Section 2992.5 - Community action agencies and board(a) Powers of agency.-- Each community action agency designated and created pursuant to the criteria set forth in section 4 shall: (1) Develop and implement programs and projects designed in accordance with Federal regulations established under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to serve the poor or low-income areas with maximum feasible participation of residents of the areas and members of the groups served, so as to best stimulate and take full advantage of capabilities for self-advancement and assure that those programs and projects are otherwise meaningful to and widely utilized by their intended beneficiaries. Participation in any community service block grant program is limited to persons whose income in relation to family size does not exceed 125% of the official poverty line established by the Federal Office of Management and Budget.(2) Be a continuing and effective mechanism for securing broad community involvement in the programs assisted under this act.(3) Provide effective coordination of existing community action programs with other Federal and State funds provided within the jurisdictional area targeted to the low-income population to avoid duplication of efforts within the area.(b) Functions of agency.--In exercising its powers and carrying out its overall responsibility for a community action program, a community action agency shall have, subject to the purposes of this act, at least the following functions:(1) Planning systematically for and evaluating the programs, including actions to develop information as to the problems and causes of poverty in the community; determining how much and how effectively assistance is being provided to deal with those problems and causes; and establishing priorities among projects, activities and areas as needed for the best and most efficient use of resources.(2) Encouraging agencies engaged in activities related to the community action program to plan for, secure and administer assistance available under this act or from other sources on a common or cooperative basis; providing planning or technical assistance to those agencies; and generally, in cooperation with community agencies and officials, undertaking actions to improve existing efforts to attack poverty, such as improving day-to-day communication, closing service gaps, focusing resources on the most needy and providing additional opportunities to low-income individuals for regular employment and affordable housing or participation in the programs or activities for which those community agencies and officials are responsible.(3) Initiating and sponsoring projects responsive to needs of the poor which are not otherwise being met, with particular emphasis on providing central or common services that can be drawn upon by a variety of related programs; developing new approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated into other programs; and filling gaps pending the expansion or modification of those programs.(4) Establishing effective procedures by which the poor and area residents concerned will be enabled to influence the character of programs affecting their interests and providing technical and other support needed to enable the poor and neighborhood groups to secure on their own behalf available assistance from public and private sources.(5) Joining with and encouraging business, labor and other private groups and organizations to undertake, together with public officials and agencies, activities in support of the community action program which will result in the additional use of private resources and capabilities, with a view to such things as developing new employment opportunities, stimulating investment that will have a measurable impact in reducing poverty among residents of areas of concentrated poverty and providing methods by which residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common concern.(6) Utilizing a comprehensive case-management approach to the provision of services provided to eligible low-income individuals as defined in section 3. (c) Prohibition of activities.--No community action agency or limited purpose agency receiving funds pursuant to this act may engage in organized political activity, including, but not limited to, endorsement of candidates for public office, political fundraising or provide similar assistance in connection with an election, nor shall funds received pursuant to this act be expended for providing transportation of voters or prospective voters to the polls on a nonpartisan basis, for providing any nonpartisan voter registration activity or lobbying efforts at the local, State or Federal level.Amended by P.L. 834 2014 No. 90, § 3, eff. 7/2/2014.2002, May 16, P.L. 315, No. 46, § 5, imd. effective.