| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| SENATE BILL |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, RAFFERTY, O'PAKE, HUGHES, ORIE, ERICKSON, DINNIMAN, ALLOWAY AND BOSCOLA, DECEMBER 17, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 17, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| AN ACT |
| |
1 | Establishing the Pennsylvania Office for Faith-Based and |
2 | Neighborhood Partnerships and an advisory commission; and |
3 | providing for their powers and duties. |
4 | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
5 | Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions |
6 | Section 101. Short title. |
7 | Section 102. Legislative policy and declaration. |
8 | Section 103. Definitions. |
9 | Chapter 3. Pennsylvania Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood |
10 | Partnerships |
11 | Section 301. Establishment. |
12 | Section 302. Powers and duties of office. |
13 | Section 303. Executive director. |
14 | Chapter 5. Pennsylvania Advisory Commission on Faith-Based and |
15 | Neighborhood Partnerships |
16 | Section 501. Establishment. |
17 | Section 502. Membership. |
18 | Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory commission. |
|
1 | Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Provisions |
2 | Section 701. Responsibilities of Commonwealth agencies. |
3 | Section 702. Effective date. |
4 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
5 | hereby enacts as follows: |
6 | CHAPTER 1 |
7 | PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS |
8 | Section 101. Short title. |
9 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania |
10 | Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Act. |
11 | Section 102. Legislative policy and declaration. |
12 | The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: |
13 | (1) This Commonwealth benefits from a rich diversity of |
14 | faith-based and neighborhood organizations that provide |
15 | crucial aid to many Pennsylvania residents, including |
16 | assistance for the needy, children, families and |
17 | neighborhoods. |
18 | (2) Committed volunteers in faith-based and neighborhood |
19 | organizations bring unique skills, services and resources to |
20 | bear in assisting Pennsylvania residents. |
21 | (3) Many faith-based and neighborhood organizations lack |
22 | the organizational resources to effectively engage government |
23 | agencies in collaborative projects to help meet the needs of |
24 | Pennsylvania residents. |
25 | (4) It is beneficial to encourage communication between |
26 | governmental entities and faith-based and neighborhood |
27 | organizations, recognizing the importance of sharing |
28 | information about and encouraging the best practices of |
29 | faith-based and neighborhood organizations. |
30 | (5) There are many opportunities for faith-based and |
|
1 | neighborhood organizations to partner with governmental |
2 | entities to help deliver vital services in our communities, |
3 | such as giving ex-offenders a second chance at work. |
4 | (6) The Commonwealth is required to spend Federal grants |
5 | in accordance with Charitable Choice provisions contained in |
6 | the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity |
7 | Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193, 110 Stat. |
8 | 2105), the Community Services Block Grant Act (Public Law |
9 | 97-35, 95 Stat. 511) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health |
10 | Services Administration programs and the similar Equal |
11 | Treatment regulations that govern other federally funded |
12 | social services, aimed at providing funds to faith-based |
13 | organizations on the same basis as any other nongovernmental |
14 | provider without impairing the religious character of the |
15 | organizations and without diminishing the religious freedom |
16 | of beneficiaries of assistance. |
17 | (7) Pennsylvania residents can benefit from a |
18 | comprehensive and coordinated effort to improve and |
19 | strengthen faith-based and neighborhood organizations in this |
20 | Commonwealth by identifying and removing any unnecessary |
21 | administrative barriers to fair competition for government |
22 | funding and leveling the playing field for faith-based and |
23 | neighborhood organizations so that government may choose the |
24 | most effective partner to provide the public services. |
25 | (8) The effort to support faith-based and neighborhood |
26 | organizations in Pennsylvania should be facilitated by having |
27 | a prominent office with a direct relationship to the |
28 | Governor. |
29 | Section 103. Definitions. |
30 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
|
1 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
2 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
3 | "Advisory commission." The Pennsylvania Advisory Commission |
4 | on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships established in this |
5 | act. |
6 | "Office." The Pennsylvania Office of Faith-Based and |
7 | Neighborhood Partnerships established in this act. |
8 | "Organization." A neighborhood, faith-based or other private |
9 | charitable organization which is organized as a nonprofit |
10 | corporation or nonprofit unincorporated association under the |
11 | laws of the United States or this Commonwealth which is |
12 | authorized to do business in this Commonwealth as a nonprofit |
13 | corporation or unincorporated association under the laws of this |
14 | Commonwealth. |
15 | CHAPTER 3 |
16 | PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED |
17 | AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS |
18 | Section 301. Establishment. |
19 | The Pennsylvania Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood |
20 | Partnerships is established within the Governor's Office. The |
21 | office shall be administered by the Governor's Office. |
22 | Section 302. Powers and duties of office. |
23 | The office shall have the power and its duty shall be to: |
24 | (1) Facilitate coordination of State government efforts |
25 | relating to faith-based and neighborhood partnerships and |
26 | develop other opportunities for organizations to partner with |
27 | State government to help address social needs in this |
28 | Commonwealth. |
29 | (2) Provide a point of contact for organizations to |
30 | receive information, assistance and referrals related to |
|
1 | faith-based and neighborhood partnership programs within |
2 | State government, including the development of an Internet |
3 | website and assist all Commonwealth agencies to develop |
4 | relationships, as appropriate, with faith-based and |
5 | neighborhood organizations. |
6 | (3) Assist organizations in identifying and applying for |
7 | Federal grants. |
8 | (4) Promote and share innovative and model faith-based |
9 | and neighborhood partnership programs, initiatives and best |
10 | practices among organizations as identified by the advisory |
11 | commission. |
12 | (5) Seek financial support for the faith-based and |
13 | neighborhood partnership efforts of State government and for |
14 | faith-based and neighborhood partnership programs and |
15 | services. |
16 | (6) Provide technical assistance, education, information |
17 | and other support to organizations, including facilitating or |
18 | providing grant-writing training, organizational development |
19 | and other technical assistance and training to help |
20 | organizations develop increased capacity to provide services. |
21 | (7) Promote greater public awareness of and support for |
22 | organizations by providing information regarding faith-based |
23 | and neighborhood partnership initiatives to faith-based, |
24 | volunteer, private and neighborhood organizations, |
25 | businesses, philanthropic institutions and Commonwealth |
26 | agencies whose mission may be enhanced by increased awareness |
27 | of such initiatives. |
28 | Section 303. Executive director. |
29 | The Governor shall appoint an executive director and such |
30 | other staff as may be necessary to manage the office and perform |
|
1 | or oversee the performance of the duties of the office. |
2 | CHAPTER 5 |
3 | PENNSYLVANIA ADVISORY COMMISSION ON FAITH-BASED |
4 | AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS |
5 | Section 501. Establishment. |
6 | The Pennsylvania Advisory Commission on Faith-Based and |
7 | Neighborhood Partnerships is established within the office and |
8 | shall serve in an advisory capacity to the office in matters |
9 | regarding faith-based and neighborhood organizations and |
10 | charitable services in this Commonwealth. The advisory |
11 | commission shall be administered by the office. |
12 | Section 502. Membership. |
13 | (a) Public official members.--The advisory commission shall |
14 | consist of the following members or their duly authorized |
15 | designee, who shall serve by virtue of the public office they |
16 | hold: |
17 | (1) Secretary of Public Welfare. |
18 | (2) Secretary of Labor and Industry. |
19 | (3) Secretary of Corrections. |
20 | (4) Secretary of Education. |
21 | (5) Secretary of Agriculture. |
22 | (6) Secretary of Community and Economic Development. |
23 | (7) Secretary of Aging. |
24 | (8) Adjutant General. |
25 | (9) Executive Director of Pennsylvania Commission on |
26 | Crime and Delinquency. |
27 | (10) Executive Director of the Governor's Office of |
28 | Citizen Service (PennSERVE). |
29 | (b) Nongovernmental members.--The advisory commission shall |
30 | also include 15 nongovernmental members. Eleven of these members |
|
1 | shall be appointed by the Governor. The President pro tempore of |
2 | the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of |
3 | the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the |
4 | House of Representatives shall each appoint one nongovernmental |
5 | member. Nongovernmental members include representatives from the |
6 | faith-based community, neighborhood organizations, business |
7 | community, not-for-profit providers of health and social |
8 | services and other community leaders throughout this |
9 | Commonwealth. |
10 | (c) Voting.-- |
11 | (1) The members appointed under subsection (a) shall not |
12 | hold voting privileges on any matter brought up for |
13 | consideration by the advisory commission. |
14 | (2) The members appointed under subsection (b) shall |
15 | hold voting privileges on all matters brought up for |
16 | consideration by the advisory commission. |
17 | (d) Terms.-- |
18 | (1) The terms of the members under subsection (a) shall |
19 | be concurrent with their holding of public office. |
20 | (2) Members appointed under subsection (b) shall serve |
21 | for terms of two years and shall serve until their successors |
22 | are appointed. |
23 | (e) Chairperson.--The Governor shall appoint one |
24 | nongovernmental member of the advisory commission to serve as |
25 | chairperson and one to serve as vice chairperson of the advisory |
26 | commission for a term of two years at the pleasure of the |
27 | Governor. The vice chairperson shall preside at meetings in the |
28 | absence of the chairman. |
29 | (f) Expenses of members.--Members of the commission shall |
30 | receive no compensation for their services except that such |
|
1 | members may be reimbursed for actual travel and related expenses |
2 | in accordance with Commonwealth policy. |
3 | Section 503. Powers and duties of advisory commission. |
4 | The advisory commission shall have the power and its duties |
5 | shall be to: |
6 | (1) Identify innovative and model faith-based and |
7 | neighborhood partnership programs, initiatives and best |
8 | practices which the office may promote and share with |
9 | organizations. |
10 | (2) Advise and assist the Governor and the office in |
11 | identifying obstacles that may prevent greater utilization of |
12 | faith-based and neighborhood organizations by State |
13 | government to help meet the needs of residents of this |
14 | Commonwealth and to assist all Commonwealth agencies in |
15 | ensuring that their operations help to promote utilization of |
16 | faith-based and neighborhood partnerships. |
17 | (3) Advise the Governor and office in the establishment |
18 | of policy regarding matters affecting faith-based and |
19 | neighborhood organizations and shall report periodically to |
20 | the Governor by providing information and recommendations for |
21 | consideration. |
22 | (4) Assist the office in periodically convening |
23 | conferences for purposes such as technical assistance, |
24 | education, information and other support to organizations, |
25 | including facilitating or providing grant-writing training, |
26 | organizational development and other technical assistance and |
27 | training to help organizations develop increased capacity to |
28 | provide services. |
29 | CHAPTER 7 |
30 | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
|
1 | Section 701. Responsibilities of Commonwealth agencies. |
2 | All Commonwealth agencies under the jurisdiction of the |
3 | Governor shall cooperate and provide such information, records |
4 | and materials as might be necessary for the office and advisory |
5 | commission to carry out their responsibilities. In addition, all |
6 | Commonwealth agencies shall designate a contact person who will |
7 | act as a liaison with the office. |
8 | Section 702. Effective date. |
9 | This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
|