Pennsylvania HB 1314: An Act amending Title 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program and the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1507
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1314
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SANCHEZ, SHUSTERMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, HILL-EVANS,
SIEGEL, WAXMAN, HOHENSTEIN, RABB, FRANKEL, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
GUENST, D. WILLIAMS AND MAYES, APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 28, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, establishing the Compassionate Name Change
Assistance Grant Program and the Compassionate Name Change
Assistance Grant Fund; and making an interfund transfer.
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 9
COMPASSIONATE NAME CHANGE ASSISTANCE
GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
901. Definitions.
902. Grant program.
903. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund.
904. Administration.
§ 901. 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, county or
local government.
"Eligible assistance program." A program providing support
and guidance that is informational, emotional, social, legal or
otherwise to individuals who confront biases or inequalities
based on gender or sexual stereotypes in navigating the process
of a name change in this Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund
established under section 903 (relating to Compassionate Name
Change Assistance Grant Fund).
"Grant program." The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Program established under section 902 (relating to grant
program).
"Nonprofit organization." A corporation or other entity
based in this Commonwealth which is an exempt organization as
defined under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) (relating to exemption from
tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.).
§ 902. Grant program.
(a) Establishment.--The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Program is established as a competitive grant program
within the department.
(b) Uses for funds.--A grant award under the grant program
may only be used for the costs of administering an eligible
assistance program.
(c) Department powers and duties.--The department shall:
(1) Provide grants under the grant program in accordance
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with this chapter to eligible applicants to administer
eligible assistance programs.
(2) Determine the form and manner by which an eligible
applicant may apply for a grant under section 904 (relating
to administration). The application form shall be posted on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(3) Establish guidelines for implementing the grant
program under this section. The guidelines shall be posted on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
§ 903. Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Compassionate Name Change Assistance
Grant Fund is established as a separate fund in the State
Treasury.
(b) Appropriation.--All money deposited into the fund and
interest earned on the money in the fund are appropriated to the
department on a continuing basis to award grants under this
chapter.
(c) Transfer from General Fund.--In addition to money
appropriated to the department for grants under this chapter,
the sum of $2,000,000 is transferred from the General Fund to
the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund.
(d) Administrative costs.--No more than 1% of the fund may
be used for reasonable administrative costs of the department in
administering this chapter.
§ 904. 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
after the effective date of this subsection, the department
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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.--
(1) The department shall review applications and make
awards subject to subsection (d) on a rolling basis.
(2) The department shall approve or deny an application
no later than 30 days after the receipt of the application.
If the department fails to approve or deny the application
within 30 days, the application shall be deemed denied.
(3) An eligible applicant may revise and resubmit a
denied application to the department.
(d) Allocation.--An eligible applicant shall be subject to
the following amounts in a fiscal year:
(1) Subject to paragraphs