HR 285 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a registry for those who abuse individuals considered to be vulnerable populations.

PRINTER'S NO.   2135

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 285
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, HARKINS, GUZMAN,
        T. DAVIS, HOHENSTEIN AND D. WILLIAMS, JULY 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JULY 14, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study on the feasibility of establishing a registry for those
 3      who abuse individuals considered to be vulnerable
 4      populations.
 5      WHEREAS, Vulnerability refers to the degree to which a
 6   population or individual is susceptible to harm or neglect or
 7   influenced by inherent risk factors; and
 8      WHEREAS, Vulnerable populations are groups and communities at
 9   a higher risk for poor physical, psychological or social health,
10   creating barriers intensified by social, economic, political and
11   environmental components; and
12      WHEREAS, Illness and disability can also influence the
13   vulnerability of a population; and
14      WHEREAS, Vulnerable populations include those reliant upon
15   others for their daily care, including children, adults with
16   disabilities and seniors; and
17      WHEREAS, The Commonwealth currently investigates and
18   maintains a registry of abuses for children for their protection
19   and does not currently maintain protective registries of abuses
 1   for adults with disabilities and seniors; therefore be it
 2      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
 3   State Government Commission to conduct a study on the
 4   feasibility of establishing a registry for those who abuse
 5   individuals considered to be vulnerable populations; and be it
 6   further
 7      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, as part
 8   of the study, evaluate the effectiveness of registries and
 9   whether any less onerous solutions exist to accomplish the goal
10   of keeping vulnerable populations safe; and be it further
11      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, as part
12   of the study, examine the possibility and impact of creating a
13   combined registry of abuses for the protection of these
14   vulnerable populations, as well as improving, maintaining and
15   creating individual registries of abuse for these vulnerable
16   populations, including:
17             (1)   Examining the manner in which a combined registry
18      passes constitutional limitations, including:
19                   (i)    The investigation approach or evidentiary
20             standard for registry placement.
21                   (ii)    For confirmed and or substantiated incidences,
22             the length of time an individual shall be required to
23             register for the registry and how long an incidence
24             impacts employment screenings or hiring.
25                   (iii)    Determining when an individual should
26             be placed on a registry.
27                   (iv)    The structure of the investigation process.
28                   (v)    The management of appeals.
29                   (vi)    Examining how information on the registry is
30             accessed by employers and other entities and how to

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 1          ensure that access to the registry is appropriately
 2          confined to balance reputational harms with protecting
 3          vulnerable populations.
 4          (2)     The treatment of registrants by potential employers
 5      relating to prohibitions on certain employment due to a
 6      substantiated claim of abuse.
 7          (3)     How registry placement affects access to State or
 8      local assistance programs such as the Medicaid exclusion
 9      list.
10          (4)     Examining other states that maintain an individual
11      or combined registry.
12          (5)     Determining who will manage the combined registry.
13          (6)     Determining how a combined registry impacts staffing
14      and hiring for impacted employers.
15          (7)     Determining the defined costs for an additional and
16      necessary review officers for an individual or combined
17      registry;
18   and be it further
19      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, as part
20   of the study and to assist in developing findings and
21   recommendations, seek input from representatives and advocates
22   from all aspects of the human services sector and continuum of
23   care comprised of the following members:
24          (1)     Representatives from various State agencies,
25      including:
26                (i)    The Attorney General or a designee.
27                (ii)    The Secretary of Aging or a designee.
28                (iii)    The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
29                (iv)    The Secretary of Health or a designee.
30                (v)    The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police or

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 1        a designee.
 2              (vi)    The Deputy Secretary of Adult Protective
 3        Services or a designee.
 4              (vii)    The Deputy Secretary of the Office of
 5        Developmental Programs or a designee.
 6              (viii)    The Deputy Commissioner from the Bureau of
 7        Records and Identification or a designee.
 8        (2)   Representatives from various stakeholders
 9    representing those with disabilities, including:
10              (i)    A representative from a group that provides
11        support to children and adults with autism or
12        intellectual disability in this Commonwealth.
13              (ii)    A representative from a group that promotes the
14        human rights of individuals with intellectual and
15        developmental disabilities and actively supports their
16        full inclusion and participation in the community.
17              (iii)    A representative from a group that empowers
18        individuals with disabilities and their families to seek
19        quality and satisfaction in their lives as well as equal
20        access to supports and services.
21              (iv)    A representative of the class protected by any
22        individual registry.
23              (v)    A representative from a group that focuses on
24        reducing trauma and supporting individuals in the court
25        system with an autism spectrum disorder.
26        (3)   Representatives from various stakeholders
27    representing seniors, including:
28              (i)    A representative from a group that coordinates
29        and offers services that help seniors remain in their
30        homes at the regional and local levels in this

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 1        Commonwealth.
 2              (ii)    A representative from a group that identifies
 3        and addresses elder justice issues, including abuse and
 4        neglect, guardianship and access to justice affecting
 5        this Commonwealth's seniors.
 6              (iii)    A representative from a group of expert
 7        advocates that act as a voice for seniors by bringing
 8        issues and interests of seniors to the Governor, the
 9        General Assembly and the Secretary of Aging.
10              (iv)    A representative from a group that makes
11        suggestions about rules and funding for long-term care
12        services.
13        (4)   Representatives from various stakeholders
14    representing children, including:
15              (i)    A representative from a group that provides
16        forensic interviews and forensic medical evaluations of
17        child victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
18              (ii)    A representative from a group that provides
19        legal representation and social services advocacy to
20        children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
21              (iii)    A county children and youth administrator.
22              (iv)    A representative from a group that studies
23        questions and problems that affect children and makes
24        recommendations concerning legislation relating to the
25        interests of the children.
26              (v)    A representative from a group that addresses
27        concerns related to complaints of abuse of children in
28        congregate care facilities.
29        (5)   Representatives from various stakeholders
30    representing the legal impacts of a registry, including:

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 1              (i)    A representative from a group that provides free
 2        civil legal assistance to low-income individuals.
 3              (ii)    A representative from a group that provides
 4        support to district attorneys in this Commonwealth.
 5              (iii)    A representative from a group that recognizes,
 6        reports and responds to the needs of seniors and adults
 7        with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect
 8        or exploitation.
 9              (iv)    A representative from a group that secures a
10        fair justice system and ensures high-quality legal
11        representation for individuals facing loss of life,
12        freedom or family.
13              (v)    A representative from a group that works to
14        eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate
15        for the rights and needs of victims of sexual assault.
16              (vi)    A representative from a group that provides
17        free and confidential direct services to victims and
18        survivors of domestic violence and their children.
19        (6)   Representatives from various stakeholders
20    representing potential and already impacted employers,
21    including:
22              (i)    A representative from a group that represents
23        the labor, policy and professional interests of public
24        school teachers and education support professionals,
25        staff in State institutions of higher education, nurses
26        in health care facilities, retired educators and college
27        students preparing to become teachers.
28              (ii)    A representative from a group that provides
29        affordable, community based, person-centered care and
30        services in high quality, State licensed personal care

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 1          homes and assisted living residences throughout this
 2          Commonwealth.
 3                (iii)    A representative from a group that educates
 4          and advocates on behalf of vulnerable residents, their
 5          caregivers and their providers of long-term care
 6          throughout this Commonwealth.
 7                (iv)    A representative from a group that provides
 8          independent living services for people with disabilities.
 9                (v)    A representative from a group that promotes,
10          advocates, supports and connects senior centers across
11          the Commonwealth.
12                (vi)    A representative from a group that offers
13          mental health, drug and alcohol, intellectual and
14          developmental disabilities, children's, brain injury,
15          medical rehabilitation and physical disabilities and
16          aging services, through all settings and levels of care.
17                (vii)    A representative from a group that advocates
18          and collaborates to improve professional standards for
19          home and community-based care and ensures access to
20          quality home health care throughout this Commonwealth.
21                (viii)    A representative from a group that provides
22          support and assistance to county mental health and
23          developmental disability administrators.
24                (ix)    A representative from a group that provides
25          support to organizations that provide services to
26          individuals with an intellectual disability and their
27          families.
28          (7)   Any other representatives deemed appropriate by the
29      Joint State Government Commission;
30   and be it further

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 1      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
 2   report with its findings and recommendations, including any
 3   proposed statutory or regulatory changes, no later than one year
 4   after the adoption of this resolution; and be it further
 5      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit
 6   the report to all of the following:
 7          (1)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 8      Aging and Youth Committee of the Senate.
 9          (2)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
10      Aging and Older Adult Services Committee of the House of
11      Representatives.
12          (3)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
13      Children and Youth Committee of the House of Representatives.
14          (4)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
15      Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
16          (5)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
17      Health Committee of the House of Representatives.
18          (6)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
19      Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.




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