PRINTER'S NO. 1490

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

1126

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, MASTRIANO, MENSCH, STEFANO, COLLETT,

SCHWANK, KANE, BOSCOLA, COMITTA, MARTIN, ROBINSON, PITTMAN

AND ARGALL, MARCH 17, 2022

duties of the Department of Human Services, providing for

employment opportunities, for pilot programs, for system

innovation, for simplify the system reports, for

strengthening in-home and community supports and companion

services, for intellectual disability and autism

transportation reform, for weighted licensure, for private

accreditation and licensure, for reinvestment, for assessment

accuracy and timeliness, for reports and for Information

Sharing and Advisory Committee; and making editorial changes.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given them in this

section:

"Department" means the Department of Human Services of this

Commonwealth.

"ISAC" means the Information Sharing and Advisory Committee

established under section 228.

"ODP" means the Office of Developmental Programs of the

Department of Human Services.

"OVR" means the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the

Department of Labor and Industry.

Section 3. The act is amended by adding sections to read:

Section 217. Employment Opportunities.--Relying on reports

and data received by the Employment First Oversight Commission,

the ODP shall prepare and submit an annual report to the General

Assembly on the employment rate for people with disabilities in

competitive, integrated employment, barriers to employment and

strategies for overcoming the barriers for individuals employed

on or before October 1. The report shall include the following:

(1) The distribution of number of hours of employment per

week.

jointly oversee and implement a two-year pilot program to better

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coordinate eligibility, supports, funding and oversight of

employment services for the benefit of individuals with

intellectual disability, developmental disability or autism

spectrum disorder.

(b) The department, in consultation with the Department of

Labor and Industry and the Employment First Oversight

Commission, shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly and

(3) Hourly wage.

(4) Impact on individuals with intellectual disabilities and

autism, including physical health outcomes, behavioral outcomes

and increased independence.

(5) Length of current employment.

Section 219. System Innovation.--The ODP may obtain

necessary approvals from the Federal Government to implement and

conduct pilot programs under the medical assistance program with

the agreement of stakeholders, including the Pennsylvania

Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability,

the intellectual disability/autism system for individuals,

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families, providers and the State, shall eliminate redundancies

and shall ensure a foundation of self-determined outcomes. The

report shall address at a minimum the following areas:

(1) Administrative, including:

(i) Service planning.

(ii) Billing.

(iii) Incident management.

(iii) Nursing and health services.

(5) Employment.

(6) Housing.

(7) Individuals with medically complex needs.

(8) Involvement with the criminal justice system.

(9) Other related areas where administrative redundancies

can be eliminated and operational efficiencies can be realized.

(b) The Deputy Secretary of ODP shall present the report to

the Governor, the secretary and system stakeholders no later

than November 1, 2022. After the submission of the report, any

individuals enrolled in the ODP administered home and community-

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based services waivers. The study shall include satisfaction of

service recipients, financial impact, barriers to access and

provider capacity. The ODP shall submit the study to the

Governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2022. After the

submission of the report, any assigned committee will be deemed

to have fulfilled its duties under this section.

Section 222. Intellectual Disability and Autism

with the Governor for consideration for submission to the

General Assembly for legislative action by November 1, 2022.

After the submission of the report, any assigned committee will

be deemed to have fulfilled its duties under this section.

Section 223. Weighted Licensure.--Facilities licensed under

55 Pa. Code Chapters 2380, 2390, 6400 and 6500 shall be given

the option to have differential or weighted licensure status

based on the assessment of a licensee's level of compliance with

applicable regulations. The department shall propose regulations

for differential and weighted licensure measurement. The

and 6500 shall qualify for compliance with licensure standards

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from the department if the facilities are accredited by a

private nongovernmental organization such as the Commission on

Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, provided that the

accreditation standards meet or exceed applicable department

licensing standards. The department shall conduct reviews on

department licensing standards for which the accreditation

standards do not meet or exceed applicable department licensing

under ODP administered waiver programs that fund community-based

services to individuals with an intellectual disability or

autism and to fund services for individuals on the waiting list

for ODP administered waiver services.

Section 226. Assessment Accuracy and Timeliness.--The

department shall assure that for all ODP services with funding

based on an assessment process, that the assessment shall be

completed within thirty of days of request and that a change to

rates triggered by reassessment is effective beginning on the

date of request.

Advisory Committee.

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(b) The committee shall consist of a representative from

each of the following organizations:

(1) Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and

Intellectual Disability.

(2) Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association.

(3) The ARC of Pennsylvania.

(4) Disability Rights Pennsylvania.

(c) The department shall establish the committee within

three months of the effective date of this section, appoint a

Chair and Vice Chair and facilitate quarterly meetings of the

committee. The department shall also share with the committee

any report prepared in accordance with this act at least ten

days before submitting the report to the General Assembly.

Section 4. Article III heading of the act is amended to

read:

ARTICLE III

STATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF

Section 5. This act shall take effect in 30 days.

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