PRINTER'S NO. 731
No. 76 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY LEMMOND, THOMPSON, PIPPY, TOMLINSON, ARMSTRONG,
STOUT, BOSCOLA, C. WILLIAMS, FERLO, MADIGAN, O'PAKE, COSTA,
ERICKSON, ORIE, WENGER, RHOADES, PILEGGI, GREENLEAF,
RAFFERTY, WAUGH, ROBBINS, LOGAN, TARTAGLIONE, MUSTO AND
KITCHEN, APRIL 25, 2005
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, APRIL 25, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all State services
3 provided to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
4 WHEREAS, The underlying need for better coordination and
5 delivery of services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
6 was clearly articulated in Act 184 of 1986, which established
7 the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to specifically
8 advocate for and promote accessibility to governmental services
9 among residents of this Commonwealth who are deaf or hearing
10 impaired, including those persons with multiple disabilities;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth funds educational programs through
13 the Scranton School for the Deaf, two charter schools for the
14 deaf and Intermediate Unit and mainstreaming programs in public
15 schools; and
16 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth funds many other programs and
17 services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; and
1 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to implementation of
2 the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to providing adequate
4 services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; and
5 WHEREAS, There are approximately 600,000 persons who are hard
6 of hearing and 50,000 citizens who are deaf in this
7 Commonwealth; and
8 WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that the array of
9 services now provided to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
10 may be fragmented, inefficient or duplicative; and
11 WHEREAS, No study has ever been conducted to ensure the
12 efficient and effective delivery of services to persons who are
13 deaf or hard of hearing in this Commonwealth; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
15 Finance Committee to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of all
16 State services provided to persons who are deaf or hard of
17 hearing; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
19 prepare a report of its findings which, at a minimum:
20 (1) Identifies all State programs and services provided
21 to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing by department and
22 agency or office.
23 (2) Identifies revenues and expenditures by source and
24 amount for each of the programs and services.
25 (3) Identifies the number of persons served by each of
26 the programs and services.
27 (4) Assesses the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency
28 of the programs and services.
29 (5) Identifies overlapping or duplicate programs or
30 services.
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1 (6) Identifies specific gaps or needs for existing or
2 new programs or services;
3 and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
5 solicit input from all Commonwealth agencies currently providing
6 services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, independent
7 agencies providing services or advocating for persons who are
8 deaf or hard of hearing and the residents of this Commonwealth
9 who are deaf or hard of hearing who represent a broad spectrum
10 of individuals with hearing loss, including, but not limited to,
11 persons who are culturally deaf, persons who are oral deaf,
12 persons who are deaf and blind, persons who are hard of hearing,
13 persons who are latened deaf and persons who are deaf and
14 multidisabled; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
16 submit its report and findings to the Senate within one year of
17 the adoption of this resolution.
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