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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
reimbursement of expenses directly related to the care of a
grandchild whose parent is actively participating in an opioid
use disorder treatment program. The grand-family may not be
reimbursed for any expense that is otherwise reimbursed,
including payments received from the parent or an agency of the
Federal, State or county government.
(b) Funding from Opioid Settlement Restricted Account.--
(1) In addition to any money appropriated from another
fund or account to the department for the purpose of the
program, money appropriated from the Opioid Settlement
Restricted Account for costs associated with opioid
remediation may be used to make grants under this act.
(2) The department shall ensure that the amounts
allocated for the program comply with the restrictions on the
use of the money in the Opioid Settlement Restricted Account.
Section 7. Powers and duties of department.
The powers and duties of the department shall be:
(1) To accept grants from the Federal Government and any
other individual, agency or government for use in the
program.
(2) To promulgate such rules, regulations and directives
as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this
act.
(3) To annually provide to the chair and minority chair
of the Aging and Youth Committee of the Senate and the chair
and minority chair of the Aging and Older Adult Services
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Committee of the House of Representatives the following
information:
(i) a list of area agencies on aging that applied
for a grant;
(ii) a list of area agencies on aging that received
a grant;
(iii) the total funds allocated in the program for
that year; and
(iv) the total funds expended by the area agencies
on aging for the program for that year.
SECTION 4. GRAND-FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.--THE GRAND-FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS
ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT. SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE PAYMENTS UNDER SUBSECTION (B) TO AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT, WHICH SHALL BE
USED SOLELY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GRAND-FAMILIES
FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES UNDER SECTION 7.
(B) USE OF PROGRAM PAYMENTS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
DISTRIBUTE PROGRAM PAYMENTS TO AREA AGENCIES ON AGING IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT. AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING SHALL USE THE
PAYMENT RECEIVED UNDER THE PROGRAM ONLY TO REIMBURSE GRAND-
FAMILIES FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES UNDER SECTION 7.
(C) MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT.--A GRAND-FAMILY MAY RECEIVE A
ONE-TIME REIMBURSEMENT UNDER SECTION 7 OF UP TO $1,000 FOR THE
FIRST CHILD AND UP TO $500 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CHILD, NOT TO
EXCEED A TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT OF $2,000.
SECTION 5. APPLICATION.
(A) PROCESS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION
PROCESS FOR AREA AGENCIES ON AGING TO SEEK PROGRAM PAYMENTS ON
BEHALF OF GRAND-FAMILIES.
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(B) PUBLIC NOTICE.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST APPLICATION
INSTRUCTIONS AND MATERIALS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.
(C) SUBMISSION.--AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING MUST SUBMIT AN
APPLICATION IN THE FORM AND MANNER DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
SECTION 6. APPLICATION DETERMINATIONS.
(A) DEPARTMENT DETERMINATION.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPROVE
OR DENY AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING'S APPLICATION NO LATER THAN 60
DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION.
(B) DENIAL AND SUPPLEMENTATION.--AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING MAY
SUBMIT ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION TO SUPPLEMENT AN
APPLICATION DENIED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) NO LATER THAN 15 DAYS
AFTER RECEIPT OF THE DENIAL. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPROVE OR
DENY THE SUPPLEMENTED APPLICATION NO LATER THAN 45 DAYS AFTER
RECEIPT OF THE SUPPLEMENTED APPLICATION.
SECTION 7. CONDITIONS FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
(A) ELIGIBILITY.--FROM PAYMENTS RECEIVED UNDER THE PROGRAM,
AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING SHALL REIMBURSE GRAND-FAMILIES FOR
EXPENSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CARE OF A GRANDCHILD WHILE A
PARENT OF THE GRANDCHILD IS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN AN OPIOID
USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM. A GRAND-FAMILY MAY NOT RECEIVE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN EXPENSE THAT IS OTHERWISE REIMBURSED,
INCLUDING PAYMENTS FROM THE PARENT OR FROM A FEDERAL,
COMMONWEALTH OR COUNTY AGENCY.
(B) INELIGIBILITY.--A GRAND-FAMILY MAY NOT RECEIVE
REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THIS ACT IF THE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL:
(1) HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF, OR HAS PLEADED GUILTY OR NOLO
CONTENDERE TO, A CRIMINAL OFFENSE INVOLVING ABUSE, NEGLECT,
EXPLOITATION OR ABANDONMENT; OR
(2) IS NAMED AS THE PERPETRATOR IN A FOUNDED OR
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INDICATED REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE UNDER 23 PA.C.S. CH. 63
(RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES).
(C) INCOME LIMITATION.--AT THE TIME AN ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL
APPLIES FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE GRAND-FAMILY'S
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME MAY NOT EXCEED 250% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICABLE HOUSEHOLD SIZE, AS
PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES.
(D) AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.--AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING THAT
RECEIVES A PAYMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL, UPON REQUEST,
PROVIDE DOCUMENTS, RECORDS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THE
PAYMENT IN THE TIME, MANNER AND FORMAT REQUIRED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OR BY A FEDERAL OR COMMONWEALTH AGENCY WITH AUTHORITY
TO AUDIT THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING OR THE PAYMENTS.
(E) RECORDS AND RECOVERY.--THE DEPARTMENT MAY:
(1) MONITOR, INSPECT OR AUDIT THE FINANCIAL, OPERATING
AND ACCOUNTING RECORDS OF AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING THAT
RECEIVES A PAYMENT UNDER THE PROGRAM AS THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS
NECESSARY; OR
(2) WITHHOLD, REDUCE OR RECOVER MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO AN
AREA AGENCY ON AGING UNDER THE PROGRAM IF THE AREA AGENCY ON
AGING DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THIS ACT OR APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR
STATE LAW.
SECTION 8. DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
(A) GUIDELINES.--SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE
DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DRUG AND
ALCOHOL PROGRAMS, SHALL DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE PROGRAM.
(B) REPORTING.--NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, AND EACH
SEPTEMBER 30 THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE A REPORT ON
THE PROGRAM TO THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE AGING AND
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YOUTH COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR
OF THE AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST THE REPORT ON THE
DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE. THE REPORT
SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR THE PRIOR
FISCAL YEAR:
(1) THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS MADE TO AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING.
(2) THE AMOUNT OF MONEY RECEIVED BY EACH AREA AGENCY ON
AGING.
(3) THE COUNTY OF OPERATION FOR EACH AREA AGENCY ON
AGING THAT RECEIVED FUNDING.
(4) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED.
(5) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS
NECESSARY.
(C) REGULATIONS.--THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS
AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACT.
SECTION 9. PROGRAM FUNDING.
(A) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.--THE GRAND-FAMILY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FUND IS ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE TREASURY TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROGRAM.
(B) APPROPRIATION.--MONEY IN THE FUND, INCLUDING INTEREST
AND OTHER EARNINGS, IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT ON A
CONTINUING BASIS FOR PAYMENTS UNDER THE PROGRAM. MONEY IN THE
FUND SHALL NOT LAPSE AT THE END OF ANY FISCAL YEAR.
(C) SOURCES.--THE DEPARTMENT MAY SOLICIT AND ACCEPT MONEY
FOR THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING APPROPRIATIONS BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, FEDERAL MONEY, GRANTS, DONATIONS, GIFTS AND OTHER
PAYMENTS FROM ANY SOURCE. ALL MONEY RECEIVED SHALL BE DEPOSITED
INTO THE FUND.
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(D) OPIOID SETTLEMENT RESTRICTED ACCOUNT.--
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FROM THE OPIOID
SETTLEMENT RESTRICTED ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 1792-
A.1(A) OF THE ACT OF APRIL 9, 1929 (P.L.343, NO.176), KNOWN
AS THE FISCAL CODE, MAY BE USED TO MAKE PAYMENTS UNDER THE
PROGRAM.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT MONEY USED UNDER
PARAGRAPH (1) COMPLIES WITH THE RESTRICTIONS GOVERNING THE
USE OF MONEY IN THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT RESTRICTED ACCOUNT.
(E) COUNTY PARTICIPATION.--NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE A COUNTY TO USE THE COUNTY'S OPIOID
SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
Section 8 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 90 days.
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