PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 576 PRINTER'S NO. 3653
No. 533 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, M. BAKER, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BROWNE, CRUZ, GEORGE, HORSEY, HUTCHINSON, LAUGHLIN, NAILOR, STABACK, C. WILLIAMS, WILT AND SAINATO, FEBRUARY 7, 2001
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 10, 2002
AN ACT 1 Directing the Department of Public Welfare to develop and submit 2 a plan to eliminate the waiting list for community services 3 for persons diagnosed with mental retardation. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Short title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Mental 8 Retardation Services Waiting List Elimination Act. 9 Section 2. Legislative findings. 10 The General Assembly finds as follows: 11 (1) In Pennsylvania there are 16,941 21,379 adults <-- 12 diagnosed with mental retardation who are on the waiting list 13 for community services. 14 (2) Of that amount, 6,496 8,310 individuals are in <-- 15 either crisis or critical need of service. 16 (3) There exists a "shadow" waiting list of individuals 17 who are not known to counties and who are not on the waiting
1 list, but who come forth with critical or emergency service 2 needs. 3 (4) Funds and other resources currently allocated for 4 community services for individuals with mental retardation 5 are inadequate to provide for the people on the waiting list. 6 (5) Community services are essential for people 7 diagnosed with mental retardation to live as productive, 8 active members of their communities. 9 (6) The Department of Public Welfare has not yet 10 developed a plan to specifically address the elimination of 11 the waiting list in a systematic fashion. 12 Section 3. Definitions. 13 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 14 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 15 context clearly indicates otherwise: 16 "Department." The Department of Public Welfare of the 17 Commonwealth. 18 "Plan." The plan required under section 4. 19 Section 4. Preparation and submission of plan. 20 The department shall develop and submit to the Governor and 21 the General Assembly, within 180 days of the effective date of 22 this act, a plan to eliminate by the year 2005 the current and 23 future waiting list for community services for people diagnosed 24 with mental retardation. 25 Section 5. Contents of plan. 26 The plan shall include, but not be limited to: 27 (1) Statistical information on the current waiting list 28 and the projected number of people requesting community 29 services through the year 2005. 30 (2) Financial information on the amount of Federal, 20010H0533B3653 - 2 -
1 State or other funds that will be required annually for all 2 costs to eliminate the waiting list by the year 2005. 3 (3) The manner in which the services will maximize the 4 practices of person-centered planning, inclusion and self- 5 determination in the creation of expanded community services 6 for people diagnosed with mental retardation. 7 (4) A plan to address the shortage of staff in community 8 programs which includes a plan to address the issue of low 9 wages for direct care staff. 10 Section 6. Public hearings and comments. 11 In the development of the plan, the department shall conduct 12 public hearings and obtain public comment from people with 13 mental retardation, their families, guardians and providers of 14 relevant services. 15 Section 7. Annual submission of progress report. 16 The department shall include in its annual budget submission 17 a request for funds to eliminate the waiting list and a progress 18 report on the status of the waiting list. This progress report 19 shall be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly and 20 shall provide statistical information on the individuals served 21 from the waiting list and the associated financial data in an 22 annual and accumulated fashion until the waiting list is 23 eliminated. 24 Section 8. Effective date. 25 This act shall take effect in 60 days. L21L67DMS/20010H0533B3653 - 3 -