October 6, 2026 · HUMAN SERVICES · 2,336 words · 13 speakers · 38 segments
Thank you. I want to say good morning to all of you. Thank you for being here. This meeting of the House Human Services Committee is now called to order. Ashley, would you please take the roll?
Chairman Williams.
Representative Bellman. Here. Representative Benham. Here. Representative Serrato. Here.
Representative Haral. DBD. Representative Green.
Representative Keith Harris.
Representative Kahn.
Representative Kincaid.
Representative Mays. VBD.
Representative Auden. Designation. Representative Prokowiak. Designation.
Representative Rivera. Here.
Representative Vingott. Designation.
Chairman Heffley. Here.
Representative Anderson. Designation.
Representative Bashlein. Designation. Representative Flick. Designation.
Representative Flood. designation representative Hogan designation representative McKenzie designation representative Marjitas designation representative Pugh representative Schlegel representative Verobisch
representative Weaknet designation we have a quorum thank you Ashley the Chair calls House Resolution 627, print is number 3901, sponsored by Representative Scott. Ashley, can you please explain the resolution?
House Resolution 627 directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on suicide prevention efforts and data collection on deaths by suicide in Pennsylvania. As part of the study, the commission will Analyze Pennsylvania's progress on the three goals from the Suicide Prevention Task Force included in the statewide suicide prevention plan for 2025 to 2027. Analyze the Pennsylvania violent death reporting system, including barriers to collecting data and submitting reports. Analyze legislation, policies, programs, and regulations adopted, administered, or enacted by other states, and make recommendations on efforts to prevent suicide. The commission must submit the report to the House no later than Saturday, January 1st, 2028.
Thank you. The question is, will the committee report House Resolution 627? The chair recognizes Representative Scott.
Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your entire team for working with me on this resolution, and thank you, Chairman Heftley, as well. House Resolution 627 directs the Joint State Government Commission to study Pennsylvania's suicide prevention efforts and data collection and make recommendations on how we can do better. Last month, DHS released Pennsylvania's new suicide prevention plan, which identifies three shared goals. One, improving data collection and how we use that data. Two, strengthening partnerships. And three, increasing preventative efforts. This resolution builds on that work. It asks an independent, third-party entity, the Joint State Government Commission, to take a comprehensive look at how effectively these goals or those goals are being implemented where the gaps exist and where we can improve Suicide prevention does not happen in just one place It involves our federal partners, our state and county governments, our mental health and hospital systems, our schools, and our criminal justice systems. And in Pennsylvania, it affects every stage of life. For example, 22% of suicides are among individuals ages 65 and older. That reminds us that our prevention efforts must account for the different circumstances and needs for people throughout their entire lives. This resolution will also allow us to look at what other states are doing successfully and identify strategies that Pennsylvania can adopt. The reality is that suicide prevention can be fragmented. We need to understand what is working, where the gaps are, and where we can do better. This resolution will not bring back those that we've lost. But if this study helps us identify better strategies, improve our data, and reach someone that is suffering at the point of crisis, it can help save lives. This is why I respectfully ask all of you for an affirmative vote for House Resolution 627. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Representative Scott. Is there any discussion on the resolution? Representative Pugh.
I just want to say thank you for bringing this up. I think each one of us knows a family who is struggling with a family member they lost due to suicide. And I hate to say that I have more than one. and it's becoming an epidemic and it's something that we really have to look into in order to get the care for those that need it before it gets to the extreme of taking their lives so I just want to thank you for bringing this up and the work you're doing on it thank you
Chair thanks to Representative are there any other comments on the
resolution Chairman Heffley thank you chairman I thank the sponsor of this resolution. I'll be supporting it today. It's important that we support people that are maybe experiencing difficulties in their life and looking at avenues to get them the support that they need. This will be beneficial to the Commonwealth, and I just would say that the world is better with you in it to anybody that's thinking about this. And certainly want to reach out to folks. As Representative Pugh had mentioned, I think we all have friends or family, for whatever situation in their life, maybe a moment in time that they're having a bad time and they end it in a way that's just terrible for the families and those that are surviving. So we want to do all that we can to show their support in this study, help us direct those funds in a meaningful manner in our efforts that are going to have the best impact. So I would ask for an affirmative vote on the resolution. Thank you, Chairman.
I'm going to truncate my remarks and simply say that with these stories and the legacies that are carried on by their loved ones, legislation and public policy depend on reliable data. And data is only as good as what is reported and recorded. So House Resolution 627 examines how we can improve the way suicide data is collected and ensure it is collected consistently across the Commonwealth. Through this resolution, we have an opportunity to build on Pennsylvania's suicide prevention efforts and then address the barriers that can prevent suicides from being accurately and consistently reported across the Commonwealth. So is there any opposition to the resolution? Seeing none, House resolution will be reported as committed. Thank you, Representative Scott. The chair calls the House Bill 1939, printers number 2447, sponsored by Representative Benham. Dylan, can you please explain the bill?
House Bill 1939 admits the Human Services Code to require an annual increase to the rates for IDA, home and community-based services under the Office of Developmental Programs. The increase is subject to the increase in the consumer price index and to the amount appropriated. If an increase occurs the provider must increase the wages of the direct support professionals by the same percent of the increase they received In addition the provider must pay their direct support professionals no less than the lower bound wage which must be published in the PA bulletin by the department. If a provider violates either of these two components, they may be subject to a financial penalty. Lastly, providers must report worker and wage information to the department.
Thank you, Dylan. The question is, will the committee report House Bill 1939? Representative Benham is offering Amendment A-04467. Dylan, will you please provide an explanation of the amendment?
This amendment makes clarifications throughout the bill, including the dates, which consumer price index is to be used, and that the department can utilize corrective actions before imposing a financial penalty. Lastly, it allows the provider to increase the direct support professional's total compensation instead of solely the wages to meet the requirements of this act.
Thank you, Dylan. Well, the committee agreed to the amendment, and on that question, the chair recognizes Representative Benham.
Thank you, Chair Williams, and thank you to the committee for considering this bill today. In August, we heard from the department providers and direct support professionals regarding this proposal. I am excited about this amendment because it reflects the majority of their concerns. it ensures penalties can come in the form of corrective actions first it provides clarity regarding the inflation index and flexibility to use the increase in funds to support the direct support professional in ways that are deemed to be the best so i believe that this amendment enhances the bill and i'd ask everyone to vote yes thank you thank you representative
are there any questions on the amendment And I want to thank Representative Benham offering this amendment. As mentioned, this amendment reflects concerns that we heard during the hearing, and it allows providers more flexibility in returning their workers. I would ask the committee for a yes vote. Is there any opposition to the amendment? I'm sorry. The chair recognizes Chairman Heffley.
Thank you, Chairman Williams. And I want to thank you and the Executive Director Lindbergh for work to address, and the prime sponsor of the bill to address several of the concerns raised regarding the bill and adjusting the implementation dates, replacing the term wages with compensation, and clarifying which consumer price index will be used as meaningful improvements. While the amendment does not resolve every issue or every concern, it does improve the bill, and I will be voting to support the amendment.
Chairman, thanks for your comments, and I believe I've already made mine. So I'd like to ask the committee for a yes vote. Is there any opposition to the amendment? The amendment is agreed to. The question recurs. Will the committee report House Bill 1939 as amended? Is there any discussion on the bill? Representative Benham.
Thank you. I just wanted to again thank the committee for their consideration. I wanted to thank Representative Jason Ortiz-Tai for his support and advocacy for this bill as my co-prime sponsor on it, and ask folks for a yes. I think this will make a meaningful difference in the lives of DSPs and those they serve. Thank you.
Chair, thanks to Representative. And now Chairman Heffley, any comments on the bill?
Thank you, Chair. And I want to thank you once again for scheduling the public hearing that we held earlier on House Bill 1939. And hearing directly from the providers, the family, caregivers, and direct support professionals was really helpful. As members of the General Assembly, there are some points where we will agree and some where we will disagree. What we all share, however, is a belief that individuals with intellectual disabilities deserve access to high-quality services delivered by professionals who are fairly compensated. My core concern with Health Bill 1939 is that it establishes a complicated and unnecessary process for increasing reimbursements. These adjustments can already be made through the existing budget process without adding regulatory hurdles to providers. The inclusion of the lower bound wage and the accompanying compliance requirements imposes yet another burden on a system that is already strained I support increasing reimbursements for the providers and staff who perform this essential work For that reason I will be voting to support House Bill 1939 in committee today However, this vote is not indicative to how I will be voting on the House floor if those other issues are not addressed. Provisions were indicated how I may vote. It is my hope that we can continue to work together, as we have thus far, to improve and find a path that ensures appropriate reimbursement levels without adding unnecessary regulatory challenges. Our focus must remain on ensuring access to quality service with individuals with disability. So I will be voting in support of this today and hope that we can further work on this as we move forward.
Chair, thanks, Chairman Heffley. typically chairs speak last. My understanding is that I miss Representative Kahn.
My apologies Mr. Chairman. Thank you so much for being recognized. So I just want to thank the the maker of the bill, Rep. Benham and Rep. Ortite for working together in a bipartisan way to get this legislation introduced. I've worked with a lot of my colleagues on supporting our DSPs. And the sad reality is that these are individuals that are making $12 an hour that are just barely scraping by. I just filled up my tank. It was $75 to fill up a tank of gas. And the cost of everything has gone up. Meanwhile, their wages have stayed flat. We're talking about people who have people that are supporting families. People that have gone to graduate school that are supporting families and that are barely scraping by and year after year after year their wages stay flat this is an important legislation to make sure that these direct support providers that are providing care to folks who extremely need their support who really need their support that they're able to keep these providers because what happens is they get a provider and then they leave because they can't afford making $12.50 an hour. So this is an incredibly important and impactful legislation and I'm extremely grateful for the sponsors of this for moving this forward. This is a huge a huge bonus for our workers here in Pennsylvania. I ask my colleagues for a yes vote.
Chair, thanks Representative. At our hearing this summer, we had an opportunity to hear from those overseeing the program, those delivering the services and those working on the front lines. It became abundantly clear that an annual rate increase aligned with inflation along with a percentage passed through to direct support professionals would greatly improve the recruitment as well as the retention of these frontline workers. In turn, that it would provide greater reliability and safer care for the individuals receiving these services. And so, this really is a great step forward toward that goal. I understand why this might not be a finished product, but I look forward to continue to work with my colleagues and stakeholders to strengthen and enhance the bill and ensure we are helping the people we intend to help. I would ask the committee for a yes vote. Is there any opposition to the bill? And seeing no opposition, House Bill 1939 will be reported as amended. Seeing no further business, this House Human Services Committee voting meeting is now adjourned. Thank you for your participation. Thank you.