By Mr. Correia of Fall River, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4420) of Robert Correia  and others that the Secretary of Elder Affairs be authorized to make certain grants for the support of programs for mature workers and volunteer work of elderly persons. Elder Affairs.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Robert Correia

Patricia D. Jehlen

Willie Mae Allen

Cory Atkins

Bruce J. Ayers

Christine E. Canavan

Joyce A. Spiliotis

Benjamin Swan

Mary E. Grant

Robert L. Rice, Jr.

Stephen L. DiNatale

Robert M. Koczera

Anthony J. Verga

Thomas P. Kennedy

John D. Keenan

Richard J. Ross

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to assist mature workers and older adults in planning and executing paid and/or volunteer encore careers

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

An Act to Assist Mature Workers and Older Adults in Planning and Executing Paid and/or Volunteer Encore Careers

Section 1. Chapter 19A of the General Laws as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended, by adding the following section

Section 41. the Secretary of Elder Affairs shall make grants under a competitive grant program under this section to support programs that integrate life planning, lifelong learning, and civic engagement for mature workers and older adults.

(b) Public and non-profit community-based organizations would be eligible for these grants, including community colleges, libraries, area agencies on aging, senior centers, extension services, and other non-profit community-based organizations that offer programs and services for mature workers and older adults.  The types of programs eligible for grants include, but are not limited to:

• non-credit and peer-led adult learning programs to target the emerging needs and interests of midlife and older people;
• training and education programs, including career counseling, that align local public, private, and government agencies to address sector-specific workforce shortages in the community;
• programs that increase the active involvement of midlife and older adults in community education programs, campuses, senior centers, and extension services;
• programs that promote civic engagement by linking needy charitable organizations with older volunteers;
• programs that combine older worker training with recruitment and labor market integration strategies;
• programs that seek to enhance the use of older unpaid workers who provide charitable services;
• programs that would develop a charitable worker time tracking system that would become the basis for state or local “time banking” systems;
• fellowship demonstration programs that would provide a “living wage” for one year (as well as tuition, health insurance, and social security credits) for individuals in midlife who pursue training for a second career.

(c) The secretary shall establish criteria for the awarding of grants as set forth in section 2 (b), which will include but not be limited to the following:

    (i)  A condition for the receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant must show an integrated approach to helping older adults engage in life planning, education and retraining for paid or volunteer work, making social connections, and taking part in public service opportunities.  The applicant may apply for a grant in partnership with one or more other community-based organizations. 

   (ii) The grant applicant must show that the program and services offered will reflect the language and cultural background of the individuals for whom services are provided.

   (iii)  The applicant must show a plan for outreach activities to inform older adults of the programs and services offered.

(d) Funding.  There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to fund this grant program for fiscal years 2008 – 2013.