single parents for writing resumes,
10 completing job applications and employment interviewing.
11 (2) Job training, educational and job placement services
12 which shall provide information, direct training, referrals
13 to institutions providing postsecondary education credits or
14 other training that is appropriate for the individual to
15 become economically self-sufficient, including basic
16 education and bilingual programs when appropriate. Training
17 shall include courses offered through varied sources which
18 shall:
19 (i) Develop, in collaboration with State and local
20 government agencies and private employers, placement
21 programs for jobs in the public and private sectors.
22 (ii) Provide financial assistance in the payment of
23 expenses related to training and assist displaced
24 homemakers and single parents to gain admission to
25 existing public and private job training programs and
26 opportunities and determine eligibility for financial
27 aid.
28 (iii) Assist in identifying community needs and
29 creating new jobs in the public and private sectors.
30 (3) Information about and referrals to appropriate
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1 health education sources shall be provided.
2 (4) Financial management services which provide
3 referrals for information with respect to insurance, taxes,
4 estate and probate problems, mortgages, loans and other
5 related financial matters.
6 (5) Outreach and information services with respect to
7 Federal and State employment, education, health and
8 unemployment assistance programs which the secretary
9 determines would be beneficial to displaced homemakers and
10 single parents.
11 Section 5. Allocation of State funding.
12 (a) Projected expenditures to be submitted.--A multipurpose
13 service center shall submit projected expenditures to the
14 secretary for review prior to allocation of funding. The
15 secretary shall establish eligibility criteria which
16 multipurpose service centers must annually meet in order to
17 qualify for assistance under this act.
18 (b) Priority in allocation of funds.--The secretary shall
19 allocate and distribute State funding among multipurpose service
20 centers IN RURAL, URBAN AND SUBURBAN REGIONS OF THIS <--
21 COMMONWEALTH. Priority for financial assistance shall be given
22 to those multipurpose service centers that received State
23 assistance during fiscal year 1998-1999.
24 Section 6. Evaluation.
25 The secretary shall prepare and furnish to the General
26 Assembly a report, not later than one year after the effective
27 date of this act, which report shall include a thorough
28 assessment of each multipurpose service center.
29 Section 7. Nondiscrimination.
30 No person shall on the ground of sex, age, race, color,
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1 religion or national origin be excluded from participating in,
2 be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
3 under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part with
4 funds made available under this act.
5 Section 8. Effective date.
6 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001, OR IMMEDIATELY, <--
7 WHICHEVER IS LATER.
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