Pennsylvania Act 1993-19 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1929, THE - AMEND

Act text

Session of 1993

No. 1993-19

SB 474

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the Executive Department thereof and the administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof, including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative officers, and of the several administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards, and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and commissions shall be determined," establishing the Governor's Office of Citizen Service (PennServe) within the Department of Labor and Industry; creating the Community Service Advisory Board; and providing for coordination of Commonwealth community service programs.

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

Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an article to read:

ARTICLE XXII-B

COORDINATION OF COMMONWEALTH

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

Section 2201-B. Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Board" means the Community Service Advisory Board.

"Community-based agency" means a private, nonprofit organization that is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community that is engaged in meeting human, educational or environmental community needs.

"Community service" means performance of tasks designated to accomplish any of the following:

(1) Environmental preservation, enhancement and remediation.

(2) Promotion of the well-being of children, the elderly, persons with physical or developmental disabilities and persons with low incomes.

(3) Educational development, including, but not limited to, literacy training, adult basic education courses and instruction in job search skills and job application skills.

(4) Improvement activities on public lands or facilities.

(5) Projects or activities calculated to improve public health, safety and welfare developed by the board.

(6) Educational activities, through a Pennsylvania education system or a community or governmental entity, that instill an ethic of civic responsibility and citizenship in all Pennsylvanians and in particular young Pennsylvanians.

"Department" means the Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth.

"Office" means the Governor's Office of Citizen Service (PennServe) within the Department of Labor and Industry.

Section 2202-B. Governor's Office of Citizen Service (PennServe) Established.--(a) There is hereby established within the department the Governor's Office of Citizen Service (PennServe).

(b) The department shall provide staff, space, equipment and supplies for the office to discharge its duties.

Section 2203-B. Responsibilities of Office.--(a) The predominant, but not the sole responsibility of the office shall be to coordinate the development and implementation of community service programs within this Commonwealth.

(b) PennServe is established to make community service the common expectation and experience of all Pennsylvanians with a special concentration on Pennsylvania's young people.

(c) PennServe shall work to renew the ethic of civic responsibility in Pennsylvania and to involve and enroll young people in service opportunities that will benefit Pennsylvania while offering our young people literacy skills and improved job skills. PennServe shall build on the existing organizational framework of State, local and community-based programs and agencies to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens, but particularly youth.

(d) All Commonwealth departments, agencies, boards, commissions and instrumentalities shall share information and cooperate with the office to enable it to perform the functions assigned to it in this article.

Section 2204-B. Commonwealth Departments and Agencies.--The office shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) (i) To develop jointly with the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency a plan under which at least ten per centum (10%) of the funds available under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329, 79 Stat. 1219) may be used to permit students to perform community service. The office shall assist the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency in preparing a public information program for students receiving the funds to apprise them of the community service option.

(ii) To develop jointly with the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency a plan to encourage college and university students to participate in thirty (30) hours of community service each year. The plan shall include tuition reimbursement or academic course credit or tuition reimbursement and academic course credit for students who perform community service.

(2) To cooperate with the Department of Community Affairs to produce the following:

(i) A plan to advise local governments of the procedure for establishing community service programs. The plan shall include creation of a data base that will enable local governments to share information with educational institutions, community-based agencies and other entities and individuals concerned with community service and the private sector on a regional basis.

(ii) An informational brochure or pamphlet for local governments that describes community-based agencies and explains the desirability of having participants in community service and recipients of community service serve on the governing board of community-based agencies.

(iii) A proposal, including a fee schedule, that would permit participants in community service programs and participants in the corps program under the act of July 2, 1984 (P.L.561, No.112), known as the "Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Act," to perform services for State or local governments and community-based agencies and to receive compensation for their services.

(3) To work jointly with the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Education to formulate and implement a project to encourage children adjudicated delinquent for commission of nonviolent offenses to perform community service for local governments and school districts. The project shall include an evaluative and reflective component.

(4) To cooperate with the Department of Education to implement the policy of the State Board of Education that all secondary, college and university students be encouraged to become involved in community service.

(5) (i) To work with other bureaus and offices of the department to attempt to obtain increased Federal funding for the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps and Summer Youth Corps programs.

(ii) To meet and consult with other bureaus and offices of the department to enhance the quality and efficiency of job training programs.

(6) To assist the Department of Environmental Resources in incorporating the goals of protecting the environment, promoting recreational facilities and restoring public parks into the mission of the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps.

(7) To work with the Department of Aging to produce the following results:

(i) Involvement of young people in assisting professional staff in the delivery of services to older Pennsylvanians in nursing homes, retirement communities or personal households.

(ii) Expansion of service opportunities that combine the human resources of younger Pennsylvanians with the human resources of older Pennsylvanians to expand intergenerational programs so as to combine the energy, wisdom, strength and time of both our younger and older population in order to address vital social needs.

(8) To develop with the Department of Health a proposal that will allow young people to be involved in the health-related activities, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Educational programs that are aimed at increasing awareness in communities and educational institutions about community health problems.

(ii) Engagement with community health clinics and professional medical personnel to ensure that all Pennsylvania children are immunized.

(9) To work with the Department of Transportation to meet the transportation and infrastructure needs of Pennsylvania by ensuring the eligibility of the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps or local corps to perform contract work that may include, but need not be limited to, maintenance work, rehabilitation and repainting of bridge and underpass structures and beautifying efforts along public roadways.

(10) To develop and implement with the Department of Public Welfare a plan for job training programs that will have community service options which can serve as a transition from public assistance to sustained employment.

Section 2205-B. Liaison with Federal Government.--The office shall serve as the liaison between the Federal Government and State, county and local governments for submitting grant proposals, accessing funds, seeking changes in Federal community service laws and regulations and related purposes.

Section 2206-B. Annual Report.--The office, through the Secretary of Labor and Industry, shall submit an annual report of its activities to the General Assembly.

Section 2207-B. Community Service Advisory Board.--(a) There is hereby established within the department the Community Service Advisory Board which shall include no more than twenty-five (25) members.

(b) The board shall include the following members:

(1) The Secretary of Labor and Industry who shall be the presiding officer of the board.

(2) The Secretary of Education.

(3) The Secretary of Community Affairs.

(4) The Secretary of Corrections.

(5) The executive director of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

(6) A member of the Senate appointed by the Majority Leader.

(7) A member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader.

(8) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Majority Leader.

(9) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader.

(10) A representative of the State System of Higher Education, who is an active member of the Pennsylvania Campus Compact, appointed by the Governor.

(11) A representative of a private college or university, who is an active member of the Pennsylvania Campus Compact, appointed by the Governor.

(12) A college or university student, who is personally involved in community service, appointed by the Governor.

(13) One adult and one minor, who are actively involved in the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps or the Summer Youth Corps, both appointed by the Governor.

(14) A public school administrator, appointed by the Governor.

(15) A secondary public school student, appointed by the Governor.

(16) Two representatives of community-based agencies, both appointed by the Governor.

(17) A member of a labor organization, appointed by the Governor.

(18) A member representing the business community, appointed by the Governor.

(19) A member of the Pennsylvania Service Delivery Area, appointed by the Governor.

(20) Other members, at the discretion of and appointed by the Governor.

(c) The terms of office of the public members shall coincide with the terms of their respective elective or appointive offices. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of two years. No member shall serve for more than two consecutive terms on the board.

(d) The board shall have the power to adopt rules governing its organization and its procedure.

(e) The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services on the board, but shall be reimbursed by the department for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(f) The board shall consult with and advise the office on the development of a Statewide plan for expansion of community service opportunities. The board shall encourage youth to participate in community service, shall disseminate information concerning community service and shall monitor the effectiveness and geographical distribution of community service programs. The board shall also have the power to develop novel community service programs.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 9th day of June, A. D. 1993.

ROBERT P. CASEY