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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Sean Ramaley |
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Ramaley working to help those who help children
His Children and Youth Funding bill moving swiftly through the process to become law
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver/Allegheny, that would speed up state payments to counties for reimbursement of children and youth services was overwhelmingly approved by the House Judiciary Committee; its first step towards becoming law.
House Bill 2127 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to make quarterly advance payments to county children and youth agencies based on approved levels of spending for the year. Currently, the department advances only half of the quarterly amount due.
Ramaley said his bill would address cash flow problems the current system causes county children and youth agencies and end the decades-long practice of making counties front the cost of state-mandates services and then wait many months for reimbursement.
"Local children and youth employees have told me that they have to wait as long as six months to be reimbursed by the welfare department for their expenses," Ramaley said. "If we establish quarterly advance payments, agencies would be better able to budget and have resources in hand to better serve our children who are in need."
Children who depend on the county children and youth services include those who are abused and neglected as well as delinquent juveniles.
Ramaley is pleased his bill received such swift action in the House Judiciary Committee, noting the legislation had just been introduced in December. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Association also support the legislation. The bill is now in the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
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