PRINTER'S NO. 2444
No. 182 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY KELLY, RICHARDSON, WHITE, SALVATORE, JONES,
JOHNSON, GIAMMARCO, McLANE, WANSACZ, HARPER, POTT, KLINGAMAN,
NOYE, McGINNIS, FEE, MRKONIC, DUFFY, GAMBLE, GEISLER,
FLAHERTY, LINCOLN, REED, LEVIN, DOYLE, DiCARLO, OLIVER,
WIGGINS, DIETZ, WASS, MILLER, HASAY, GRIECO, KATZ, BURNS,
CESSAR, E. Z. TAYLOR, SIRIANNI, SCANLON, CIANCIULLI, RIEGER
AND BARBER, DECEMBER 13, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, DECEMBER 13, 1977
In the House of Representatives, December 13, 1977
1 WHEREAS, The Center for the Blind in Philadelphia is a large
2 multi-service agency organized in 1874 to serve blind persons;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, The Center for the Blind is the recipient of funds
5 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
6 WHEREAS, A major department of the Center for the Blind is
7 the Upsal Day School for multi-handicapped blind children; and
8 WHEREAS, Members of the faculty of Upsal and members of the
9 Parent Teachers Association there have virtually closed the
10 school because of conditions of filth aggravated by the presence
11 of rodents, insects and other vermin; and
12 WHEREAS, Reports are made of other conditions including
13 unsafe school buses without heat and without proper brakes; and
14 WHEREAS, Parents report gastric upsets and distress among
15 their children because of unsanitary conditions in the kitchen
1 of the Center for the Blind; and
2 WHEREAS, Both faculty members and parents report many
3 instances of alleged misuse of State funds; and
4 WHEREAS, Other reports of financial irregularities have been
5 received in other departments of Center for the Blind; therefore
6 be it
7 RESOLVED, That the Health and Welfare Committee of the House
8 of Representatives be directed to investigate Upsal Day School
9 of the Center for the Blind in Philadelphia as regards the
10 alleged unsafe and unsanitary conditions and the possible misuse
11 of State funds; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
13 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it
14 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal
15 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to
16 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
17 by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
18 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
19 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
20 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
21 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
22 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents,
23 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
24 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
25 have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
26 appearing before the committee; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the committee
28 has made its report, the chairman of the committee shall cause a
29 record of all expenses incurred by the committee, or the members
30 thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed
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1 with the Speaker of the House and the Speaker shall cause the
2 same to be entered in the journal thereof. No expenses incurred
3 by the committee or any member thereof shall be reimbursable by
4 the Chief Clerk unless such expense shall first have been
5 included as an expense item in the record heretofore required;
6 and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings to the House
8 of Representatives as soon as possible.
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