NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Public Comment on the 2-Year Modification of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Portion of the Commonwealth's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Combined State Plan; Public Meetings
[47 Pa.B. 4047]
[Saturday, July 22, 2017]The Department of Labor and Industry (Department), Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), announces a period of public comment on its proposed Year 2 of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Commonwealth's 4-year Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan (Plan). Given the multiyear life of the Plan, states must revisit State Plan strategies regularly, reassess their effectiveness and labor market relevance, and, when needed, recalibrate these strategies to respond to the changing economic conditions and workforce needs of the state. The VR Services Portion is the blueprint for the provision of VR services to persons with disabilities living in this Commonwealth. This notice is provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the WIOA of 2014.
The OVR is required to develop and implement its VR Services Portion as part of the Plan, whereas, at minimum, states must submit a modification to the Plan at the end of the first 2-year period of any 4-year plan. These revisions take the form of updates to existing descriptions, previously known as attachments. The Plan from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2020, is currently in effect and is a compliance document on file with the Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration and United States Departments of Labor and Education.
The OVR must obtain public input prior to amending the VR Services Portion of the Plan under 34 CFR 361.20 (relating to public participation requirements). As referenced in 34 CFR 361.20(a), which requires public meetings to be held throughout the state, ''public meeting'' means a gathering of people in a physical or virtual (as in the case of videoconferences or teleconferences) location to gather valuable input from individuals with disabilities, community rehabilitation programs and other stakeholders.
This comment period provides individuals, advocates and other interested parties or organizations, or both, opportunities to present their views and recommendations regarding VR services for persons with disabilities. In this Commonwealth, these services are provided by the OVR through a network of 21 district offices and the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Comments are being solicited regarding the following VR Services Portion of the Plan descriptions and estimates:
• Input and recommendations of the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council.
• Coordination with education officials.
• Coordination with employers.
• Statewide assessment.
• Comprehensive system of personnel development.
• Annual estimate of individuals to be served and costs of services.
• The OVR's goals and priorities.
• Order of selection.
• Goals and plans for distribution of Title VI funds.
• Supported employment services.
• Innovation and expansion activities.
In addition, the Department's Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) will accept public comment on:
• The Business Enterprise Program.
• Specialized services for children and adults.
• Independent living services for older persons who are blind.
This year, the OVR will be utilizing video conference capabilities to broadcast public meetings to each of the district office locations simultaneously. OVR public meetings will be held Statewide in each OVR district office on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 29, 2017, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is not necessary to attend both sessions because the same information will be provided on these dates to enable more people to participate and allow time for local comment.
All meeting sites are accessible and interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be present at each public meeting. For additional information, reasonable accommodation requests or alternative format requests, call the OVR district office conducting the public. Written comments may be submitted by mail to the appropriate district office serving the area in which the individual/organization member resides.
In addition, individuals who are not able to attend in person but would like to participate by phone should call the following:
August 16, 2017
(800) 260-0718
Participant access code: 426702August 29, 2017
(800) 260-0718
Participant access code: 426705All written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2017.
A copy of the proposed Year 2 of the VR Services Portion for the Plan and other information will be available on the OVR's web site at www.dli.state.pa.us (select ''Individuals,'' then ''Disability Services,'' then ''Publications'').
Additionally, the United States Department of Labor and Education announced the availability of the approved WIOA Unified or Combined State Plans at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/wioa/state-plans/index.html. The public and workforce system stakeholders may view, download or search the State Plans for information on how states are undertaking the implementation of WIOA.
The OVR public meetings will be held Statewide in each OVR district office on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 29, 2017, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Allentown BVRS District Office
(Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties)
45 North Fourth Street
Allentown, PA 18102
(800) 922-9536 (Voice), (888) 377-9207 (TTY)
Contact Person: Susan Storm (610) 821-6441, Ext. 3103Altoona BBVS District Office
(Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Columbia,
Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin,
Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Somerset and
Union Counties)
1130 12th Avenue, Fourth Floor Conference Room
Altoona, PA 16601
(866) 695-7673 (Voice), (866) 320-7956 (TTY)
Contact Person: Anne Strollo (866) 695-7673Altoona BVRS District Office
(Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton and Huntingdon Counties)
1130 12th Avenue, Fourth Floor Conference Room
Altoona, PA 16601
(800) 442-6343 (Voice), (866) 320-7955 (TTY)
Contact Person: Colleen Woodring (814) 946-7252DuBois BVRS District Office
(Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson and McKean Coun-
ties)
199 Beaver Drive
DuBois, PA 15801
(800) 922-4017 (Voice/TTY)
Contact Person: Christina Palmer (814) 371-7340Erie BBVS District Office
(Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, For-
est, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter,
Venango and Warren Counties)
3200 Lovell Place
Erie, PA 16503
(866) 521-5073 (Voice), (888) 884-5513 (TTY)
Contact Person: Dawn Sokol (814) 871-4401Erie BVRS District Office
(Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango and
Warren Counties)
3200 Lovell Place
Erie, PA 16503
(800) 541-0721 (Voice), (888) 217-1710 (TTY)
Contact Person: Jack Hewitt (814) 651-9607Harrisburg BBVS District Office
(Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster,
Lebanon, Perry and York Counties)
Forum Place, 8th Floor Conference Room, 555 Walnut
Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(866) 375-8264 (Voice), (888) 575-9420 (TTY)
Contact Person: Nicole Wade (717) 346-2750Harrisburg BVRS District Office
(Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin and
Perry Counties)
Forum Place, 8th Floor Conference Room
555 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(800) 442-6352 (Voice), (877) 497-6545 (TTY)
Contact Person: Janice Mazzitti (717) 787-7834Johnstown BVRS District Office
(Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland Coun-
ties)
Hiram G. Andrews Center, Seminar Theater
727 Goucher Street
Johnstown, PA 15905
(800) 762-4223 (Voice), (866) 862-6891 (TTY)
Contact Person: Margie Duranko (814) 762-4223New Castle BVRS District Office
(Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence Counties)
100 Margaret Street
New Castle, PA 16101 (800) 442-6379 (Voice), (888) 870-4476 (TTY)
Contact Person: Gail Steck (724) 656-3070Norristown BVRS District Office
(Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties)
1875 New Hope Street
Norristown, PA 19401
(800) 221-1042 (Voice), (888) 616-0470 (TTY)
Contact Person: Kevin Sand (484) 250-4340Philadelphia BBVS District Office
(Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia
Counties)
Date: August 29, 2017, Time: 3 p.m.—5:30 p.m.
Philadelphia District Office, 5th Floor Conference Room
444 North Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(866) 631-3892 (Voice), (888) 870-4473 (TTY)
Contact Person: Lynn Heitz (215) 560-5704Philadelphia BVRS District Office
(Philadelphia County)
Philadelphia District Office, 5th Floor Conference Room
444 North Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(800) 442-6381 (Voice), (800) 772-9031 (TTY)
Contact Persons: Shari Brightful (215) 560-1940Pittsburgh BBVS District Office
(Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene,
Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland Counties)
531 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(866) 412-4072 (Voice), (877) 255-5082 (TTY)
Contact Person: Shannon Austin (412) 565-5240Pittsburgh BVRS District Office
(Allegheny County)
531 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(800) 442-6371 (Voice), (888) 870-4474 (TTY)
Contact Person: Marci Katona (412) 392-4952Reading BVRS District Office
(Berks and Schuylkill Counties)
3602 Kutztown Road, Suite 200
Reading, PA 19605
(800) 442-0949 (Voice), (877) 475-7326 (TTY)
Contact Person: Carole Homolash (610) 621-5800Washington BVRS District Office
(Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties)
Washington District Office Conference Room
201 West Wheeling Street
Washington, PA 15301
(800) 442-6367 (Voice), (866) 752-6163 (TTY)
Contact Person: Darla Openbrier (724) 223-4430, Ext. 252Wilkes-Barre BBVS District Office
(Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne,
Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan,
Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming Counties)
District Office Conference Room
300G Laird Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(800) 634-2060, Ext. 0 (Voice) or (570) 826-2361,
(888) 651-6117 (TTY)
Contact Person: Maureen Taylor (570) 826-2361, Ext. 211Wilkes-Barre BVRS District Office
(Bradford, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Sulli-
van, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties)
Wilkes-Barre OVR District Office300G Laird Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(800) 634-2060 (Voice), (888) 651-6117 (TTY)
Contact Person: Heather Nelson (800) 634-2060, Ext. 109Williamsport BVRS District Office
(Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter,
Snyder, Tioga and Union Counties)
The Grit Building, Suite 102
208 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
(800) 442-6359 or (570) 327-3600 (Voice), (800) 706-0884
(TTY)
Contact Person: Susan Swartz (570) 505-7234York BVRS District Office
(Adams, Franklin, Lancaster and York Counties)
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 207
York, PA 17402
(800) 762-6306 (Voice), (866) 466-1404 (TTY)
Contact Person: Susan Richeson (717) 771-4407, Ext. 204KATHY M. MANDERINO,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1225. Filed for public inspection July 21, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]
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