PRINTER'S NO. 3471
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
388
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY FLEMING, MARCELL, KHAN, GREINER, SANCHEZ,
D. MILLER, KINSEY, JAMES, NEILSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI,
KIM, BOROWSKI, HOWARD, HILL-EVANS, KAZEEM, DALEY,
SCHLOSSBERG, WARREN, CONKLIN AND GREEN, JULY 2, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JULY 2, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study and issue a report on the services, processes
and wait times in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and
the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within the
Department of Labor and Industry.
WHEREAS, The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within the Department of
Labor and Industry are obligated to provide specialized,
individualized services and orientation and mobility services to
the blind and visually impaired population in this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, The primary mission of the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation is to provide vocational rehabilitation services
to assist Pennsylvanians with vision impairment to obtain,
maintain and return to employment; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual
Services is to provide support services to those with visual
impairment; and
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WHEREAS, There are concerns that the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
do not have adequate personnel to meet their missions in a
timely manner; and
WHEREAS, Many of the customers of the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
experience waiting periods for essential support and services;
and
WHEREAS, The Department of Labor and Industry, through the
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness
and Visual Services, has a statutory mandate to provide services
to this vulnerable population in Article XXII(b) of the act of
April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
Code of 1929; and
WHEREAS, Without these services, many Pennsylvanians may have
no choice but to enter long-term care; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and
issue a report on the services, processes and wait times in the
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness
and Visual Services within the Department of Labor and Industry;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study:
(1) research the current wait times for customers
seeking services and make recommendations on improving wait
times;
(2) examine the impact on the customers waiting for
services and, if possible, determine how an extended wait
period impacts the life and potential careers of the
customers; and
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(3) examine the process by which customers are referred
for outside services to provide potential solutions for
reducing the waiting list or serving customers more
efficiently, including the potential for referral and
contracting to an outside agency such as a Statewide
nonprofit service provider association for blind and visually
impaired residents of this Commonwealth;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the
General Assembly within 180 days of the adoption of this
resolution.
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