Bill Text: PA SB120 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing the Grandparent Caregiver Support Program.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-01-30 - Referred to AGING AND YOUTH [SB120 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB120-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 93
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 120 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY MUSTO, BAKER, MELLOW, RAFFERTY, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, ORIE, ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, FERLO, O'PAKE, BROWNE, VANCE, KITCHEN, M. WHITE, WASHINGTON, KASUNIC, LOGAN, WILLIAMS AND STACK, JANUARY 30, 2009
REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, JANUARY 30, 2009
AN ACT
Establishing the Grandparent Caregiver Support Program.
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 Grandparent
Caregiver Support Program Act.
Section 2. 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:
"Child." A person who is 18 years of age or younger and is
not an emancipated minor.
"Department." The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
"Grandparent or older adult relative caregiver." A
grandparent or step-grandparent of a child or a relative of a
child by blood or marriage who meets all of the following:
(1) Is 50 years of age or older.
(2) Lives with the child.
(3) Provides primary care for the child.
(4) Is the legal guardian or is raising the child
informally because the biological or adoptive parents are
unwilling or unable to serve as the primary caregiver of the
child.
Section 3. Legislative intent.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) There is a growing population of children who are
being raised by grandparents or other older adult relative
caregivers.
(2) This reversal in roles has created a population of
grandparents who are unprepared for the demands of caring for
a minor child.
(3) It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide
a program to provide grandparents and other older adult
relative caregivers of minor children the information and
tools they need to care for the child in their custody.
Section 4. Establishment.
The department shall establish a Grandparent Caregiver
Support Program to serve as a resource for grandparents and
other older adult relative caregivers to provide all of the
following:
(1) Technical assistance and training for grandparent
and older adult relative caregivers support groups.
(2) Information and referral for grandparents and other
older adult relative caregivers.
(3) Assistance to grandparents and other older adult
relative caregivers in gaining access to available services,
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including legal assistance, medical assistance, guidance for
educational concerns and any other form of services that
might be necessary.
(4) Counseling to grandparents and other older adult
relative caregivers in making decisions and solving problems
relating to their role of caregiver to a child.
(5) The publication and dissemination of printed
material related to services available to grandparents and
other older adult relative caregivers.
Section 20. Regulations.
The department shall promulgate regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this act.
Section 21. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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