PRINTER'S NO. 2550
No. 406 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, CALTAGIRONE, BLACKWELL, DeLUCA, FICHTER,
GABIG, GEORGE, GOOD, JAMES, McILHATTAN, O'NEILL, PISTELLA,
RAYMOND, SHANER, YOUNGBLOOD, KIRKLAND AND BISHOP,
JULY 5, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR RELATIONS, JULY 5, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 examine the effectiveness of the Office of Vocational
3 Rehabilitation within the Department of Labor and Industry.
4 WHEREAS, According to the Department of Labor and Industry
5 there are 540,000 citizens of this Commonwealth who have
6 physical or mental impairments that present a substantial
7 impediment to employment; and
8 WHEREAS, The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation within the
9 Department of Labor and Industry has the duty to assist persons
10 with disabilities to find and keep a job and provides
11 individualized services, including counseling and guidance, job
12 training, physical restoration and blind and visual services;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Since 2003 the Commonwealth has expended $94 million
15 on the programs operated by the Office of Vocational
16 Rehabilitation; and
17 WHEREAS, The results of the expenditures by the Office of
1 Vocational Rehabilitation have been dismal, and the programs
2 need to be reviewed and improvements identified; therefore be it
3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
4 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine the
5 effectiveness of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation within
6 the Department of Labor and Industry; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the committee hold hearings, take testimony
8 and issue recommendations for legislation to the House of
9 Representatives in the form of a written report and complete the
10 report by December 31, 2005.
C30L82DMS/20050H0406R2550 - 2 -