Volume 25, Special Edition: 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Legislative Session Bill Review

HB 155. Introduced by Representative Benjamin V. Sanchez (D-Montgomery).
This bill would make the hiring process of Direct care workers easier by removing the requirement that face-to-face interviews are conducted in person. Allowing interviews to be conducted using two-way video, remote technology increases opportunities for candidates to interview while also maintaining the ability to see the person. Signed by the Governor as Act 96 of 2024.

 

HB 181. Introduced by Representative Dan Miller (D-Allegheny).
This bill would establish the Family and Medical Leave Program and the Family and Medical Leave Fund and help attract hard-working Pennsylvanians so they can care for themselves and their families when serious illness strikes or when a parent becomes seriously ill by providing employees the ability to invest small deductions from their weekly earnings into a state-managed fund. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 185. Introduced by Rep. Dan Miller (D – Allegheny).
This bill would replace the word “handicapped” with “accessibility” on parking placards. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 193. Introduced by Rep. Dan Miller (D – Allegheny).
This bill would require state-owned buildings and certain places of public accommodation that have a maximum capacity of over 2,000 people, to install and maintain at least one adult changing station: making Pennsylvania more accessible. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 261. Introduced by Rep. Joe Webster (D – Montgomery).
This bill would provide for extended special education enrollment by temporarily raising the maximum school age to 21, allowing special education students who were impacted by COVID-19 to stay in school. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 301. Introduced by Representative Patrick J. Harkins (D-Erie).
This bill would remove derogatory terms/language from the PA School Code. Approved by the Governor as Act 33 of 2023 as the omnibus School Code bill for 2023.

 

HB 342. Introduced by Representative Dan L. Miller (D-Allegheny).
This bill would improve the transition to post-secondary schools for students with disabilities by incorporating parts of Senator Bob Casey’s federal RISE (Respond, Innovate, Succeed and Empower) Act. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 348. Introduced by Representative Dan L. Miller (D-Allegheny).
This bill would adopt a streamlined hiring and promotion process for qualified individuals with significant disabilities whose physical or mental impairments impact their ability to participate in the competitive hiring and promotion process. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 409. Introduced by Representative John T. Galloway (D-Bucks).
This bill would establish a mental health care services clearinghouse. This clearinghouse will serve as a publicly accessible registry of mental health care resources available across the Commonwealth and will accordingly assist school personnel in connecting families to community mental health resources. The bill passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate before the session ended.

 

HB 500. Introduced by Representative Brandon J. Markosek (D-Allegheny).
This bill would require the Department of State to provide special absentee ballots printed in braille to qualified voters who submit a written request for a special ballot. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 503. Introduced by Representative Nancy Guenst (D-Montgomery).
This bill would prohibit hiring discrimination against caregivers to protect all Pennsylvanians against discrimination and provide equal opportunity, regardless of marital status or family caregiver status in employment, housing and public accommodation. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 537. Introduced by Representative Ann Flood (R-Northampton).
This will would streamline the process of investigating elder abuse by requiring the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Aging to communicate on a regular basis to ensure that any reports of elder abuse which are made to any agency listed are placed in the correct location to be properly investigated.  The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 574. Introduced by Rep. Jessica Benham (D – Allegheny) and Rep. Dan Miller (D – Allegheny).
This bill would apply the special education funding formula to charter schools because they are currently receiving funding based off a median percentage model that assumes 16% of all children enrolled in the district require special education services. This bill proposes applying the principles proposed by the Special Education Funding Commission to school districts for charter and cyber charter schools. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 661. Introduced by Rep. Dan Miller (D – Allegheny).
This bill would provide for intellectual disability and autism fee schedule rates by setting rates for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) based on a national market consumer index, to provide system stability. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 705. Introduced by Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would provide emergency relief to those who previously received support through General Assistance. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 715. Introduced by Representative Carol Kazeem (D-Delaware).
This bill would enhance oversight of personal care homes by requiring unannounced inspections of locations with three or fewer residents. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 746. Introduced by Rep. Dan Miller (D – Allegheny).
This bill would codify the right of people with disabilities to accessible digital content on all state and local government websites. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 806. Introduced by Representative Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery).
This bill would improve access to voting for people with disabilities by allowing ballots to be brought outside. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 808. Introduced by Representative Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery).
This bill would require that Pennsylvanians deemed eligible for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver program receive their benefits no later than 90 days after eligibility for Medicaid, essentially ending the waitlist. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 844. Introduced by Representative Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would establish the Long-Term Services and Supports Commission, the Long-Term Services and Supports Council and the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund, to provide up to $36,500 in lifetime benefits to eligible beneficiaries for long term care services, such as respite care, in-home caregiving, time in a nursing home/assisted living facility, or home modifications. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 849. Introduced by Representative Michael H. Schlossberg (D-Lehigh).
This would provide for adult mental health program funding and workforce development. The bill passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

HB 876. Introduced by Representative Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne).
This bill would require any provider which seeks to operate in the Medicaid program to use either a National Provider Identifier (NPI) or register for a State Provider Identifier (SPI).  The Department of Human Services would be required to establish a standardized program for any company which lacks an NPI and must register for provider identification with the state. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1024. Introduced by Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny).
This bill would provide annual law enforcement training on hate-based intimidation which includes any malicious intent towards an individual based on disability. The bill passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

HB 1100. Introduced by Representative Steve Samuelson (D-Northampton).
This bill would raise the income limit for senior tax/rent rebate. Approved by the Governor as Act No. 7 of 2023.

HB 1104. Introduced by Representative Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would prohibit the charging of admission fees for events for personal care attendants of persons with disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1135. Introduced by Representative Christopher M. Rabb (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would increase the minimum wage over time, abolish the sub-minimum wage, and protect the gratuities of workers from wage theft. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1214. Introduced by Representative Tarah Probst (D-Munroe).
This bill would require schools to do an initial evaluation to determine whether a child has a disability. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1218. Introduced by Representative Melissa Cerrato (D-Montgomery).
This bill would provide for payments for spousal personal care services. The bill passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate before the session ended.

 

HB 1397. Introduced by Representative Darisha K. Parker (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would strengthen Pennsylvania’s Guardianship Law to help prevent fraud, abuse, and exploitation in PA’s guardianship system. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1421. Introduced by Representative Benjamin V. Sanchez (D-Montgomery).
This bill would allow an individual on the autism spectrum to receive notation on their driver’s license or identification card indicating their condition. This notation will alert emergency responders to the individual’s condition and allow them to interact with the person in a more appropriate fashion. This bill will also establish an account to which individuals applying for a driver’s license or identification card may give a voluntary $3 contribution. These funds will be used in providing education and training to working professionals who interact with individuals on the autism spectrum. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1495. Introduced by Representative Paul Friel (D-Chester).
This bill would provide for increased special education funding in charter schools. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1527. Introduced by Representative Benjamin V. Sanchez (D-Montgomery).
This bill would increase the Personal Needs Allowance deduction for medical assistance-eligible persons in nursing facilities from $45 per month to $60 per month. The bill passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate before the session ended.

 

HB 1537. Introduced by Representative Barbara Gleim (R-Cumberland).
This bill would increase the age of minor consent to treat for medical, dental and mental health from 14 years of age to 16 years of age. In addition, the legislation would also have an exemption for special need individuals who may not be capable of making important medical decisions on their own without parental guidance. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1573. Introduced by Representative Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery).
This bill would create a two-year pilot program administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to help renovate and redevelop historic and older buildings across the Commonwealth. Additionally, these grants may be used to make improvements to entryways and other building features to make buildings more accessible for people with disabilities. The bill passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate before the session ended.

 

HB 1587. Introduced by Representative Joe Webster (D-Montgomery).
This bill would require high schools to hire professional transition coordinators to ensure students with disabilities are ready and able to take on a new career. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1593. Introduced by Representative Danielle Otten (D-Chester).
This bill would expand access to Early Intervention services for children born to mothers at high-risk for or diagnosed with postpartum depression and children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The bill passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

HB 1668. Introduced by Representative Robert W. Mercuri (R-Allegheny).
This bill would allow the option for an individual who is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to request to have a notation of their diagnosis placed on their driver’s license or identification card. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1680. Introduced by Representative Christina D. Sappey (D-Chester).
This bill would require the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create a deaf and hard-of-hearing curriculum that school districts may choose to offer. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 1938. Introduced by Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would provide grants for programs to provide recreational activities for people with disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 2028. Introduced by Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would provide for appropriate funding to the Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program that will foster inclusion in our classrooms and teach students about the notable contributions made by individuals with disabilities. The bill passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate before the session ended.

 

HB 2064 and HB 2066.Introduced by Representative Joe Hogan (R-Bucks) and Representative Brian Munroe (D-Bucks).
These bills would equip financial institutions and fiduciaries with the necessary tools for identifying, reporting, and preventing the financial exploitation of older adults and care-dependent individuals. House Bill 2064 passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate before session ended. House Bill 2066 did not receive a vote by the House.

 

HB 2124. Introduced by Representative Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill).
This bill would allow the parents or guardians of children who have reached the compulsory school age of six (6) years of age to request a waiver from the Department of Education to delay compulsory education for one (1) year if the child has been diagnosed with autism or other developmental and intellectual disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 2126. Introduced by Representative Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny).
This bill would establish a Purple Alert system in Pennsylvania to help authorities notify the public and assist in locating a missing individual with an intellectual disability. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 2173. Introduced by Representative Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny).
This bill would consolidate several existing programs under a new Department of Disability Rights, Employment, Accessibility, and Mobility (DREAM) and create a secretary position to serve on the governor’s cabinet. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 2307. Introduced by Representative George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland).
This bill would clarify the application of budget implementation language for the Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HB 2566. Introduced by Representative Jim Haddock (D-Luzerne).
This bill would modernize the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended. This was the companion version of Senate Bill 1274 which was signed by the Governor as Act 143 of 2024.

 

HB 2626. Introduced by Representative Brian Munroe (D-Bucks).
This bill would propose increasing the width of access aisles for accessible parking spaces. The bill was not voted on by the House before session ended.

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HR 38. Introduced by Representative Dan L. Miller (D-Allegheny).
This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on public transportation services for individuals with disabilities, establish a legislative task force and advisory committee and issue a report of findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 165. Introduced by Representative Patty Kim (D-Dauphin).
This resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on the effect of workforce shortages on State supported Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services  (HCBS) waiver programs, and further examine wage rates for home health aides, personal care attendants, direct support professionals, older adult daily living center providers, and community-based mental health providers in the HCBS system. The resolution was adopted by the House.

 

HR166. Introduced by Representative Joe Hogan (R-Bucks).
This resolution designates the month of July 2023 as “Disability Pride Month” in Pennsylvania. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 188. Introduced by Representative Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia).
This resolution would designate September 10 – 16 as “Direct Support Professionals Week” in Pennsylvania. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 191. Introduced by Representative Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia).
This resolution would recognize October 2023 as “Special Needs Law Month” to raise awareness for vital resources that provide financial assistance to individuals with special needs and their loved ones. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 315. Introduced by Representative Melissa L. Shusterman (D-Chester).
This Resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on public transportation services for individuals with disabilities, establish a legislative task force and advisory committee and issue a report of findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 379. Introduced by Representative Ann Flood (R-Northampton).
A Resolution designating the month of July 2024 as “Disability Pride Month” in Pennsylvania. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 515. Introduced by Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein (D-Philadelphia).
This resolution urges Congress to pass S.2767, the Supplemental Security Income Savings Penalty Elimination Act. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 535. Introduced by Representative Jeanne McNeill (D-Lehigh).
This resolution recognizes October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the Commonwealth. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

 

HR 568. Introduced by Representative James B. Struzzi II (R-Indiana).
This resolution designates November as “Care at Home Month.” This resolution would honor home care, home health, and hospice professionals who provide essential services to individuals with disabilities and debilitating injuries, and our aging population, allowing them to remain in their homes and communities. The resolution was not voted on by the House before session ended.

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SB 12. Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and reinvest a portion of the savings from less reliance on public assistance into state-supported childcare and subsidized homecare for seniors and people with disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 119. Introduced by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).
This bill would integrate behavioral health and physical health services in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, HealthChoices, to produce the best outcomes for people with complex health needs. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 276. Introduced by Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. (R-Bedford).
This bill would codify a mental health care practitioner’s duty to warn of a specific and immediate threat of serious bodily injury by establishing clear guidance as to when and who to contact when a patient communicates a propensity to harm an individual or group of individuals. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 376. Introduced by Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Montgomery).
This bill would establish a Commonwealth Housing Council to develop housing goals and create a resource guide. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 401. Introduced by Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny).
This bill would change Pennsylvania’s voting system so that all elections would be conducted entirely by mail. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 451. Introduced by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would give people with disabilities additional points on the State Civil Service Exam. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 452. Introduced by Senator Christine Tartaglione (D –Philadelphia).
This bill would permanently establish The Office for People with Disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 506. Introduced by Senator Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne).
This bill would reform Guardianship Laws to ensure that people with disabilities are not forced into unnecessary guardianship. Signed by the Governor as Act 61 of 2023.

 

SB 511. Introduced by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This bill would provide Insurance Coverage for Wheelchair Maintenance, mandating that insurers pay for access to two wheelchair maintenance well-visits per year. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

  

SB 605. Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery).
This bill would provide for adult mental health program funding. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 735. Introduced by Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery).
This bill would prohibit the charging of admission fees for events for personal care attendants of persons with disabilities. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 764. Introduced by Senator Steven J. Santarsiero (D-Bucks).
This bill provides for training of school personnel to identify the signs and signals of depression, suicide and self-injury in students, and when and how to refer youth and their families to appropriate mental health services for assessment within the school entity and the community. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 813. Introduced by Senator Michele Brooks (R-Crawford).
This bill would allow constituents to obtain a disability placard in their respective legislative district offices rather than waiting to receive them in the mail. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 843. Introduced by Senator David G. Argall (R-Carbon).
This bill would reinstitute the Special Education Funding Commission so that they may recommend changes to the special education funding formula. Signed by the Governor as Act 35 of 2023. 

 

SB 1015. Introduced by Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks).
This bill would give businesses 60 days to respond to a notice of website ADA access compliance issues. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

  

SB 1079. Introduced by Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny).
This bill would establish a Purple Alert system in Pennsylvania to help authorities notify the public and assist in locating a missing individual with an intellectual disability. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 1168. Introduced by Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Montgomery).
This bill would recapitalize the Housing Options Program (HOP) with $100 million each fiscal year for the next five years beginning with the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SB 1274. Introduced by Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny). This bill would modernize the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act. Signed by the Governor as Act 143 of 2024.

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SR 35. Introduced by Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This Resolution designated the month of March 2023 as “Disability Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. The resolution was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SR 324. Introduced by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This resolution designates September 7, 2024, as “Disability Pride Day” in Pennsylvania. The resolution was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

 

SR 337. Introduced by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
This resolution recognizes October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the Commonwealth. The resolution was not voted on by the Senate before session ended.

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