2014 -- H 8313

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LC005872

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

HUMAN SERVICES - YOUTH PREGNANCY AND AT-RISK PREVENTION SERVICES

PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representatives DeSimone, Palangio, Ajello, Lombardi, and Canario

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 40 of the General Laws entitled "HUMAN SERVICES" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 5.3

YOUTH PREGNANCY AND AT-RISK PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM

     40-5.3-1. Short title. -- This chapter is hereby entitled "Youth Pregnancy and At-Risk

Prevention Services Program".

     40-5.3-2. Youth pregnancy and at-risk prevention services program. – Findings. –

Legislative intent. - Goals. -- The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:

     (a) Young people, especially at-risk youth, are more vulnerable to teen pregnancy, child

abuse, gang and drug-related activity, juvenile crime, school failure, neglect and other illicit

activities during the potentially unsupervised summer months as well as the hours between the

end of school and the time their parents or guardians return home from work.

     (b) Without community-based prevention and mentoring programs, the threats to the

well-being and safety of our youth continue.

     (c) In order to minimize the risk to young people, it is the intent of the general assembly

to expand after school and summer community based prevention, mentoring and development

programs and to implement those programs in accordance with the federal Temporary Assistance

for Needy Families Program (“TANF” program) described in Title IV Part A of the federal Social

Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.

     (d) The goal of the program shall be to focus on the particular TANF goal of preventing

youth pregnancies as well as reducing other at-risk behavior described in this section.

     40-5.3-3. Youth pregnancy and at-risk prevention services program. –

Establishment. – (a) There is hereby established an after-school and summer youth prevention

and development program to be administered by the department of human services. The

establishment of the program pursuant to this chapter shall be contingent upon the availability and

receipt of federal funding for the purpose set forth in §40-5.3-2. The department shall ensure that

the goals of this chapter are met and that the state meets the federal requirements. The director of

the department, to the extent that federal TANF funds are made available, shall allocate to the

program no less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) annually.

     (b) In the event that there are changes in the federal TANF program, the department shall

seek support through the general assembly to make all necessary changes and shall take all

necessary steps to comply with the federal law.

     (c) Except as otherwise provided for herein, the director is responsible for

implementation of this chapter.

     40-5.3-4. Youth pregnancy and at-risk prevention services program. – Eligibility

requirements. – (a) The Rhode Island Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs is hereby authorized, on

behalf of its member organizations, to make an application to the department for funding under

this chapter.

     (b) The following requirements and conditions shall be necessary to establish eligibility

for funding:

     (1) The organization must demonstrate that its members are affiliated and in good

standing with a nationally chartered organization as described in Title 36, Subtitle II, Part B of the

Patriotic and National Organizations, 36 U.S.C. 311 et. seq.;

     (2) The organization must provide tested and proven programs;

     (3) The organization must demonstrate that its members provide programs that are

facility-based;

     (4) The organization must demonstrate that its members’ programs are offered for a

minimum of ten (10) hours weekly during the school year and twenty (20) hours weekly during

the summer;

     (5) The organization must demonstrate that its members’ programs exist in a minimum of

seven (7) towns and cities within the state;

     (6) The organization must demonstrate that its members’ programs are administered in

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accordance with this chapter, is designed to meet or exceed the minimum federal TANF

guidelines;

     (7) The organization must demonstrate that it is eligible to receive federal TANF funding;

and

     (8) The organization must be able to raise four dollars ($4) for every one dollar received

from the state through federal funding.

     40-5.3-5. Annual report to general assembly. – No later than March 1st of each year,

the director shall submit a report to the general assembly showing how, within available

resources, the department expects to operate the programs authorized under this chapter in the

succeeding fiscal year. The director will provide an annual report of program impact on youth and

indicators of success.

     40-5.3-6. Report to federal government. – The department shall make reports to the

federal government or any agency or department thereof, in the form and nature required by it,

and shall in all respects comply with any request or direction of the federal government or any

agency or department thereof which may be necessary to assure the correctness and verification

of the reports.

     40-5.3-7. Rules and regulations. – The director of the department shall promulgate

rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Any reference to the

department's rule making process is pursuant to this section.

     40-5.3-8. Severability. – If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any

person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or

applications of the chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application,

and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

HUMAN SERVICES - YOUTH PREGNANCY AND AT-RISK PREVENTION SERVICES

PROGRAM

***

     This act would create a youth pregnancy and at-risk prevention services program to be

administered by the department of human services. The director of the department, shall obtain

funding through the federal TANF program and shall annually allocate $250,000 from those

funds to the program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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