PRINTER'S NO. 1525
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1183
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY COHEN, BISHOP, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, DRISCOLL,
HARKINS, J. HARRIS, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, McNEILL, MURT,
PASHINSKI, ROEBUCK AND THOMAS, MAY 11, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 11, 2015
AN ACT
Relating to the delivery of services and programs to persons
with disabilities; conferring powers and duties on the Office
of the Governor; establishing the Office for People with
Disabilities, Cabinet for People with Disabilities and
Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities; and
providing for their powers, duties and funding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Section 102. Definitions.
Chapter 3. Office for People with Disabilities
Section 301. Establishment.
Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
Chapter 5. Cabinet for People with Disabilities
Section 501. Establishment.
Section 502. Membership.
Section 503. Responsibilities of cabinet.
Chapter 7. Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities
Section 701. Establishment.
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Section 702. Responsibilities.
Section 703. Membership.
Chapter 9. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 901. Responsibilities of State agencies.
Section 902. Cooperation.
Section 903. Funding.
Section 904. Effective date.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office for
People with Disabilities Act.
Section 102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advisory committee." The Advisory Committee for People with
Disabilities established by this act.
"Cabinet." The Governor's Cabinet for People with
Disabilities established by this act.
"Office." The Office for People with Disabilities
established by this act.
"Person with a disability." A child or adult in this
Commonwealth who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
CHAPTER 3
OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Section 301. Establishment.
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The Office for People with Disabilities is established within
the Office of the Governor. The office shall be administered by
the Office of the Governor.
Section 302. Powers and duties of office.
The office shall:
(1) Make recommendations to the Governor on policies,
procedures, regulations and legislation that aid people with
disabilities in this Commonwealth.
(2) Serve as the Governor's liaison to people with
disabilities on policies, procedures, regulations and
legislation that affect people with disabilities to ensure
that State government is accessible, accountable and
responsive to people with disabilities.
(3) Serve as a resource to State agencies under the
Governor's jurisdiction to ensure that the agencies are
cognizant of the needs of people with disabilities and that
their respective services and programs are accessible to
those individuals.
(4) Work with the Governor and State agencies to ensure
the efficient and effective delivery of services to people
with disabilities by:
(i) Facilitating cooperation among State agencies as
to their disability-related functions.
(ii) Serving as a liaison between the advisory
committee and State agencies.
(5) Work with the Governor and State agencies to advance
the hiring, retention and promotion practices of the
Commonwealth relating to the employment of people with
disabilities to ensure that there are no discriminatory
practices.
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(6) Employ an executive director to carry out the duties
of this section, who shall have the additional duty of
arranging for meetings of the cabinet, the advisory committee
and, upon request of the advisory committee chairperson,
joint meetings of the two bodies.
CHAPTER 5
CABINET FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Section 501. Establishment.
The Governor's Cabinet for People with Disabilities is
established.
Section 502. Membership.
The cabinet shall consist of the following members, or their
designees, who shall serve by virtue of their public position:
(1) Secretary of Human Services.
(2) Secretary of Labor and Industry.
(3) Secretary of Health.
(4) Secretary of Education.
(5) Secretary of Transportation.
(6) Secretary of the Budget.
(7) Secretary of Aging.
(8) Secretary of Policy and Planning.
(9) Adjutant General.
(10) Secretary of the Commonwealth.
(11) Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission.
(12) Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Housing
Finance Agency.
(13) Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
(14) Executive Director of the Office for People with
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Disabilities.
(15) Executive Director of the Intra-Governmental
Council on Long-Term Care.
Section 503. Responsibilities of cabinet.
(a) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the cabinet
are as follows:
(1) To make recommendations on policies, procedures,
regulations and legislation that aid people with disabilities
in this Commonwealth to the Governor based upon
recommendations, resolutions and other information received
by the advisory committee.
(2) To meet no less that twice annually to consider
recommendations from the advisory committee and other
disability-related matters.
(b) Chairperson.--The members of the cabinet shall elect a
chairperson from among the members, who shall serve in that
capacity until a successor is appointed.
CHAPTER 7
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Section 701. Establishment.
The Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities is
established within the Office for People with Disabilities.
Section 702. Responsibilities.
The advisory committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to
the cabinet in matters regarding people with disabilities in
this Commonwealth.
Section 703. Membership.
(a) Members.--The advisory committee shall consist of
members appointed as follows:
(1) The Governor shall appoint persons with
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disabilities, including individuals from existing stakeholder
groups, in such number as the Governor deems appropriate.
(2) At a minimum, 60% of these members shall be persons
with disabilities or family members of persons with
disabilities.
(3) Members shall be selected based upon an evaluation
of information received through formal application.
(4) Members appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the
Governor as long as they represent the interest of the
membership class for which they were appointed and shall
serve until their successors are appointed.
(b) Chairperson.--The members of the advisory committee
shall elect a chairperson from among the members. Ballots may be
cast either in person or by proxy.
(c) Expenses of members.--The executive director shall make
every effort to minimize the cost of meetings through the use of
videoconferencing or other electronic meeting devices. Members
of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation for
their services. Members who are not employees of State
government shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the
course of their duties in accordance with Commonwealth policy.
(d) Studies and reports.--The advisory committee may conduct
studies and issue reports upon request and as it deems necessary
on issues affecting persons with disabilities in this
Commonwealth.
(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the advisory committee from establishing ad
hoc work groups or local committees to assist in research and
other duties necessary to carry out the mission of the office.
(f) Work with cabinet.--The cabinet and the advisory
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committee shall meet jointly at least once a year. The advisory
committee may request additional joint meetings with the cabinet
to facilitate communications. Representatives of the cabinet
shall attend advisory committee meetings.
(g) Existing committees.--The establishment of the advisory
committee is not intended to replace any existing committee that
performs a similar advisory function.
CHAPTER 9
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 901. Responsibilities of State agencies.
State agencies shall cooperate with and provide necessary
assistance to the cabinet and advisory committee in performing
their functions.
Section 902. Cooperation.
In implementing this act, the cabinet and advisory committee
shall utilize existing resources available through the
Commonwealth and donated resources of members before incurring
additional expenses.
Section 903. Funding.
The Office of the Governor shall use Federal funds where
possible for the administration of the Office for People with
Disabilities, the Governor's Cabinet for People with
Disabilities and the Advisory Committee for People with
Disabilities and shall expend Federal funds, on appropriation by
the General Assembly, prior to expending any State
appropriations for the same or similar purpose. The Office of
the Governor shall utilize any available private funds to carry
out the provisions of this act.
Section 904. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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