PRINTER'S NO. 142
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
200
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY BAKER, TARTAGLIONE, GREENLEAF, TEPLITZ, SCAVELLO,
SMITH, VULAKOVICH, GORDNER, BREWSTER, AUMENT, RAFFERTY,
SCHWANK, COSTA, SCARNATI, BOSCOLA, MCGARRIGLE AND STACK,
JANUARY 16, 2015
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JANUARY 16, 2015
AN ACT
Providing for the Work Experience for High School Students with
Disabilities Act; imposing duties on the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation; and providing for appropriations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Work
Experience for High School Students with Disabilities Act.
Section 2. 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:
"Competitive integrated employment." Work in the competitive
labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis
in an integrated setting for which an individual is compensated
at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary
wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or
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similar work performed by individuals who do not have
disabilities.
"Integrated setting." With respect to an employment outcome,
a setting typically found in the community in which an applicant
or eligible individual interacts with individuals without
disabilities, other than an individual who is providing services
to the applicant or eligible individual, to the same extent that
individuals without a disability in a comparable position
interact with other persons.
"Office of Vocational Rehabilitation." The Office of
Vocational Rehabilitation established under section 7 of the act
of December 20, 1988 (P.L.1306, No.167), known as the Vocational
Rehabilitation Act.
Section 3. Powers and duties of the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation.
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation shall develop
connections between local education agencies and public and
private employers to promote the successful transition of high
school students with disabilities into competitive integrated
employment after graduation. In collaboration with officials of
local education agencies and other public agencies, such as an
agency taking part in a county mental health or intellectual
disabilities program, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
shall to the greatest extent possible:
(1) Provide information for the development of
individual education plans for high school students with
disabilities. The office shall, when possible, attend
individual education plan meetings in person or by
alternative means, such as video conferences and conference
calls, when invited by local education agencies.
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(2) Arrange for, monitor and support the placement of
high school students with disabilities in lawful internships,
on-the-job training and full-time or part-time work at
competitive wages in integrated settings with public or
private sector employers.
(3) Provide professional guidance relative to job
coaching services:
(i) To individuals who are eligible for services at
the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
(ii) When those services are included in an
individualized plan for employment by the Office of
Vocational Rehabilitation.
Section 4. Construction.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to reduce the
obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(Public Law 91-230, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) of a local
education agency or any other agency to provide or pay for any
transition services that are also considered special education
or related services and that are necessary for ensuring a free,
appropriate public education to children with disabilities.
Section 5. Appropriations.
For fiscal year 2015-2016, sufficient State funds shall be
appropriated to ensure that the Federal funds available to the
Commonwealth through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public
Law 93-112, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.) are matched by the Federal
Government. In subsequent fiscal years, sufficient State funds
shall be appropriated to ensure that the funds available to the
Commonwealth under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are matched by
the Federal Government. The difference between the funding for
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fiscal year 2015-2016 and the amounts appropriated during fiscal
year 2014-2015 to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and
the Federal funds matched by the State funds shall be earmarked
and utilized by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
exclusively to carry out the purposes of this act. This section
shall not apply to a future one-time increase in the State
appropriation and the matching Federal funds.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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