Bill > SB152

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework to study and combat intergenerational poverty in Pennsylvania by creating three key entities: the Intergenerational Poverty Tracking System, the Interagency Workgroup on Poverty and Economic Insecurity, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to develop a data system that tracks poverty trends, identifies high-risk groups, and monitors poverty-related information across generations. An interagency workgroup composed of top state officials will collaborate to understand poverty's root causes, develop intervention strategies, and share data across government departments. The commission, which includes legislators, judiciary representatives, and public stakeholders, will develop a strategic plan with ambitious goals, such as reducing deep poverty by 50% by 2032, eliminating child poverty by 2037, and eradicating all poverty by 2042. The strategic plan must address critical areas like housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and job opportunities, and include policy recommendations to improve existing antipoverty programs. The bill mandates annual reporting, public hearings, and requires the Secretary of the Budget to include poverty reduction strategies in annual budget proposals, emphasizing a comprehensive, data-driven approach to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty.