Bill > HB1314

This bill establishes the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program, a competitive grant initiative within the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development designed to support nonprofit organizations, counties, and local governments that provide assistance to individuals navigating name changes, particularly those experiencing biases or inequalities related to gender or sexual stereotypes. The program creates a dedicated grant fund with an initial transfer of $2,000,000 from the General Fund and allows grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, with specific allocation rules based on the applicant's location and program type. Eligible applicants must demonstrate involvement of at least one transgender or nonbinary resident with specialized experience in name change processes. The department will manage the program by accepting rolling applications, reviewing them within 30 days, and ensuring that grant recipients use funds exclusively for administering eligible assistance programs. To maintain transparency, the department is required to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the program every three years, analyzing grant utilization, recipient details, and program effectiveness, with results to be published on their public website. The bill aims to provide financial support and resources to organizations helping individuals overcome systemic barriers in legally changing their names.

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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1314