PRINTER'S NO. 514
No. 463 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY HERMAN, MILLER, THOMAS, SAYLOR, J. TAYLOR,
BENNINGHOFF, BAKER, ARMSTRONG, BELARDI, MAITLAND, ZUG,
HALUSKA, SANTONI, MUNDY, COLAFELLA, COY, McCALL, BARD,
TRELLO, OLASZ, E. Z. TAYLOR, STEELMAN, CIVERA, GODSHALL,
LAUGHLIN, JOSEPHS, DeLUCA, PLATTS, McGILL, EACHUS,
YOUNGBLOOD, OLIVER, GEIST, MANDERINO, SATHER, WALKO, SURRA,
ITKIN, FICHTER, RUBLEY, CURRY, STURLA, STABACK, MYERS,
HENNESSEY, ROEBUCK, BOSCOLA, BELFANTI, CLARK, CAWLEY,
C. WILLIAMS AND TRICH, FEBRUARY 11, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 11, 1997
AN ACT
1 Providing for subsidized child care for caregivers enrolled in
2 approved training programs.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Caretaker." The applicant for child day-care service with
10 whom the child lives and who is the individual responsible for
11 documenting family eligibility for subsidized child day-care
12 service.
13 "Child day-care service." Out-of-home care provided for part
14 of the 24-hour day and approved by the Department of Public
1 Welfare, including, but not limited to, care in a child day-care
2 center, group child day-care home or family child day-care home.
3 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the
4 Commonwealth.
5 "Subsidized child day care." Child day-care service, funded
6 in whole or in part by Federal or State funds, provided to
7 enable the caretaker of a child to be employed or receive job
8 training.
9 "Training program." An institutional program which enables
10 the caretaker to establish a basic level of education, to
11 establish basic skills in the English language or to attain
12 skills which qualify the individual for a specific job. The term
13 includes programs which lead to an associate degree or a
14 baccalaureate degree.
15 Section 2. Approved training programs for subsidized child
16 care.
17 (a) Requirement of caregiver regarding enrollment.--A
18 caretaker who is enrolled in a training program enumerated in
19 subsection (b) and who provides the department with verification
20 of enrollment as prescribed by the department shall be
21 considered to meet the training requirements necessary to
22 qualify for subsidized child care.
23 (b) Enumeration of training programs.--The following qualify
24 as approved training programs:
25 (1) Completion of junior high school.
26 (2) Completion of high school.
27 (3) Remedial courses at a secondary or postsecondary
28 level required for entrance into an accredited training
29 program.
30 (4) A training program at a postsecondary level which
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1 leads to a specific job.
2 (5) General education development (GED) training for 20
3 or more hours per week.
4 (6) English as a second language training for 20 or more
5 hours per week.
6 (7) A two-year associate degree program which qualifies
7 an individual for a specific job.
8 (8) A four-year baccalaureate degree program at a
9 college or university which qualifies an individual for a
10 specific job.
11 (c) Other requirements.--In addition to compliance with
12 training requirements, the caretaker shall reside in this
13 Commonwealth and shall meet financial eligibility requirements
14 established in department regulations.
15 Section 3. Department's responsibility to establish waiting
16 list service priorities.
17 The department shall determine by regulation service
18 priorities for the children of eligible caretakers who are
19 placed on a waiting list because public funds for services are
20 not available to enroll the children in approved child day-care
21 programs. The service priorities shall include employment,
22 training and income criteria.
23 Section 4. Effective date.
24 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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