PRINTER'S NO. 680
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
726
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, PROBST, HOWARD, T. DAVIS, MADDEN, ROZZI,
GUENST, SANCHEZ, DELLOSO, HILL-EVANS, PARKER, CERRATO AND
MALAGARI, MARCH 28, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 28, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for Mental
Health Workforce Retention Program; and making an
appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding an article to
read:
ARTICLE XI-A
MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE RETENTION PROGRAM
Section 1101-A. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Eligible applicant." A mental health worker who satisfies
the eligibility requirements under section 1104-A.
"Grant." A grant issued by the department under this
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article.
"Mental health worker." An individual who is employed in the
psychology, counseling, social work or human services field.
"Program." The Mental Health Workforce Retention Program
established under section 1102-A.
"Recipient." A mental health worker who is selected by the
department to receive a grant under the program.
Section 1102-A. Mental Health Workforce Retention Program.
The Mental Health Workforce Retention Program is established
within the department for the purpose of awarding grants to
mental health workers in accordance with this article.
Section 1103-A. Duties of department.
The department shall:
(1) Provide grants to eligible applicants in accordance
with the program.
(2) Administer the program, including adopting
regulations, policies, procedures and forms as are necessary
to implement the program which are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this article.
Section 1104-A. Eligibility.
To qualify for a grant under the program, a mental health
worker must be:
(1) a resident of this Commonwealth; and
(2) employed as a mental health worker focusing on
adolescents for at least seven consecutive years.
Section 1105-A. Application for grant.
(a) Application.--The department shall develop and publish
on its publicly accessible Internet website an application by
which an eligible applicant may apply for a grant.
(b) Application requirements.--An application for a grant
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must be submitted to the department on or before the deadline
for submittal of the application, as established by the
department. The application must provide proof of eligibility as
required under section 1104-A.
Section 1106-A. Award of grants.
(a) Lottery system.--The department shall develop a lottery
system for selecting eligible applicants to receive a grant.
(b) Total distribution.--Of the total amount appropriated to
the department under section 1108-A(a), the department shall
distribute no more than $1,000,000 in total grants to eligible
applicants in any fiscal year.
(c) Grant amount.--Each grant shall be in the amount of
$5,000. No eligible applicant may receive more than one grant
for the duration of the program.
Section 1107-A. Tax applicability.
A grant awarded under the program shall not be considered
taxable income for the purposes of Article III of the act of
March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of
1971.
Section 1108-A. Funding.
(a) Appropriation.--The sum of $5,000,000 is appropriated on
a continuing basis to the department from the General Fund for
the purposes of awarding grants to recipients under the program.
The appropriation shall not lapse at the end of any fiscal year.
(b) Unused money.--If the department awards grants totaling
less than $1,000,000 in a fiscal year, the department shall
return the unused money for that fiscal year to the General
Fund.
Section 1109-A. Expiration of authority to award grants.
The department's authority to award grants under the program
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shall expire June 30, 2028.
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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