HR 208 — A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a performance audit and issue a report on the services, processes and wait times in the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within the Department of Labor and Industry.

PRINTER'S NO.    1520

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 208
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY FLEMING, MARCELL, HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, KAZEEM, KHAN,
        BOROWSKI, HOWARD, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI, HOHENSTEIN,
        SCHLOSSBERG, SHUSTERMAN, MALAGARI, KENYATTA, FREEMAN, HILL-
        EVANS AND GREEN, APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 28, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
 2      conduct a study and issue a report on the services, processes
 3      and wait times in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and
 4      the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within the
 5      Department of Labor and Industry.
 6         WHEREAS, The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the
 7   Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within the Department of
 8   Labor and Industry are obligated to provide specialized,
 9   individualized services and orientation and mobility services to
10   the blind and visually impaired population in this Commonwealth;
11   and
12         WHEREAS, The primary mission of the Office of Vocational
13   Rehabilitation is to provide vocational rehabilitation services
14   to assist Pennsylvanians with vision impairment to obtain,
15   maintain and return to employment; and
16         WHEREAS, The mission of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual
17   Services is to provide support services to those with visual
18   impairment; and
 1         WHEREAS, There are concerns that the Office of Vocational
 2   Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
 3   do not have adequate personnel to meet their missions in a
 4   timely manner; and
 5         WHEREAS, Many of the customers of the Office of Vocational
 6   Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
 7   experience waiting periods for essential support and services;
 8   and
 9         WHEREAS, The Department of Labor and Industry, through the
10   Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness
11   and Visual Services, has a statutory mandate to provide services
12   to this vulnerable population in Article XXII(b) of the act of
13   April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
14   Code of 1929; and
15         WHEREAS, Without these services, many Pennsylvanians may have
16   no choice but to enter long-term care; therefore be it
17         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
18   Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and
19   issue a report on the services, processes and wait times in the
20   Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Blindness
21   and Visual Services within the Department of Labor and Industry;
22   and be it further
23         RESOLVED, That the study:
24             (1)   research the current wait times for customers
25         seeking services and make recommendations on improving wait
26         times;
27             (2)   examine the impact on the customers waiting for
28         services and, if possible, determine how an extended wait
29         period impacts the life and potential careers of the
30         customers; and

20250HR0208PN1520                      - 2 -
 1          (3)    examine the process by which customers are referred
 2      for outside services to provide potential solutions for
 3      reducing the waiting list or serving customers more
 4      efficiently, including the potential for referral and
 5      contracting to an outside agency such as a Statewide
 6      nonprofit service provider association for blind and visually
 7      impaired residents of this Commonwealth;
 8   and be it further
 9      RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
10   issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the
11   General Assembly within 180 days of the adoption of this
12   resolution.




20250HR0208PN1520                   - 3 -