Pennsylvania Act 1984-201 — SENIOR CENTER GRANT PROGRAM ACT

Act text

AN ACT

Establishing the Senior Center Grant Program; providing for grants to senior centers; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Aging; and making an appropriation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1. Short Title.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy.

Section 3. Definitions.

Section 4. Establishment of the Senior Center Grant Program.

Section 5. Grant Applications.

Section 6. Grant Requirements.

Section 7. Powers and Duties of Department.

Section 8. Appropriation.

Section 9. Funding.

Section 10. Effective Date.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Senior Center Grant Program Act.

Section 2. Declaration of policy.

(a) Purpose of program.--The purpose of the senior center program in Pennsylvania is to facilitate the social, emotional and physical well-being of older Pennsylvanians by the establishment of and support for community-based services and activities. Senior center programs are designed to enhance the dignity, support the independence and encourage the involvement of senior citizens in the community.

(b) Facilities.--In order to achieve this purpose, a facility must be in a physical condition which provides an atmosphere conducive to the functions of a senior center. The center should be in compliance with all government safety standards.

(c) Use of grants.--By establishment of the Senior Center Grant Program, the General Assembly intends that grants provided under this act be used to provide a physical facility conducive to the achievement of these goals as well as other purposes.

Section 3. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Area agency on aging." An agency designated by the Department of Aging to administer and develop an area plan for a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older people within the boundaries of a defined planning and service area.

"Department." The Department of Aging.

"Program." Senior Center Grant Program.

"Senior center." A facility where older people gather and where services are delivered in accordance with the policies and standards promulgated by the department.

Section 4. Establishment of the Senior Center Grant Program.

There is hereby created a special Senior Center Grant Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide a one-time grant to senior centers for rehabilitation and renovation of these facilities.

Section 5. Grant applications.

Grant application forms shall be developed by the department and distributed to all area agencies on aging. The regional area agency on aging shall assist the senior center applying for a grant under this act in completing the applications and verify, in writing, on the grant application that the application complies with all the requirements of section 6. The area agency on aging shall then forward the application to the department for its approval. Each application shall include a written report, using a form developed by the department, assessing the condition of the facility. The onsite inspection shall be conducted by an inspector determined by the department.

Section 6. Grant requirements.

(a) Eligibility.--Grants shall be given by the department to local area agencies on aging for applying senior centers which have been approved by the appropriate area agency on aging. Grants shall be given for any and all of the following purposes in the following order or priority:

(1) To comply with the act of April 27, 1927 (P.L.465, No.299), referred to as the Fire and Panic Act, and other applicable Federal, State or local safety standards and other laws so designated by directives promulgated by the department.

(2) To comply with the act of September 1, 1965 (P.L.459, No.235), entitled "An act requiring that certain buildings and facilities constructed with Commonwealth funds adhere to certain principles, standards and specifications to make the same accessible to and usable by the physically handicapped, and providing for enforcement," and section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to modify the senior center to make it accessible to the handicapped as designated by directives promulgated by the department.

(3) To assure that the senior center is in a condition that provides for the health, welfare and safety of senior citizens as determined by directives promulgated by the department. This would include, but not be limited to, the purchase of food service equipment for the facility.

(b) Leased facilities.--Senior center facilities which are renovated with funds from the Department of Aging shall have written leases for a period to be determined by the department based on the amount of the renovations and taking into account local market conditions for rental properties.

Section 7. Powers and duties of department.

The powers and duties of the department shall be:

(1) To accept grants from the Federal Government and any other individual, agency or government for use in the program.

(2) To promulgate such rules, regulations and directives as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 8. Appropriation.

(a) Funding.--For fiscal year 1984-1985, the sum of $10,100,000 is appropriated out of the State Lottery Fund to the Department of Aging for the Senior Center Grant Program to be disbursed as follows:

(1) The sum of $8,000,000 is allocated to insure that each area agency on aging shall receive an allocation pursuant to the provisions of the allocation formula set forth in section 2210-A(a) of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929. Any funds from this allocation not utilized or encumbered within one calendar year of the effective date of this act shall revert to the department to be redistributed by the department based on priorities established in section 6.

(2) The sum of $2,000,000 shall be allocated to insure that each area agency on aging shall receive a minimum of $15,000 per senior center following the distribution of funds set forth in paragraph (1). Any funds from this allocation not utilized or encumbered within one calendar year of the effective date of this act shall revert to the department to be redistributed by the department based on priorities established in section 6.

(3) The sum of $100,000 may be used by the department and the area agencies on aging for administration of the program.

(4) All remaining funds shall be withheld by the department for disposition in accordance with the provisions of section 6.

(5) No less than 30% of the total funds allocated to counties of the second class shall be distributed to departments or agencies in cities of the second class officially designated by the mayor and approved by city council.

(b) Duration of appropriation.--The appropriation made in this section shall not lapse and shall remain available until expended.

Section 9. Funding.

Funding for this program shall come from the State Lottery Fund and shall be an eligible use for lottery funds, the provisions of sections 2, 6 and 12 of the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery Law, notwithstanding.

Section 10. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.