PRINTER'S NO. 581
No. 550 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, EARLL, MELLOW, O'PAKE AND RHOADES,
FEBRUARY 28, 1997
REFERRED TO AGING AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 28, 1997
AN ACT
1 Providing for a program known as the Silver-Haired Legislature
2 Program to be established by the Pennsylvania Council on
3 Aging in cooperation with the Department of Aging and other
4 groups; and making an appropriation.
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 Pennsylvania
9 Silver-Haired Legislature Act.
10 Section 2. Legislative findings.
11 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
12 (1) The older citizens of this Commonwealth face many
13 problems which require legislative action.
14 (2) The problems facing older citizens can best be
15 articulated by older citizens in a representative capacity.
16 (3) It is the purpose of this act to give older citizens
17 the opportunity to speak to the General Assembly with a
18 unified voice in setting priorities for the legislation which
1 they most urgently need.
2 (4) Bringing representatives of older citizens from
3 throughout this Commonwealth together on an annual basis will
4 be of great value to the General Assembly by helping it
5 recognize the programs which should be given priority.
6 (5) The Silver-Haired Legislature Program will not only
7 give older citizens an opportunity to meet, discuss and
8 present their views, but will also give them a better
9 understanding of the workings and procedures of the General
10 Assembly.
11 Section 3. Program established.
12 (a) Establishment and implementation.--The Pennsylvania
13 Council on Aging is directed to establish and implement a
14 program known as the Silver-Haired Legislature Program.
15 (b) Educational legislative session.--The program will
16 consist of an annual one-day educational legislative session to
17 be held in Harrisburg which will involve a model unicameral
18 legislature consisting of 203 members, one to be selected from
19 each district of the House of Representatives. The model
20 legislature shall meet in Harrisburg and debate, discuss and
21 pass proposals which would address the needs and concerns of
22 older Pennsylvanians. The delegates shall be at least 60 years
23 of age or older and must be residents of this Commonwealth.
24 Section 4. Cooperation.
25 The Pennsylvania Council on Aging shall cooperate with the
26 Department of Aging and all other public and private groups
27 working with older citizens to develop an effective program
28 which will benefit all concerned parties.
29 Section 5. Appropriation.
30 The sum of $50,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
19970S0550B0581 - 2 -
1 is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Council on Aging to
2 establish and develop the Silver-Haired Legislature Program.
3 Section 6. Effective date.
4 This act shall take effect immediately.
A16L465JS/19970S0550B0581 - 3 -