PRINTER'S NO. 2899
No. 227 Session of 1976
INTRODUCED BY YAHNER, W. W. WILT, A. P. KELLY, MILLIRON AND
HILL, MARCH 9, 1976
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 10, 1976
In the House of Representatives, March 9, 1976
1 WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
2 Pennsylvania delegated a portion of its responsibility for the
3 care and treatment of the mentally retarded persons to the
4 Department of Public Welfare; and
5 WHEREAS, The administrator of the Cresson State School and
6 Hospital, Dr. Will Burrow, claims that the conditions at such
7 institution are unsafe for the care of mentally retarded persons
8 because of the poor condition of the buildings; and
9 WHEREAS, The members of Local 228 of the American Federation
10 of State, County and Municipal Employees through a union officer
11 have disputed the claims of Dr. Will Burrow relating to the
12 conditions at Cresson State School and Hospital; and
13 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives desires to properly
14 care for the mentally retarded by insuring that adequate care
15 facilities are available for the mentally retarded; therefore be
16 it
17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the House
1 Health and Welfare Committee to study and investigate all
2 matters pertaining to the capacity of Cresson State School to
3 adequately care for mentally retarded persons and to further
4 determine the extent that any hazardous conditions that might
5 exist at Cresson State School are attributable to the condition
6 of the building and other facilities or to inadequate
7 administration if in fact any such conditions do exist; and be
8 it further
9 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
10 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it
11 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal
12 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to
13 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
14 by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
15 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
16 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
17 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
18 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
19 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents,
20 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
21 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
22 have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
23 appearing before the committee; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the committee
25 has made its report, the chairman of the committee shall cause a
26 record of all expenses incurred by the committee, or the members
27 thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed
28 with the Speaker of the House and the Speaker shall cause the
29 same to be entered in the journal thereof. No expenses incurred
30 by the committee or any member thereof shall be reimbursable by
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1 the Chief Clerk unless such expense shall first have been
2 included as an expense item in the record heretofore required.
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