SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 633, 3555 PRINTER'S NO. 3732
No. 200 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY MUNDY, BROWNE, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BLACKWELL, BLAUM, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CURRY, DALEY, DALLY, DeWEESE, FABRIZIO, FLICK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GERGELY, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, GRUITZA, HARHAI, HERMAN, JAMES, JOSEPHS, W. KELLER, LaGROTTA, LEACH, MACKERETH, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL, NAILOR, PALLONE, PETRARCA, PISTELLA, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SEMMEL, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STAIRS, STETLER, STURLA, SURRA, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO, WANSACZ, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, TRUE, VEON, GERBER, SHAPIRO, D. EVANS, BIANCUCCI, DERMODY, RAMALEY, ROONEY, RUBLEY, WOJNAROSKI, GINGRICH, WILT AND MELIO, FEBRUARY 16, 2005
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, MARCH 15, 2006
AN ACT 1 Providing for the strengthening and enrichment of children and <-- 2 families by promoting safe, healthy and nurturing home 3 environments, for the educational and supportive services of 4 home visiting programs in this Commonwealth, for the Ounce of 5 Prevention Program and for integrated community-based 6 delivery of services; specifying program requirements; 7 designating an oversight board; providing for 8 responsibilities of the board and the Department of Public 9 Welfare; specifying criteria for community program grant 10 funding; requiring training and an independent evaluation 11 process; and providing for quality assurance. 12 ESTABLISHING THE OUNCE OF PREVENTION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS <-- 13 TO CERTAIN ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE HOME VISITATION AND OTHER 14 SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK EXPECTANT FIRST-TIME MOTHERS 15 AND THEIR NEWBORN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES; AND PROVIDING FOR 16 THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE. 17 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 18 hereby enacts as follows: 19 Section 1. Short title.
1 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Ounce of 2 Prevention PROGRAM Act. <-- 3 Section 2. Legislative intent. 4 (a) Funding.-- <-- 5 (1) The General Assembly finds that family well-being is 6 critical to a child's health and development, that parenting 7 is a difficult responsibility and that most of the assistance 8 available to Pennsylvania families occurs after there is a 9 problem and often provides too little, too late. Research 10 shows that comprehensive early home visitation programs 11 prevent child abuse, help develop positive parent-child 12 interactions, help brain development of the child, have a 13 long-term savings in both public and private health care 14 costs and help avoid future social problems. In addition to 15 addressing child abuse, such programs help to ensure that 16 families' social and medical needs are met and that children 17 are ready for success in school. 18 (2) The General Assembly finds that Pennsylvania needs 19 broad implementation of a program to provide support for 20 families which need and desire assistance in establishing 21 healthy relationships and environments for their children. 22 (3) The General Assembly intends to appropriate funds to 23 the board to carry out the program. 24 (b) Intent.--It is the intent of the General Assembly to 25 establish the Ounce of Prevention Program as a collaborative 26 effort that builds on existing community-based home visiting and 27 family support resources and will not duplicate the existing 28 services. It is further the intent of the General Assembly to 29 provide the needed intensity and duration of services extending 30 beyond those available through Head Start and Early Head Start 20050H0200B3732 - 2 -
1 programs, thus filling a major gap in the existing continuum of 2 early childhood prevention and assistance services. 3 IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH THE <-- 4 OUNCE OF PREVENTION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAMS AND PURPOSES 5 OF EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED HOME VISITATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT 6 SERVICES WITHOUT DUPLICATING EXISTING SERVICES. 7 Section 3. Definitions. 8 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 9 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 10 context clearly indicates otherwise: 11 "Board." The Children's Trust Fund Board. <-- 12 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the 13 Commonwealth. 14 "LOW INCOME." TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE <-- 15 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. <-- 16 "Program." The Ounce of Prevention Program established in 17 section 4 (relating to Ounce of Prevention Program). <-- 18 Section 4. Ounce of Prevention Program. 19 (a) Establishment.--The Ounce of Prevention Program is 20 established as a voluntary home visiting grant program for <-- 21 expectant mothers and newborn children and their families. 22 ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS A GRANT PROGRAM FOR NOT- <-- 23 FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR PUBLIC ENTITIES TO PROVIDE HOME 24 VISITATION SERVICES AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME, AT- 25 RISK, EXPECTANT FIRST-TIME MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORN CHILDREN 26 AND FAMILIES. 27 (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to strengthen 28 families; promote early childhood growth and development; 29 improve childhood immunization rates and well-child care; 30 improve child health outcomes; improve school readiness; 20050H0200B3732 - 3 -
1 increase family self-sufficiency; increase the involvement of 2 both parents with their children; and reduce the incidence of 3 child abuse and neglect through a primary prevention approach <-- 4 that offers home visits and linkages to family supports for 5 families and their newborn children and continues until the 6 children reach five years of age or begin the Head Start 7 Program. 8 Section 5. Delivery of services. 9 Service delivery under this act shall be community-based and 10 collaborative. Services shall be integrated and coordinated with 11 other services provided under Head Start and Early Head Start 12 programs and by local school districts, as well as with other 13 home visiting and family support service delivery systems 14 currently in place in communities throughout this Commonwealth. 15 Services shall be offered with the intensity and duration 16 required to prevent child abuse and neglect, improve child 17 development and child health outcomes and to promote child 18 school-readiness and educational development. 19 Section 6. Program requirements. 20 The program established under this act shall provide for 21 intensive home visits and include the following critical home 22 visiting elements: 23 (1) Initiation of services. This element provides for: 24 (i) Initiation of services prenatally or at the 25 birth of the first child. 26 (ii) Use of a standardized assessment tool to 27 systematically identify those at-risk families most in 28 need of services. The home visitor shall inform any 29 potential participant that the assessment or 30 participation in the program is purely voluntary. 20050H0200B3732 - 4 -
1 (iii) Offering services on a purely voluntary basis 2 and use of positive, persistent outreach efforts to build 3 family trust. 4 (iv) Working with family members to identify 5 strengths and resources that can be mobilized to help 6 resolve identified family concerns. 7 (2) Service content. This element provides for: 8 (i) Offering services over the long term and 9 intensively, with well-defined criteria for increasing or 10 decreasing the intensity of the service. 11 (ii) Providing services that focus on supporting 12 first-time at-risk expectant parents and families, 13 encouraging the interaction of both parents with their 14 child, and enhancing the development of the child, 15 including school readiness and educational development. 16 (iii) Linking at-risk families to medical providers 17 to ensure optimal health and development of the child, 18 timely childhood immunizations, well-child care that 19 provides for developmental assessment and is consistent 20 with the standards and periodicity schedules of Medicaid 21 and the American Academy of Pediatrics and additional 22 services, as needed. 23 (iv) Ensuring confidentiality and privacy for 24 families. 25 (v) Having periodic evaluations of program 26 effectiveness. 27 (vi) Having established mechanisms in place to refer 28 first-time at-risk expectant parents and families for 29 other intervention services available in the community. 30 (3) Qualifications and training of home visitors. This 20050H0200B3732 - 5 -
1 element provides for: 2 (i) Ensuring that home visitors have basic training 3 in areas, including substance abuse, child abuse, 4 domestic violence, drug-exposed infants and parents, 5 child development, services available in the community, 6 infant care and early childhood development, school 7 readiness and parenting. 8 (ii) Ensuring that home visitors conducting home 9 visits are certified registered nurses or are qualified 10 home visitors under 45 CFR § 1304.52(e) (relating to 11 human resources management). 12 (iii) Ensuring that home visitors have preservice 13 and ongoing training that is specific to their job 14 requirements. 15 (iv) Ensuring that home visit providers receive 16 ongoing reviews and direct and intensive supervision. 17 (v) Ensuring that home visitors are qualified 18 community-based private, not-for-profit or public 19 organizations that have strong community support and the 20 social and fiscal capacity to provide the service. 21 Section 7. Children's Trust Fund Board. 22 (a) Designation.--The board is designated as an oversight 23 board. 24 (b) Powers and duties.--The board has the following powers 25 and duties: 26 (1) To develop measurable outcomes consistent with 27 established home visiting programs operating in this 28 Commonwealth. 29 (2) To establish assessment and credentialing standards 30 for home visitation programs receiving grant funding under 20050H0200B3732 - 6 -
1 this act. 2 (3) To review grant applications and award grants for 3 home visiting programs. No nongovernmental member may: 4 (i) Review grant applications or vote to award 5 grants to entities by which they are employed or with 6 which they are directly affiliated. 7 (ii) Be a lobbyist as defined under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 8 13 (relating to lobby regulation and disclosure). 9 (4) Grants for home visiting programs shall be awarded 10 on a three-year basis. The board may rescind a portion of the 11 grant not yet allocated if it determines through outcome, 12 expenditure and performance data submitted by the grantees 13 under section 8 (relating to implementation) that the funds 14 are not being properly utilized. 15 (5) Develop an assessment tool to identify at-risk 16 families who are eligible for home visiting grants under this 17 act. The assessment tool shall be a mechanism to identify 18 risk factors that may lead to child abuse or neglect or other 19 poor childhood outcomes. 20 (6) Establish policies for the development, 21 implementation and administration of the program. 22 Section 8. Implementation. 23 The board shall do all of the following: 24 (1) Implement a community-based home visiting program 25 for first-time at-risk expectant parents and families in this 26 Commonwealth using the criteria set forth in this section. 27 (2) Develop a grant application and award grants under 28 this program in accordance with the following requirements: 29 (i) Grants shall be awarded in accordance with 30 weighted criteria based on population demographics, 20050H0200B3732 - 7 -
1 factors associated with child abuse and neglect and other 2 appropriate criteria developed by the board. 3 (ii) Cash or in-kind matching funds in the amount of 4 25% of the total program cost shall be required. 5 (iii) If a program is not able to meet the 25% match 6 requirement, justification must be included in the grant 7 application providing a detailed explanation of the 8 reasons why this match cannot be met and the percentage 9 of the match that can be met. A determination will be 10 made by the board as to the merit of the justification. 11 (3) Develop a plan of implementation to equitably 12 distribute funds throughout this Commonwealth. 13 (4) Require that, in addition to the program 14 requirements outlined in section 6 (relating to program 15 requirements), the following criteria be used in selecting 16 recipients of grant funds: 17 (i) Preference for grant awards shall be given to 18 community-based entities that have broad representation 19 and have the fiscal and administrative capacity to 20 successfully implement the program. 21 (ii) Home visiting programs that receive grants 22 should collaborate with other home visiting and family 23 support programs in the community to avoid duplication 24 and complement and integrate with existing services. 25 (iii) Each applicant shall use the standardized 26 assessment tool developed by the board under section 7 27 (relating to Children's Trust Fund Board). 28 (iv) Each applicant must provide outcome, 29 expenditure and performance data in the format and the 30 frequency specified by the board. 20050H0200B3732 - 8 -
1 (v) Each applicant must identify local resources 2 available for implementation. 3 (vi) Implementation design must include service 4 delivery strategies which, when appropriate, involve both 5 parents if they have shared parental responsibility, 6 regardless of residential custody arrangements. 7 (5) Evaluate and approve grant applications and local 8 implementation plans for service delivery. 9 (6) Encourage applicants to coordinate service delivery 10 with Head Start, Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers, 11 family centers, school districts and other existing home 12 visiting programs operating in communities in the various 13 regions of this Commonwealth. 14 (7) Identify qualified trainers and training 15 opportunities which will assure adequate opportunities for 16 grantees and their communities to provide preservice and in- 17 service training. Funds for training may be incorporated into 18 the grants. 19 (8) Develop and implement a quality assurance and 20 improvement process for the program. 21 (9) Identify and seek Federal matching funding for the 22 program. 23 (10) Identify existing State funding streams that could 24 be used to fund home visiting programs in this Commonwealth. 25 (11) Provide for an annual independent review which 26 evaluates both the progress and effectiveness of community 27 programs receiving grants and the overall progress and 28 achievement of the designated outcomes of the programs. The 29 board shall provide the review to the Governor, the Senate 30 and the House of Representatives on an annual basis. 20050H0200B3732 - 9 -
1 Section 9. Responsibilities of Department of Public Welfare. 2 The department shall allocate the staff and financial 3 resources necessary to assist the board in the implementation 4 and administration of the program. 5 Section 20. Effective date. 6 This act shall take effect immediately. THE PROVISION OF HOME <-- 7 VISITS AND THE REFERRAL OF FAMILIES AND NEWBORN CHILDREN TO 8 HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. 9 (C) MATCHING FUNDS.--GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED TO APPLICANTS 10 THAT PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 25% OF THE TOTAL 11 PROGRAM COST. MATCHING FUNDS MAY BE IN THE FORM OF CASH OR IN- 12 KIND CONTRIBUTIONS. 13 (D) TERM.--GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO 14 YEARS. 15 (E) ELIGIBILITY.--A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY THAT RECEIVED FUNDS 16 FROM THE COMMONWEALTH TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO FIRST-TIME, AT-RISK 17 PARENTS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT SHALL BE 18 ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A GRANT UNDER THIS ACT. 19 SECTION 5. COORDINATION OF SERVICES. <-- 20 IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS ACT, AN 21 APPLICANT MUST INTEGRATE AND COORDINATE SERVICES PROVIDED WITH 22 RELATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING 23 PROGRAMS THAT ALSO PROVIDE HOME VISITATION. 24 SECTION 6. APPLICATION. 25 (A) SUBMISSION.--IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRANT UNDER THIS ACT, 26 AN APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION IN A FORM AND MANNER 27 PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 28 (B) REQUIREMENTS.--AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION 29 (A) SHALL SET FORTH THE MANNER IN WHICH THE APPLICANT WILL DO 30 THE FOLLOWING: 20050H0200B3732 - 10 -
1 (1) IDENTIFY FIRST-TIME, LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK PARENTS AND 2 INITIATE SERVICES PRENATALLY OR AT THE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST 3 CHILD. 4 (2) PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE PARENTS THAT 5 ASSESSMENTS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION ARE VOLUNTARY AND 6 ENSURE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY OF FAMILIES. 7 (3) IDENTIFY FAMILY STRENGTHS AND AVAILABLE FAMILY AND 8 COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 9 (4) APPLY CRITERIA TO BE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO 10 INCREASE OR DECREASE THE AMOUNT OR INTENSITY OF SERVICES 11 PROVIDED. 12 (5) APPLY STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE THE INTERACTION OF 13 BOTH PARENTS WITH THE CHILD AND TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF 14 THE CHILD, INCLUDING HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND 15 SCHOOL READINESS. 16 (6) UTILIZE AGREEMENTS WITH AND REFERRALS TO HEALTH CARE 17 PROVIDERS, INTERVENTION SERVICES AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE 18 COMMUNITY. HEALTH CARE SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE IMMUNIZATION, 19 WELL-CHILD CARE AND ANY NECESSARY DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS. 20 (7) PROVIDE QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, ADEQUATE DIRECT 21 SUPERVISION OF PERSONNEL AND REGULAR JOB PERFORMANCE 22 EVALUATIONS. 23 (8) FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM FOR 24 THE DURATION OF THE GRANT PERIOD. 25 SECTION 7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. 26 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES: 27 (1) TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 28 (2) TO DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED APPLICATION FOR THE 29 PROGRAM. 30 (3) TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROGRAM 20050H0200B3732 - 11 -
1 PERSONNEL, INCLUDING: 2 (I) REQUIRED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR 3 TO THE INITIAL HOME VISIT AND TO INCLUDE TRAINING IN 4 SUBSTANCE ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG- 5 EXPOSED INFANTS AND PARENTS, INFANT CARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD 6 DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS AND PARENTING. 7 (II) KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER RELEVANT SERVICES AVAILABLE 8 IN THE COMMUNITY AND THIS COMMONWEALTH. 9 (III) CERTIFICATION AS A REGISTERED NURSE OR 10 QUALIFIED HOME VISITOR UNDER 45 CFR § 1304.52(D) 11 (RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES MANAGEMENT). 12 (IV) CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. 13 (4) TO APPROVE OR DENY GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE 14 PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING: 15 (I) GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED TO QUALIFIED COMMUNITY- 16 BASED PROGRAMS WITH STRONG COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION AND 17 SUPPORT, LOCAL RESOURCES AND THE ABILITY TO COORDINATE 18 WITH OTHER SERVICES. 19 (II) GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED BASED ON WEIGHTED 20 CRITERIA THAT INCLUDE POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS, INCIDENCE 21 OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND OTHER CRITERIA DEEMED 22 APPROPRIATE BY THE DEPARTMENT. 23 (III) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESCIND A PORTION OF THE 24 GRANT NOT YET ALLOCATED IF IT DETERMINES THAT THE FUNDS 25 ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY UTILIZED BASED UPON OUTCOME, 26 EXPENDITURE AND PERFORMANCE DATA. 27 (5) TO DEVELOP AND APPROVE AN ASSESSMENT TOOL TO 28 IDENTIFY FIRST-TIME, LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK PARENTS AND 29 FAMILIES. THE ASSESSMENT TOOL SHALL INCLUDE THE 30 IDENTIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS THAT LEAD TO CHILD ABUSE OR 20050H0200B3732 - 12 -
1 NEGLECT OR OTHER NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. 2 (6) TO PROVIDE MEASURES AND PROCEDURES TO ASSESS THE 3 STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND SUCCESSES OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED 4 BY A GRANT RECIPIENT UNDER THIS ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5 SECTION 8. THE MEASURES SHALL INCLUDE PROCEDURES FOR PERIODIC 6 REPORTING DURING THE TERM OF THE GRANT. 7 SECTION 8. ACCOUNTABILITY. 8 (A) INFORMATION REQUIRED.--A GRANT RECIPIENT SHALL PROVIDE 9 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT UPON REQUEST: 10 (1) A REPORT ON THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN 11 SERVED AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED. 12 (2) PERFORMANCE DATA RELATED TO POTENTIAL DRUG ABUSE, 13 IMPROVEMENT IN CHILD HEALTH, REDUCTION IN INCIDENCE OF CHILD 14 ABUSE AND EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE 15 IN THE PROGRAM. 16 (3) A PLAN TO MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD WHO 17 RECEIVED SERVICES FROM THE PROGRAM FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS 18 THAN TEN YEARS. 19 (4) AN ACCOUNTING OF THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THE 20 GRANT AND ALL FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE PROGRAM FROM OTHER 21 SOURCES. 22 (5) OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE 23 DEPARTMENT. 24 (B) REPORTS.-- 25 (1) WITHIN NINE MONTHS OF THE END OF THE TERM OF A 26 GRANT, THE GRANT RECIPIENT SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE 27 DEPARTMENT THAT INCLUDES ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE AND OTHER 28 DATA TO DETERMINE OUTCOMES AND ANY REDUCTION IN DRUG ABUSE, 29 IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH, REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD 30 ABUSE OR ANY EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDREN WHO 20050H0200B3732 - 13 -
1 PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM WHEN COMPARED TO CHILDREN WHO DO 2 NOT RECEIVE SERVICES. 3 (2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A BIENNIAL REPORT TO THE 4 GOVERNOR AND TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE 5 PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE 6 CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN 7 SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT 8 EVALUATES THE EFFECTIVENESS AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM. 9 (C) ANALYSIS.-- 10 (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVIEW AND ANALYZE THE 11 INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B)(1) AND 12 RESEARCH THE LONG-TERM RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO 13 DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS ARE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND 14 PRODUCE THE MOST POSITIVE RESULTS. 15 (2) THE STRATEGIES DETERMINED TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE 16 MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS A CONDITION OF RECEIPT 17 OF A GRANT. 18 SECTION 9. FUNDING. 19 FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE LIMITED TO FUNDS 20 SPECIFICALLY APPROPRIATED TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT. 21 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR THIS 22 PROGRAM AS AVAILABLE. 23 SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 24 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS. A25L35VDL/20050H0200B3732 - 14 -