PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1259, 1287

PRINTER'S NO. 1327

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

906

Session of

2019

INTRODUCED BY YUDICHAK, BAKER, BROOKS, HUTCHINSON, PITTMAN,

GORDNER, J. WARD, TARTAGLIONE, BLAKE AND STEFANO,

OCTOBER 18, 2019

making an appropriation," in preliminary provisions, further

providing for definitions; and, in responsibilities of the

State, providing for State facility CENTER closure

moratorium.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The definitions of "department" and "secretary"

in section 102 of the act of October 20, 1966 (3rd Sp.Sess.,

P.L.96, No.6), known as the Mental Health and Intellectual

Disability Act of 1966, are amended AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED

"Secretary" means the Secretary of [Public Welfare] Human

Services.

* * *

"STATE CENTER" MEANS A STATE OPERATED FACILITY, LICENSED BY

THE DEPARTMENT, TO PROVIDE A LEVEL OF CARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO

MEET THE NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY OR

PERSONS WITH RELATED CONDITIONS WHO REQUIRE SPECIALIZED HEALTH

AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES.

Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1396n(c)(1)).

(b) When all Medicaid waiver-eligible individuals have

received authorization under subsection (a), the department

shall transmit notice of that fact to the Legislative Reference

Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Upon

publication of the notice, the Task Force on the Closure of

State Centers is established within the department. Within sixty

days of publication of the notice, the secretary shall convene

an initial meeting of the task force. The task force shall

perform a comprehensive evaluation of the State facilities

which may include, but is not limited to, direct care providers

or administrative staff members, to be appointed by each

facility CENTER director.

(3) One representative from the Governor's office.

(4) The chair and the minority chair of the Health and Human

Services Committee of the Senate or their designees .

(5) The chair and the minority chair of the Human Services

Committee of the House of Representatives or their designees .

(6) Two family members of residents of State facilities

CENTERS , to be appointed by the secretary.

with the representatives appointed under paragraph (2).

(d) The task force shall meet biweekly to evaluate the

impact of a closure in all of the following areas:

(1) Residents of the State facility CENTER and their

families.

(2) Employes, both union and nonunion.

(3) The local economy in which the State facility CENTER is

located.

(4) Readiness of provider agencies in each region to expand

the community-based residential infrastructure to support

facility CENTER and the transition of individuals with

intellectual disabilities receiving care in the State facility

CENTER to a home or community-based support system. The plan

shall include all of the following:

(1) An assessment of the State facility CENTER , including:

(i) A certified independent appraisal of the State facility

CENTER property.

(ii) A report of the State employes employed at the State

facility CENTER , both full time and part time, including the

total number of employes, the cost of the total wages and total

(v) A report of all electric, utility, water, landscaping,

snow removal and maintenance costs of the State facility CENTER .

(vi) Geospatial images of the State facility CENTER .

(vii) A detailed description of the existence, ownership

rights and appraised value of any mineral rights on the State

facility CENTER property.

(viii) A historical report of the institutional property,

including the date it was acquired or constructed, the dates of

any improvements on the property, any changes in property

records, such as subdivision of the property, historical

at the State facility CENTER . Information required under this

clause shall specify the critical milestones in the closure

process for the State facility CENTER and the department's

planned course of action to effectuate the closure of the State

facility CENTER , including available and necessary resources.

(3) The home and community-based support providers available

in the immediate geographic area surrounding the State facility

CENTER .

(4) The process the department will utilize at each State

facility CENTER to transition individuals with intellectual

from State facilities CENTERS to a home and community-based

support system.

(6) Any other information deemed appropriate by the

department as part of the plan.

(f) A State facility CENTER subject to closure must continue

to operate with the level of staff necessary until all residents

have been transitioned into home or community-based services.

(g) As used in this section, the term "task force" means the

Task Force on the Closure of State Centers established in

accordance with subsection (b).