Pennsylvania HB 1528: An Act establishing the Grand-family Assistance Program; providing for payments to area agencies on aging; imposing duties on the Department of Aging; and establishing the Grand-family Assistance Program Fund.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1785 PRINTER'S NO. 2621
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1528
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MADDEN, MENTZER, CERRATO, M. BROWN, HILL-EVANS,
WAXMAN, PICKETT, T. DAVIS, MAYES, PROBST, MERSKI, SANCHEZ,
BOROWSKI, KUZMA, WARREN, K. HARRIS, D. WILLIAMS, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, RIVERA, O'MARA, HADDOCK, GIRAL, HANBIDGE, INGLIS,
RADER, JAMES, PIELLI, SHUSTERMAN, HEFFLEY, FREEMAN, PARKER,
PUGH, ARMANINI, GREEN, SCOTT, FLICK, SAMUELSON, KHAN AND
BRENNAN, MAY 30, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Grand-family Assistance Program; providing for
grants PAYMENTS to area agencies on aging; and imposing
powers and duties on the Department of Aging.; AND
ESTABLISHING THE GRAND-FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUND.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Grand-family
Assistance Program Act.
Section 2. Legislative intent.
The intent of this act is to establish a grant system for
PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY, ONE-TIME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TO an individual who is a qualified grandparent, resides in this
Commonwealth and serves as the primary caregiver for the
individual's grandchild while the child's parent actively
participates in an opioid use disorder treatment program. IT IS <--
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ALSO THE INTENT OF THIS ACT TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY
FROM OPIOID USE DISORDER AND ANY CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE
WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING CHILD CARE.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"APPLICATION." AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT
UNDER SECTION 5 BY AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING SEEKING PAYMENTS
UNDER THIS ACT ON BEHALF OF GRAND-FAMILIES.
"Area agency on aging." An agency designated by the
department to administer and develop an area plan for a
comprehensive and coordinated system of services for older
people within the boundaries of a defined planning and service
area.
"Department." The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
"Grand-family." A family where an individual is a
grandparent acting as the primary caregiver for the individual's
grandchild whose parents cannot provide care due to an opioid
use disorder.
"ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL." AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SATISFIES ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(1) THE INDIVIDUAL IS 40 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND
RESIDES WITH A CHILD WHO IS YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE.
(2) THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE GRANDPARENT OR STEP-
GRANDPARENT OF THE CHILD.
(3) THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER OF THE CHILD
BECAUSE THE BIOLOGICAL OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS ARE UNABLE OR
UNWILLING TO ACT AS THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER OF THE CHILD.
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(4) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A LEGAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE
CHILD, INCLUDING LEGAL CUSTODY, ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP OF
THE CHILD, OR IS CARING FOR THE CHILD IN AN INFORMAL MANNER.
"GRAND-FAMILY." THE HOUSEHOLD FORMED BY AN ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUAL AND THE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL'S GRANDCHILD WHO RESIDES
WITH THE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL AND FOR WHOM THE ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUAL IS THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
"Opioid use disorder treatment program." A program FACILITY
licensed and approved by the Department of Drug and Alcohol
Programs to address an individual's problematic pattern of
opioid use leading to clinically significant impairment or
distress.
"Program." The Grand-family Assistance Program established
under section 4 4(A).
Section 4. Grand-family Assistance Program.
The Grand-family Assistance Program is established in the
department. The program shall provide one-time grants to area
agencies on aging that must use the grant money to provide
financial assistance to grand-families for the reimbursement of
eligible expenses.
Section 5. Grant applications.
Grant application forms shall be developed by the department
and distributed to all area agencies on aging. An area agency on
aging shall assist persons in the area that intend to apply for
a grant under this act in completing the applications and
verify, in writing, on the grant application that the
application complies with all the requirements of section 6. The
area agency on aging shall then forward the application to the
department for review and, if appropriate, approval.
Section 6. Grant requirements.
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(a) Eligibility.--From money appropriated to the department
for the purpose of the program, the department shall approve
grants to local area agencies on aging for grand-families that
are eligible to receive financial assistance for the