HB 531 — An Act establishing the Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program, conferring powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and providing for cable television service reimbursement rebates for eligible older adults.

PRINTER'S NO.   524

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 531
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY PROBST, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, DALEY, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN, STEELE AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
        FEBRUARY 10, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Establishing the Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program, conferring
 2      powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic
 3      Development and providing for cable television service
 4      reimbursement rebates for eligible older adults.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7   Section 1.   Short title.
 8      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Older Adult
 9   Cable TV Rebate Program Act.
10   Section 2.   Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      "Application."   An application submitted under section 3(d).
15      "Cable TV provider."     Any person or group of persons who
16   provides cable service over a cable system and directly or
17   through one or more affiliates owns an interest in such cable
18   system or who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through
 1   any arrangement, the management and operation of a cable system.
 2   The term does not include a provider of wireless or direct-to-
 3   home satellite transmission service.
 4        "Cable TV service."    Any video programming provided over a
 5   cable system under the basic cable television service tier,
 6   including installation or rental of equipment used for the
 7   receipt of such video programming. The term shall exclude all
 8   streaming platforms and services.
 9        "Department."    The Department of Community and Economic
10   Development of the Commonwealth.
11        "Eligible older adult."    An older adult with a household
12   income that does not exceed 150% of the Federal poverty
13   guidelines and who meets the eligibility requirements of section
14   4.
15        "Older adult."    An individual 65 years of age or older.
16        "Program."   The Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program
17   established in this act.
18   Section 3.    Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program.
19        (a)   Establishment.--The Older Adult Cable TV Rebate Program
20   is established in the department.
21        (b)   Purpose.--The program shall provide rebates in
22   accordance with section 6 to eligible older adults for the
23   reimbursement of yearly basic tier cable TV service charges
24   assessed to the eligible older adult.
25        (c)   Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
26   regulations for the establishment and provision of the program
27   to provide rebates for cable TV reimbursement payments to
28   eligible older adults as provided in this act.
29        (d)   Application.--The department shall develop an
30   application form and the procedure for which the application

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 1   shall be submitted. The application form shall be made available
 2   on the department's publicly accessible Internet website and by
 3   mail. An application for a rebate shall be submitted to the
 4   department.
 5      (e)    Compliance.--The department shall verify that each
 6   rebate application complies with the requirements of this act.
 7   Section 4.      Eligibility.
 8      An eligible older adult applying for the program under
 9   section 3 shall submit the following proof of cable TV service
10   to the department:
11             (1)   The full name of the older adult and the full
12      address of the household receiving the basic tier cable TV
13      service.
14             (2)   Proof that the older adult has received or is
15      receiving basic tier cable TV service in the form of an
16      invoice, billing statement or other documentation from the
17      cable TV provider.
18             (3)   Proof that the basic tier cable TV service to which
19      the older adult subscribes is the only cable TV service
20      available in the municipality.
21             (4)   Any additional information deemed necessary by the
22      department.
23   Section 5.      Determination.
24      Within 30 days of receiving and verifying the documentation
25   required under section 4, the department shall render a
26   determination on the application and shall notify the eligible
27   older adult in writing of the determination. If an application
28   is denied, the department shall provide an explanation for the
29   denial.
30   Section 6.      Award of rebates.

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 1      (a)     Rebate.--The department shall award rebates to eligible
 2   older adults for the purpose of reducing the recipient's
 3   obligation to the cable TV provider for basic tier cable TV
 4   service.
 5      (b)     Amount.--Rebate amounts may not exceed $300 annually.
 6      (c)     Awarding of rebate.--The department shall award a rebate
 7   upon approval of an eligible older adult's application.
 8   Section 7.    Penalties.
 9      If an eligible older adult willfully makes a false statement
10   or misrepresentation regarding material facts disclosed on the
11   application or in the required documentation under this act, the
12   eligible older adult shall be liable to repay a sum equal to the
13   amount of rebate awards received and shall be assessed a penalty
14   not to exceed $100.
15   Section 8.    Appropriation.
16      Money shall be appropriated to the department for the purpose
17   of awarding rebates under the program. The department may use a
18   portion of the money appropriated to cover administrative costs
19   of the program.
20   Section 9.    Effective date.
21      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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