THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, HARHAI, THOMAS, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HESS, JAMES, MILLARD, MILNE, MYERS, NEILSON, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, READSHAW, WATERS, YOUNGBLOOD AND D. COSTA, OCTOBER 17, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, OCTOBER 17, 2012  

AN ACT

Establishing the Louis Braille Commission for the Blind; and

providing for its powers and duties.

The General Assembly find and declares that:

(1) In response to changes in the standard practices and

procedures of State government, there is a need to study the

demand for the publication of Commonwealth documents and forms

in braille for the purpose of better serving our blind and

partially sighted constituency.

(2)  Such study can best be accomplished by establishing a

commission to perform that function. 

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 Commonwealth

Documents in Braille Study 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:

"Commission."  The Louis Braille Commission for the Blind

established by this act.

Section 3.  Louis Braille Commission for the Blind.

(a)  Establishment.--The Louis Braille Commission for the

Blind is established.

(b)  Membership.--The commission shall consist of the

following members:

(1)  The Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, or his

designee.

(2)  The Secretary of Aging, or his designee.

(3)  The Secretary of General Services, or his designee.

(4)  The Secretary of Health, or his designee.

(5)  The Secretary of Labor and Industry, or his

designee.

(6)  The Secretary of Public Welfare, or his designee.

(7)  The Secretary of Revenue, or his designee.

(8)  A member of the Pennsylvania Association for the

Blind, appointed by the association.

(c)  Meetings.--The Governor shall convene the initial

meeting of the commission, at which meeting a chairman shall be

elected by the members of the commission. The chairman shall

convene meetings as necessary for the performance of the duties

of the commission.

(d)  Powers and duties.--The commission shall:

(1)  Conduct a study of:

(i)  Which State publications and forms are being

printed in braille and distributed.

(ii)  The manner in which State publications and

forms are being printed in braille and distributed to the

blind and partially sighted citizens.

(iii)  The need to further publish State publications

and forms in braille.

(2)  Make recommendations of changes to better improve

distribution of State publications and forms in braille.

(3)  Make recommendations of how to better inform and

educate our blind and partially sighted constituency on new

developments in State government.

Section 4.  Report.

The commission shall submit a written report to the General

Assembly that provides the results of its study and

recommendations to the General Assembly once each calendar

quarter for one year after the effective date of this section.

Section 5.  Expiration.

This act shall expire on November 30, 2014.

Section 6.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.