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HB 583

An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reimbursement for certain medical assistance items and services; and abrogating regulations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gina Curry and 13 co-sponsors

HB 583 increases recurring state funding for DHHS workforce programs to recruit/retain direct support staff and raise provider rates, expanding IDD community employment services.

Referred to Health & Human Services
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Bill Summary · HB 583

HB 583 — “Support/Expand Workforce Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Options”

Status: Passed 1st reading (introduced Nov. 12, 2024)

Main purpose

HB 583 seeks to expand community employment and support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by increasing state funding to workforce programs administered through state health and rehabilitation agencies. The bill’s stated goals are to strengthen provider capacity by improving recruitment and retention of service‑critical staff and by increasing provider payment rates to expand service availability.

Key provisions

  • Appropriates recurring state funds to relevant divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services to expand community employment services for people with disabilities.
  • Funds are earmarked for:
    • Recruitment and retention of service‑critical positions (e.g., direct support professionals, employment specialists).
    • Increasing rates paid to service providers to expand capacity.
  • (Text of a closely related prior version included explicit dollar amounts for two fiscal years — used here as an illustrative funding model):
    • Division of Services for the Blind: $128,400 recurring (FY 2023–24) and $385,000 recurring (FY 2024–25).
    • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services: $458,300 recurring (FY 2023–24) and $1,375,000 recurring (FY 2024–25).
  • Effective date in the comparable version: July 1, 2023. (Final effective date for this filing will follow enactment language in the current bill.)

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (and other eligible disabilities) seeking community employment supports and vocational services.
  • Service providers and community rehabilitation programs — expected to receive higher reimbursement rates and support for workforce stability.
  • State agencies (DHHS divisions) — responsible for administering funds and overseeing implementation.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • The bill increases recurring state expenditures to expand provider capacity; exact fiscal impact depends on final appropriation amounts in the enacted bill.
  • Funds are intended to be used to reduce vacancies, lower staff turnover, and expand service slots, with the aim of improving employment outcomes for people with IDD.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Nov. 12, 2024; passed first reading. Next steps typically include committee referrals, appropriation review, and floor consideration. Final implementation timing depends on enactment and the effective date specified in the enrolled law.

Considerations

  • Measurable outcomes (e.g., number of additional people served, employment placements, staff vacancy rate changes) are not specified in the bill text as provided; agencies may need reporting or performance metrics to document impact.
  • If enacted with funding levels similar to the referenced prior version, the program expansion would be incremental and targeted to workforce stabilization and provider rate increases rather than broad structural reform.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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