Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg. Photo: Waldteufel – Fotolia

The Pennsylvania state Senate on Jan. 27 on a 28-21 vote approved a bill that would block the immediate closure of two residential care facilities for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities, concurring in House amendments.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne, would halt the planned closures by the Department of Human Services of the White Haven—in Luzerne County—and Polk—in Venango County—state centers.

Senate Bill 906 would create a Task Force on the Closure of State Facilities to analyze and manage the closure of any state center and prevents a closure of those centers for a minimum of five years.

The bill now goes to Wolf, who has said he will veto the measure.

White Haven and Polk are two of the four facilities for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities.

"Senate Bill 906 would ensure residents of the White Haven and Polk centers have a choice in where they want to live and the care they want to receive, including these wonderful facilities which are the only homes many have ever known," state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne, said.

"We implore the governor to sign this legislation into law. But if he follows through on the veto threat, I will join with my House colleagues who support the bill in working to secure the two-thirds majority required to override his wrongful decision."

The Wolf administration has prominent allies, including the Arc of Pennsylvania and Disability Rights Pennsylvania, who argue that the state centers are an outdated, segregated model of treatment, and that people with severe disabilities are treated just as well in the community, for several times less, The Associated Press has reported.

The state House of Representatives voted 139-55 for legislation to prevent a governor from closing any of Pennsylvania's four remaining state centers for at least five years, and then only with approval from an independent task force.

In November, the Senate voted 40-9 for an earlier version of the bill.