Section 2992.6 - Financial assistance for community services block grant program(a)Apportionment of appropriations.--To help meet the department's objective of establishing community action agencies to provide services to all counties within this Commonwealth, the sum appropriated under the community services block grant shall be distributed as follows: (1) No greater than 5% shall be allotted to the department for the administration of program operations.(2) No less than 5% may be allotted, at the discretion of the secretary, for a range of activities, including the funding of community food and nutrition programs in a manner consistent with this act.(3) Of the remaining 90%, no greater than 5% may be alloted to establish community action agencies in those areas currently unserved; no less than 85% shall be reserved for existing community action agencies and other eligible entities as defined in section 3.(4) A formula basis shall be established for the distribution of funds reserved for community action agencies. The formula shall include consideration of the number of persons below the poverty level and the number of persons unemployed, as determined annually by the United States Department of Labor, and shall include a minimum funding level of community services block grant funds for existing community action agencies meeting the requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 and a Statewide migrant and seasonal farmworkers' organization approved by the secretary.(5) A minimum funding level of only community service block grant funds shall be set at an amount equal to 1.06% of the annual community service block grant allocation awarded to the Commonwealth following the distribution of administrative and discretionary funds by the department. Each community action agency shall receive no less than $250,000 in any year. If insufficient funds are available to meet that amount, funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis.(6) As established by the formula under this section, the determination of annual funding levels shall be made by the secretary based on input from the local agencies and the Community Services Block Grant Advisory Task Force.(a.1)Reduction or termination of funding.-- (1) Any community action agency or migrant and seasonal farmworker organization which received funding in the previous fiscal year under this act will not have its present or future funding terminated under this act or reduced below the proportional share of funding it received in the previous fiscal year unless, after notice and opportunity for hearing on the record, the Commonwealth determines that cause existed for such termination or such reduction, subject, however, to review under section 678C(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 ( 42 U.S.C. § 9916(b) ).(2) For purposes of making a determination with respect to a funding reduction, the term "cause" includes:(i) a Statewide redistribution of funds under this act to respond to: (A) the results of the most recently available census or other appropriate data;(B) the establishment of a new eligible entity;(C) severe economic dislocation; and(ii) the failure of an eligible entity to comply with the terms of its agreement to provide services under this act.(b)Grant prerequisite.--The secretary shall require, as a condition of assistance, that each community action agency or other eligible agency designated for funding adopt a systematic approach for achieving the functions stated in section 5(b) and for utilizing the funds provided under this act. Such an approach shall encompass a planning and implementation process which seeks to identify the problems and causes of poverty in the community, seeks to mobilize and coordinate relevant public and private resources, establishes program priorities, links program components with one another and with other relevant programs and provides for evaluation.(c) Program priorities.--The secretary may establish Statewide priorities for the offering of specific services or type of services. In establishing these priorities, the secretary shall consider the recommendations of the Community Services Block Grant Advisory Task Force.(d)Determination of local services.--To promote local responsibility and initiatives, decisions regarding which of the qualified services shall be provided shall be established through a local planning process administered by the local agency. The plan should be based on the recommendations of the local board of directors and the public at large and the Statewide priorities established by the secretary. Each local agency shall submit its plan to the department for review to ensure eligibility of proposed services under the provision of Federal law and regulations and consistency to the extent possible with the Statewide priorities.Amended by P.L. 834 2014 No. 90, § 4, eff. 7/2/2014.2002, May 16, P.L. 315, No. 46, § 6, retroactive effective Jan. 1, 2002.