PRINTER'S NO. 591
No. 540 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, KUKOVICH, KITCHEN, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA,
TOMLINSON, WOZNIAK, LEMMOND, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA,
RHOADES, O'PAKE, C. WILLIAMS AND STACK, MARCH 25, 2003
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 25, 2003
AN ACT
1 Providing for the lifelong learning, career planning, job
2 training, job placement and social, cultural and educational
3 enrichment of adult persons with developmental disabilities;
4 and establishing developmental disability education and
5 career planning programs.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 CHAPTER 1
9 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
10 Section 101. Short title.
11 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Developmental
12 Disability Education and Career Planning Act.
13 Section 102. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Adult education project." A local, individual program
18 developed at a community, State-owned or State-related college
19 or university under the Developmental Disability Education and
1 Career Planning Program.
2 "Community college." A public college or technical institute
3 which is established and operated under Article XIX-A of the act
4 of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School
5 Code of 1949, and all branches or campuses of a community
6 college.
7 "Developmental disability." A severe, chronic disability of
8 a person which:
9 (1) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment
10 or combination of mental and physical impairments.
11 (2) Is manifested before the person reaches 22 years of
12 age.
13 (3) Is likely to continue indefinitely.
14 (4) Results in substantial functional limitations in
15 three or more of the following areas of major life activity:
16 (i) Self-care.
17 (ii) Receptive and expressive language.
18 (iii) Learning.
19 (iv) Mobility.
20 (v) Self-direction.
21 (vi) Capacity for independent living.
22 (vii) Economic self-sufficiency.
23 "State-owned institution." An institution which is part of
24 the State System of Higher Education under Article XX-A of the
25 act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
26 School Code of 1949, and all branches and campuses of a State-
27 owned institution.
28 "State-related institution." The Pennsylvania State
29 University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, the
30 Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lincoln University.
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1 "Student." A person with a developmental disability who is
2 enrolled under a program established pursuant to this act.
3 Section 103. Purpose.
4 Formal education for persons with developmental disabilities
5 ends or diminishes upon reaching 21 years of age. The majority
6 of adults with developmental disabilities are either unemployed,
7 underemployed or not in the work force. The purpose of the act
8 is to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, career
9 planning, job training, job placement and other forms of social,
10 cultural and educational enrichment for persons with
11 developmental disabilities in this Commonwealth.
12 CHAPTER 3
13 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY EDUCATION AND CAREER PLANNING
14 PROGRAM FOR PERSONS 18 TO 21 YEARS OF AGE
15 Section 301. Definitions.
16 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18 context clearly indicates otherwise:
19 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the
20 Commonwealth.
21 "Program." The Developmental Disability Education and Career
22 Planning Program for Persons 18 to 21 Years of Age.
23 Section 302. Developmental Disability Education and Career
24 Planning Program for Persons 18 to 21 Years of
25 Age.
26 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
27 department the Developmental Disability Education and Career
28 Planning Program for Persons 18 to 21 Years of Age.
29 (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to support
30 the development of adult education projects for persons 18 to 21
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1 years of age with developmental disabilities at community,
2 State-owned or State-related colleges or universities in order
3 to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, career planning,
4 placement and training as well as social, cultural and
5 educational enrichment for persons with developmental
6 disabilities in this Commonwealth.
7 (c) Program sites.--The department shall select adult
8 education project sites with representation from urban, rural
9 and suburban areas.
10 (d) Program funding.--The department shall provide funding
11 to each adult education project site in order to establish and
12 maintain the program. Additional funding for work force
13 development may be provided through the Department of Labor and
14 Industry.
15 (e) Program elements.--Each adult education project shall:
16 (1) Provide lifelong learning for persons with
17 developmental disabilities through classes, seminars and
18 other educational opportunities. Projects shall ensure that
19 at least a portion of classes and seminars are within the
20 regular curriculum of the college or university.
21 (2) Establish an office to provide direction, counseling
22 and assistance in career planning and placement.
23 (3) Collaborate with local employers to create and
24 develop ongoing job training and work force development
25 programs in order to satisfy the needs of employers and adult
26 students.
27 (4) Provide adult students with classes and seminars to
28 teach the basics of financial planning, retirement planning,
29 health insurance, benefits and similar information which all
30 employees, as employees, should reasonably understand.
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1 (5) Connect adult students with assistive technology,
2 transportation options, job supports and other resources
3 which may assist the student in pursuing career goals.
4 (6) Develop formal assessment procedures, including, but
5 not limited to, collecting data regarding students enrolled
6 in each project and tracking their progress through the
7 educational process and in the work force.
8 (f) Annual report.--Utilizing information provided under
9 subsection (e)(6), the department shall compile an annual report
10 to be provided to the chairman and minority chairman of the
11 Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
12 minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House
13 of Representatives providing oversight of the department.
14 CHAPTER 5
15 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY EDUCATION AND CAREER PLANNING
16 PROGRAM FOR PERSONS 22 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
17 Section 501. Definitions.
18 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
19 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
20 context clearly indicates otherwise:
21 "Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
22 Commonwealth.
23 "Program." The Developmental Disability Education and Career
24 Planning Program for Persons 22 Years of Age or Older.
25 Section 502. Developmental Disability Education and Career
26 Planning Program for Persons 22 Years of Age or
27 Older.
28 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
29 department the Developmental Disability Education and Career
30 Planning Program for Persons 22 Years of Age or Older.
20030S0540B0591 - 5 -
1 (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to support
2 the development of adult education projects for persons 22 years
3 of age or older with developmental disabilities at community,
4 State-owned or State-related colleges or universities in order
5 to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, career planning,
6 placement and training as well as social, cultural and
7 educational enrichment for persons with developmental
8 disabilities in this Commonwealth.
9 (c) Program sites.--The department shall select adult
10 education project sites with representation from urban, rural
11 and suburban areas.
12 (d) Program funding.--The department shall provide funding
13 to each adult education project site in order to establish and
14 maintain the program.
15 (e) Program elements.--Each adult education project shall:
16 (1) Provide lifelong learning for persons with
17 developmental disabilities through classes, seminars and
18 other educational opportunities. Projects shall ensure that
19 at least a portion of classes and seminars are within the
20 regular curriculum of the college or university.
21 (2) Establish an office to provide direction, counseling
22 and assistance in career planning and placement.
23 (3) Collaborate with local employers to create and
24 develop ongoing job training and work force development
25 programs in order to satisfy the needs of employers and adult
26 students.
27 (4) Provide adult students with classes and seminars to
28 teach the basics of financial planning, retirement planning,
29 health insurance, benefits and similar information which all
30 employees, as employees, should reasonably understand.
20030S0540B0591 - 6 -
1 (5) Connect adult students with assistive technology,
2 transportation options, job supports and other resources
3 which may assist the student in pursuing career goals.
4 (6) Develop formal assessment procedures, including, but
5 not limited to, collecting data regarding students enrolled
6 in each project and tracking their progress through the
7 educational process and in the work force.
8 (f) Annual report.--Utilizing information provided under
9 subsection (e)(6), the department shall compile an annual report
10 to be provided to the chairman and minority chairman of the
11 Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairman and
12 minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House
13 of Representatives providing oversight of the department.
14 CHAPTER 30
15 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
16 Section 3001. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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