SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 444, 1751, 1995 PRINTER'S NO. 3839
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
SENATOR BRIGHTBILL, RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, IN SENATE,
RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED, MAY 6, 2002
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 BE 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 FOR ONE YEAR FOLLOWING APPROVAL unless revoked by the <--
17 secretary.
18 Section 4. Multipurpose service centers.
19 (a) Services to be provided.--A multipurpose service center
20 shall provide the following:
21 (1) Job counseling services which shall:
22 (i) Be specifically designed for a person entering
23 the job market after a number of years as a homemaker and
24 include life skills training and counseling to prepare
25 displaced homemakers and single parents to enter and
26 sustain training and employment.
27 (ii) Operate to counsel displaced homemakers and
28 single parents with respect to appropriate job
29 opportunities, including high skill or high wage jobs
30 leading to self-sufficiency.
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1 (iii) Prevocational PROVIDE PREVOCATIONAL training <--
2 and educational services including outreach and
3 information about such other programs which are
4 determined to benefit displaced homemakers and single
5 parents to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
6 (iv) Provide training-related support services,
7 including, but not limited to, dependent care,
8 transportation, tuition, books, equipment and tools.
9 (v) Job PROVIDE JOB search skills training to <--
10 prepare displaced homemakers and single parents for
11 writing resumes, completing job applications and
12 employment interviewing.
13 (2) Job training, educational and job placement services
14 which shall provide information, direct training, referrals
15 to institutions providing postsecondary education credits or
16 other training that is appropriate for the individual to
17 become economically self-sufficient, including basic
18 education and bilingual programs when appropriate. Training
19 shall include CONSIST OF courses offered through varied <--
20 sources which shall, INCLUDING: <--
21 (i) Develop DEVELOPING, in collaboration with State <--
22 and local government agencies and private employers,
23 placement programs for jobs in the public and private
24 sectors.
25 (ii) Provide PROVIDING financial assistance in the <--
26 payment of expenses related to training and assist <--
27 ASSISTING displaced homemakers and single parents to gain <--
28 admission to existing public and private job training
29 programs and opportunities and determine eligibility for
30 financial aid.
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1 (iii) Assist ASSISTING in identifying community <--
2 needs and creating new jobs in the public and private
3 sectors.
4 (3) Information about and referrals to appropriate
5 health education sources shall be provided. <--
6 (4) Financial management services which provide
7 referrals for information with respect to insurance, taxes,
8 estate and probate problems, mortgages, loans and other
9 related financial matters.
10 (5) Outreach and information services with respect to
11 Federal and State employment, education, health and
12 unemployment assistance programs which the secretary
13 determines would be beneficial to displaced homemakers and
14 single parents.
15 Section 5. Allocation of State funding.
16 (a) Projected expenditures to be submitted.--A multipurpose
17 service center shall submit projected expenditures to the
18 secretary for review prior to allocation of funding. The
19 secretary shall establish eligibility criteria which
20 multipurpose service centers must annually meet in order to
21 qualify for assistance under this act.
22 (b) Priority in allocation of funds.--The secretary shall
23 allocate and distribute State funding AVAILABLE STATE <--
24 APPROPRIATIONS among multipurpose service centers. in rural, <--
25 urban and suburban regions of this Commonwealth. Priority for <--
26 financial assistance shall be given to those multipurpose
27 service centers that received State assistance during fiscal
28 year 1998-1999.
29 Section 6. Evaluation.
30 The secretary shall prepare and furnish to the General
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1 Assembly a report, not later than one year after the effective
2 date of this act, which report shall include a thorough
3 assessment of each multipurpose service center.
4 Section 7. Nondiscrimination.
5 No person shall on the ground of sex, age, race, color,
6 religion or national origin be excluded from participating in,
7 be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
8 under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part with
9 funds made available under this act.
10 Section 8. Effective date.
11 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001, or immediately, <--
12 whichever is later. 2002, AND SHALL EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 2007, <--
13 UNLESS IT SHALL BE SOONER REENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
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