PRINTER'S NO. 1424
No. 1194 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY HESS, PISTELLA, PHILLIPS, E. Z. TAYLOR, ARMSTRONG,
BAKER, BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, BROWNE, BUNT, CAPPELLI,
CAWLEY, CIVERA, COY, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, DAILEY, DALEY,
DeLUCA, FAIRCHILD, FREEMAN, GEIST, GILLESPIE, GODSHALL,
GRUCELA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, JAMES, LAUGHLIN,
LEVDANSKY, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, MICOZZIE, S. MILLER,
PRESTON, READSHAW, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SATHER,
SCHRODER, SCRIMENTI, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STERN, R. STEVENSON,
SURRA, WASHINGTON, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD AND
ZUG, APRIL 16, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
APRIL 16, 2003
AN ACT
1 Providing for a demonstration program to be known as the Senior
2 Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program (STRIVE);
3 conferring powers and duties on the Department of Aging; and
4 providing additional powers and duties to school districts.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the STRIVE or the
9 Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program Act.
10 Section 2. Legislative intent.
11 It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a
12 demonstration program that provides benefits to senior citizens,
13 school-aged children and school districts. This legislation
14 authorizes certain school districts to participate in a
1 demonstration program to provide a gesture of property tax
2 relief to senior citizens, who often struggle to meet the rising
3 cost of property taxes, and helps schools meet an increasing
4 demand for a variety of human skills and services. Both senior
5 citizens and children benefit from establishing a relationship
6 in which they interact with one another in a positive learning
7 environment.
8 Section 3. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Department." The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
13 "Eligible participants." Any person at least 60 years of age
14 and who has been a resident of this Commonwealth for at least 90
15 days and owns real property in Pennsylvania.
16 "Foundation." Any program or institution established to
17 provide funds in the form of grants or any program or
18 institution that establishes a partnership that provides
19 incentives for involved parties.
20 "Program." The Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer
21 Exchange Program or STRIVE as established by this act.
22 Section 4. Establishment of program.
23 There is established a demonstration program known as the
24 Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program or
25 STRIVE which authorizes selected public school districts to
26 accept senior citizens who reside in the school district to
27 volunteer in the school and receive a real property tax credit
28 in exchange for their services.
29 Section 5. Program guidelines.
30 (a) Local guidelines.--Participating school districts may
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1 promulgate specific guidelines regarding the program, including
2 the acceptance of eligible participants. The guidelines must
3 include a criminal background check for senior citizen
4 participants.
5 (b) Value of tax credit.--The rate of real property tax
6 credit for senior volunteers will be $5 an hour and will not
7 exceed the total amount of real property taxes that are owed.
8 (c) Services.--The types of services that seniors may
9 provide must enhance the academic program of school districts.
10 Section 6. Personal income tax levied by the Commonwealth.
11 The real property tax credit shall not be subject to the tax
12 imposed under Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,
13 No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
14 Section 7. Powers and duties of Department of Aging.
15 (a) Cooperation.--The department in cooperation with the
16 Department of Education and the Department of Revenue shall
17 promulgate guidelines for the selection of public school
18 districts to participate in the demonstration project. Selection
19 of the public school districts must take into consideration an
20 equitable Statewide geographic distribution with a minimum of 12
21 school districts with at least two school districts from each
22 geographical region.
23 (b) Project description.--The department shall provide each
24 school district with a description of the demonstration project.
25 Included in the selection process shall be a mechanism whereby
26 interested school districts shall submit proposals for
27 consideration.
28 (c) Public notice of program.--The department shall
29 publicize the program to senior citizens.
30 (d) Assistance.--The department must also serve as a
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1 technical resource and provide technical assistance as needed.
2 (e) Annual report.--The department shall coordinate an
3 annual report that all participating school districts must
4 provide to the department by March 1. The report must include,
5 at a minimum, the following:
6 (1) The name of the person in the school district who is
7 supervising the program.
8 (2) Scope of the program and funding sources.
9 (3) Regulations developed regarding acceptance of
10 participants.
11 (4) The services that senior volunteers are providing.
12 (5) Feedback from senior citizen participants.
13 (6) Fiscal impact of the program on the school district.
14 (7) Impact of the program on the school district,
15 positive and/or negative.
16 The Department of Aging shall report to the Committee on Aging
17 and Older Adult Services of the House of Representatives and to
18 the Committee on Aging and Youth of the Senate annually by April
19 1.
20 Section 8. Existing job positions.
21 This program shall not replace or supplant existing job
22 positions.
23 Section 9. Funding.
24 School districts may seek funding through private and public
25 foundations.
26 Section 10. Expiration.
27 The provisions of this act shall expire June 1, 2007, unless
28 extended by an act of the General Assembly.
29 Section 11. Effective date.
30 This act shall take effect immediately.
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