SB 592 — An Act relating to the delivery of services and programs to individuals with disabilities; conferring powers and duties on the Office of the Governor; establishing the Office for Individuals with Disabilities and the Advisory Committee for Individuals with Disabilities; and providing for the powers and duties of the office and the committee and for funding of the office and the committee.

PRINTER'S NO.   600

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 592
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, STREET, KEARNEY, COMITTA, FONTANA,
        HAYWOOD, SCHWANK, COSTA, MILLER AND MUTH, APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 9, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Relating to the delivery of services and programs to individuals
 2      with disabilities; conferring powers and duties on the Office
 3      of the Governor; establishing the Office for Individuals with
 4      Disabilities and the Advisory Committee for Individuals with
 5      Disabilities; and providing for the powers and duties of the
 6      office and the committee and for funding of the office and
 7      the committee.
 8                            TABLE OF CONTENTS
 9   Chapter 1.   Preliminary Provisions
10   Section 101.   Short title.
11   Section 102.   Legislative policy and declaration.
12   Section 103.   Definitions.
13   Chapter 3.   Office for Individuals with Disabilities
14   Section 301.   Establishment.
15   Section 302.   Powers and duties of office.
16   Section 303.   Power to contract.
17   Chapter 5.   Advisory Committee for Individuals with Disabilities
18   Section 501.   Establishment.
19   Section 502.   Membership.
20   Section 503.   Powers and duties of committee.
 1   Chapter 7.   Miscellaneous Provisions
 2   Section 701.    Funding.
 3   Section 702.    Effective date.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6                                  CHAPTER 1
 7                           PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
 8   Section 101.    Short title.
 9      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office for
10   Individuals with Disabilities Act.
11   Section 102.    Legislative policy and declaration.
12      The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
13          (1)     An individual with disability and the individual's
14      family and guardians should have access to a full range of
15      services and programs, including equal access to all services
16      and programs provided for those without disabilities, as well
17      as individualized and specialized services that meet the
18      unique needs of individuals without discrimination.
19          (2)     An individual with disability and the individual's
20      family and guardians are often underserved. They have often
21      been denied access to individualized and specialized services
22      available to the community at large and have been denied
23      services necessary to their health, well-being, independence
24      and advancement.
25          (3)     An individual with disability who could live and
26      work in the community may live in an institution at State
27      expense due to inadequate funding for community support
28      services. The result is a loss both to the individual with
29      disability and to this Commonwealth.
30          (4)     An individual with disability and the individual's

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 1      family and guardians should have the opportunity to choose
 2      and direct the services and programs provided to them, and
 3      the community of individuals with disabilities should direct
 4      the development and operation of the delivery system.
 5          (5)     Increased availability of community support services
 6      and programs will enable individuals with disabilities and
 7      the individuals' family and guardians to be more independent
 8      and productive, to remain in their homes and communities and
 9      to more fully exercise their rights and responsibilities as
10      citizens.
11          (6)     Services and programs provided by the Commonwealth
12      to individuals with disabilities and the individuals' family
13      and guardians should be provided in a manner that promotes
14      independent living, enables individuals to obtain and
15      maintain employment and supports individuals in their homes
16      and communities.
17          (7)     A State-level office and advisory committee is
18      needed to advise and assist the Governor and the General
19      Assembly in developing policies addressing the concerns of
20      individuals with disabilities and the individuals' family and
21      guardians.
22          (8)     Access to the office will enable individuals with
23      disabilities and the individuals' family and guardians to
24      have their concerns and issues addressed.
25   Section 103.    Definitions.
26      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
27   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
28   context clearly indicates otherwise:
29      "Committee."    The Advisory Committee for Individuals with
30   Disabilities established under this act.

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 1      "Consumer control."       The right of an individual with
 2   disability or an individual acting on behalf of an individual
 3   with disability to maintain power and authority over decisions
 4   affecting the provision of services, programs and community
 5   activities.
 6      "Disability services."       Services and programs provided to
 7   individuals with disabilities or the individuals' family or
 8   guardians to enhance the ability of individuals with
 9   disabilities to live or work independently and to pursue their
10   rights and responsibilities as citizens.
11      "Functional limitation."       A limitation that affects one or
12   more of the following activities of daily living:
13          (1)     Mobility.
14          (2)     Communication.
15          (3)     Self-care.
16          (4)     Work.
17          (5)     Recreation.
18          (6)     Independent living.
19          (7)     Learning.
20          (8)     Self-direction.
21      "Individual with disability."          A child or adult who has a
22   severe chronic condition resulting in substantial functional
23   limitation that is attributable to psychological, cognitive,
24   developmental, physical or sensory impairment or a combination
25   of psychological, cognitive, developmental, physical or sensory
26   impairment and is likely to continue long term.
27      "Long term."    Likely to be of extended or lifelong duration.
28      "Office."    The Office for Individuals with Disabilities
29   established under this act.
30                                    CHAPTER 3

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 1                   OFFICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
 2   Section 301.     Establishment.
 3      The Office for Individuals with Disabilities is established
 4   within the Office of the Governor. The office shall be
 5   administered by the Office of the Governor.
 6   Section 302.     Powers and duties of office.
 7      (a)   Duties.--The office shall have all of the following
 8   powers and duties:
 9            (1)   Ensure that an individual with disability in this
10      Commonwealth and the individual's family and guardians have
11      access to adequate and coordinated quality services and
12      programs.
13            (2)   Establish interagency agreements and working
14      relationships with other governmental bodies and public and
15      private agencies to:
16                  (i)    Ensure access to the full range of available
17            services and programs for an individual with disability
18            and the individual's family and guardians.
19                  (ii)    Advocate for consumer control.
20                  (iii)    Coordinate the delivery of nonduplicative
21            disability services and programs to an individual with
22            disability and the individual's family and guardians.
23            (3)   Identify gaps in disability services and programs
24      and funding shortages in collaboration with the committee and
25      report the findings annually to the Governor and the General
26      Assembly.
27            (4)   Act as a system advocate to expand the availability
28      of disability services and programs and access to generic
29      services and programs.
30            (5)   Plan for Statewide improvements in services and

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 1      programs for an individual with disability and the
 2      individual's family and guardians.
 3            (6)   Develop and enforce, within one year of the
 4      effective date of this section, regulations necessary and
 5      appropriate to satisfy the duties imposed under this act.
 6      Development of program requirements and regulations shall be
 7      accomplished in collaboration with the committee.
 8            (7)   Employ an executive director to carry out the duties
 9      of this section.
10      (b)    (Reserved).
11   Section 303.    Power to contract.
12      The office may contract with Statewide disability-related
13   organizations to carry out the provisions of this act. The
14   contracts must place contract activities under the direction and
15   control of individuals with disabilities.
16                                 CHAPTER 5
17            ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
18   Section 501.    Establishment.
19      The Advisory Committee for Individuals with Disabilities is
20   established within the office and shall serve in an advisory
21   capacity to the office in matters regarding individuals with
22   disabilities in this Commonwealth. The committee shall be
23   administered by the office.
24   Section 502.    Membership.
25      (a)    Public official members.--The committee shall consist of
26   the following members, who shall serve by virtue of their public
27   position:
28            (1)   Adjutant General.
29            (2)   Secretary of Aging.
30            (3)   Secretary of the Budget.

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 1            (4)    Secretary of the Commonwealth.
 2            (5)    Secretary of Education.
 3            (6)    Secretary of Health.
 4            (7)    Secretary of Human Services.
 5            (8)    Secretary of Labor and Industry.
 6            (9)    Secretary of Policy and Planning.
 7            (10)    Secretary of Transportation.
 8            (11)    Director of the Office of Health Care Reform.
 9            (12)    Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Human Relations
10      Commission.
11            (13)    Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Housing
12      Finance Agency.
13            (14)    Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
14      Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
15            (15)    Executive Director of the Office for Individuals
16      with Disabilities.
17            (16)    Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Long-Term
18      Care Council.
19      (b)     Nongovernmental members.--The committee shall consist of
20   nongovernmental members to be appointed by the Governor as
21   follows:
22            (1)    The Governor shall appoint individuals with
23      disabilities, including individuals from existing stakeholder
24      groups, in such number as the Governor deems appropriate.
25            (2)    At a minimum, 60% of nongovernmental members shall
26      be individuals with disabilities or family members of
27      individuals with disabilities.
28            (3)    Committee members shall be selected based upon an
29      evaluation of information received through formal
30      application.

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 1      (c)   Voting.--
 2            (1)   The members appointed under subsection (a) may not
 3      vote on matters brought up for consideration by the
 4      committee.
 5            (2)   The members appointed under subsection (b) shall
 6      hold voting privileges on all matters brought up for
 7      consideration by the committee.
 8      (d)   Terms.--
 9            (1)   The term of a member under subsection (a) shall be
10      concurrent with the member's holding of public office.
11            (2)   A member appointed under subsection (b) shall serve
12      at the pleasure of the Governor as long as the member
13      represents the interest of the membership class for which the
14      member was appointed and shall serve until the member's
15      successor is appointed.
16      (e)   Chairperson.--The Governor shall appoint a
17   nongovernmental member of the committee to serve as chairperson
18   of the committee.
19      (f)   Expenses of members.--
20            (1)   A member of the committee may not receive
21      compensation for service on the committee.
22            (2)   A member of the committee who is not an employee of
23      State government shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in
24      the course of official duties as a member and in accordance
25      with 29 U.S.C. Ch. 16 (relating to vocational rehabilitation
26      and other rehabilitation services).
27   Section 503.    Powers and duties of committee.
28      (a)   Powers and duties.--The committee shall have all of the
29   following powers and duties:
30            (1)   Make recommendations to the Governor on policies,

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 1      procedures, regulations and legislation that aid individuals
 2      with disabilities in this Commonwealth.
 3            (2)   Serve as the Governor's liaison to individuals with
 4      disabilities on policies, procedures, regulations and
 5      legislation that affect individuals with disabilities in
 6      order to ensure that State government is accessible,
 7      accountable and responsive to individuals with disabilities.
 8            (3)   Serve as a resource to all departments, commissions
 9      and agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction to ensure that
10      government entities are cognizant of the needs of individuals
11      with disabilities and that government entities' respective
12      services and programs are accessible to those individuals.
13            (4)   Work with the Governor and the agencies under the
14      Governor's jurisdiction to monitor the hiring, retention and
15      promotion practices of the Commonwealth relating to the
16      employment of individuals with disabilities in order to
17      ensure that there are no discriminatory practices within the
18      Commonwealth.
19            (5)   Perform other duties as the Governor may assign in
20      planning for services and programs for individuals with
21      disabilities and the individuals' family and guardians.
22      (b)   Studies and reports.--The committee may conduct studies
23   and issue reports upon request and as the committee deems
24   necessary on issues affecting individuals with disabilities in
25   this Commonwealth.
26      (c)   Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
27   to prevent the committee from establishing ad hoc work groups or
28   local boards to assist in research and other duties necessary to
29   carry out the mission of the office.
30                                 CHAPTER 7

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 1                          MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 2   Section 701.    Funding.
 3      (a)     Use of Federal money.--The Office of the Governor shall
 4   use Federal money where possible for the administration of the
 5   office.
 6      (b)     Appropriated money.--The committee shall expend Federal
 7   money on appropriation by the General Assembly prior to
 8   expending any State appropriations for the same or similar
 9   purpose.
10      (c)     Private money.--The Office of the Governor shall utilize
11   any available private money to carry out the provisions of this
12   act.
13   Section 702.    Effective date.
14      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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