Pennsylvania HB 531: An Act establishing the Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program, conferring powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and providing for cable television service reimbursement rebates for eligible older adults.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 524
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 531
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PROBST, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, DALEY, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN, STEELE AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program, conferring
powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic
Development and providing for cable television service
reimbursement rebates for eligible older adults.
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 Older Adult
Cable TV Rebate Program Act.
Section 2. 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 under section 3(d).
"Cable TV provider." Any person or group of persons who
provides cable service over a cable system and directly or
through one or more affiliates owns an interest in such cable
system or who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

any arrangement, the management and operation of a cable system.
The term does not include a provider of wireless or direct-to-
home satellite transmission service.
"Cable TV service." Any video programming provided over a
cable system under the basic cable television service tier,
including installation or rental of equipment used for the
receipt of such video programming. The term shall exclude all
streaming platforms and services.
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible older adult." An older adult with a household
income that does not exceed 150% of the Federal poverty
guidelines and who meets the eligibility requirements of section
4.
"Older adult." An individual 65 years of age or older.
"Program." The Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program
established in this act.
Section 3. Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program
is established in the department.
(b) Purpose.--The program shall provide rebates in
accordance with section 6 to eligible older adults for the
reimbursement of yearly basic tier cable TV service charges
assessed to the eligible older adult.
(c) Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
regulations for the establishment and provision of the program
to provide rebates for cable TV reimbursement payments to
eligible older adults as provided in this act.
(d) Application.--The department shall develop an
application form and the procedure for which the application
20250HB0531PN0524 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

shall be submitted. The application form shall be made available
on the department's publicly accessible Internet website and by
mail. An application for a rebate shall be submitted to the
department.
(e) Compliance.--The department shall verify that each
rebate application complies with the requirements of this act.
Section 4. Eligibility.
An eligible older adult applying for the program under
section 3 shall submit the following proof of cable TV service
to the department:
(1) The full name of the older adult and the full
address of the household receiving the basic tier cable TV
service.
(2) Proof that the older adult has received or is
receiving basic tier cable TV service in the form of an
invoice, billing statement or other documentation from the
cable TV provider.
(3) Proof that the basic tier cable TV service to which
the older adult subscribes is the only cable TV service
available in the municipality.
(4) Any additional information deemed necessary by the
department.
Section 5. Determination.
Within 30 days of receiving and verifying the documentation
required under section 4, the department shall render a
determination on the application and shall notify the eligible
older adult in writing of the determination. If an application
is denied, the department shall provide an explanation for the
denial.
Section 6. Award of rebates.
20250HB0531PN0524 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(a) Rebate.--The department shall award rebates to eligible
older adults for the purpose of reducing the recipient's
obligation to the cable TV provider for basic tier cable TV
service.
(b) Amount.--Rebate amounts may not exceed $300 annually.
(c) Awarding of rebate.--The department shall award a rebate
upon approval of an eligible older adult's application.
Section 7. Penalties.
If an eligible older adult willfully makes a false statement
or misrepresentation regarding material facts disclosed on the
application or in the required documentation under this act, the
eligible older adult shall be liable to repay a sum equal to the
amount of rebate awards rec