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Governor Signs Vance Bill to Develop Family
Support Services for the Disabled
HARRISBURG -- Legislation
authored by Sen.-Elect Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland/York) that creates pilot
projects to develop a statewide system of family support services for families
of persons with disabilities was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Ed Rendell.
“I’m pleased that after five years of work to get
this legislation enacted, my last work in the House was seeing this important
bill to fruition,” Vance said. “Caring for our children should be our top
priority in Pennsylvania. This law will make sure that families have the
resources necessary to care for children with disabilities at home rather than
in institutions.”
The law requires the Department of Public Welfare to
identify and apply for public and private funding sources and develop, implement
and evaluate pilot projects with the goal of establishing a system of family
support services across Pennsylvania. Eligibility for services will be open to
all disabilities. Priority will be given to those families not eligible for any
other support services.
In addition, the support services should not replace
or duplicate existing services that are currently available through other
services. The law does not create an entitlement.
Prior to enactment of this law, families with who
had children with both physical and mental disabilities could receive services
for the physical disability under the family support services program. But
those families with only a physically disabled child were not eligible.
Vance’s 14-year tenure in the House was focused on
health care related issues. In previous legislative sessions she successfully
won approval of legislation to give parents the right to commit their minor
child for drug and alcohol treatment, to protect consumers by protecting the
rights of those who have managed care plans, and to prevent insurance companies
from discriminating against domestic violence victims by considering their
victimization as an underwriting criterion. Vance will be sworn in as a member
of the Pennsylvania Senate on Jan. 4.
Vance’s Senatorial district includes all of
Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and
Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York
County. Her House district included East Pennsboro, Hampden and Silver Spring
townships and Camp Hill and part of Wormleysburg boroughs.
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