Pennsylvania SB 510: An Act amending Title 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program and for powers and duties of the Department of Community and Economic Development; establishing the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund; and making an appropriation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 504
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 510
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KEARNEY, CAPPELLETTI, L. WILLIAMS, MUTH, SAVAL,
STREET, HAYWOOD AND KANE, MARCH 27, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
MARCH 27, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Program and for powers and duties of the Department of
Community and Economic Development; establishing the
Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund; and making
an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 54 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 7A
COMPASSIONATE NAME CHANGE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
7A01. Definitions.
7A02. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program.
7A03. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund.
7A04. Administration.
§ 7A01. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible applicant." A nonprofit organization or a county
or municipal government.
"Eligible assistance program." A program providing support
and guidance, which is informational, emotional, social, legal
or otherwise in nature, to individuals who confront biases or
inequalities based on gender or sexual stereotypes in navigating
the name change process in this Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund
established under section 7A03 (relating to Compassionate Name
Change Assistance Grant Fund).
"Grant program." The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Program established under section 7A02 (relating to
Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program).
"Nonprofit organization." A corporation or other entity
based in this Commonwealth that is an exempt organization as
defined under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) (relating to exemption from
tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.).
§ 7A02. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Program is established as a competitive grant program
within the department.
(b) Eligible uses of grant money.--Grants under the grant
program may only be used for the costs of administering an
eligible assistance program.
(c) Department powers and duties.--
(1) The department shall provide grants under the grant
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program in accordance with this chapter to eligible
applicants to administer eligible assistance programs.
(2) The department shall determine the form and manner
by which an eligible applicant may apply for funding under
section 7A04 (relating to administration). The application
shall be posted on the department's publicly accessible
Internet website.
(3) The department may establish guidelines for
implementing the grant program under this section. The
guidelines shall be posted on the department's publicly
accessible Internet website.
§ 7A03. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Fund is established in the State Treasury.
(b) Appropriation.--All money deposited into the fund and
the interest the money accrues shall be appropriated to the
department on a continuing basis to award grants under this
chapter.
(c) Transfers from General Fund.--In addition to any amounts
otherwise authorized to be appropriated or made available to the
fund for the grant program, the sum of $2,000,000 shall be
transferred to the fund from the General Fund for the purposes
of the grant program.
(d) Administrative costs.--No more than 1% of the money in
the fund may be used for reasonable administrative costs.
§ 7A04. Administration.
(a) Applications.--An application for a grant under this
chapter shall be submitted by an eligible applicant in the form
and manner prescribed by the department.
(b) Application period.--Beginning no later than 180 days
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after the effective date of this subsection, the department
shall begin accepting and processing applications on a rolling
basis until the grant program funding available for the fiscal
year has been exhausted.
(c) Review process.--The department shall review
applications and make awards subject to subsection (d) on a
rolling basis. The department shall approve or deny an
application no later than 30 days after the receipt of the
application. An eligible applicant may revise and resubmit a
denied application to the department.
(d) Allocation.--An eligible applicant may no