Bill > HR208

This resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, a legislative oversight body, to conduct a performance audit and issue a report on the services, processes, and wait times within the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), which is part of the Department of Labor and Industry. The audit is prompted by concerns that the BBVS, along with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), may not have enough staff to fulfill their mission of providing specialized vocational and support services to blind and visually impaired Pennsylvanians in a timely manner, leading to significant wait times for essential services that could otherwise prevent individuals from needing long-term care. The audit will specifically examine current wait times and their causes, the impact of these delays on individuals' lives and career prospects, the referral process for outside services, the efficiency of service delivery and needs assessment, the financial utilization of BBVS programs, and any legislative or regulatory barriers to service, with the goal of making recommendations for improvement within 180 days of the resolution's adoption.