35 Pa. Stat. § 6701.4

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 6701.4 - Establishment of dual party relay service
(a) Telecommunication relay services.--The commission shall design and implement a telecommunication relay service program for the Commonwealth that is consistent with and meets or exceeds the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327).
(b) Certification.--The commission is authorized to seek on behalf of this Commonwealth certification of the telecommunication relay service program from the Federal Communications Commission.
(c) Additional use of surcharge.--The Telecommunication Device Distribution Program shall be funded and the Print Media Access System Program may be funded by the Telecommunication Relay Service Program surcharge, as calculated by the commission on an annual basis under the methodology established by the commission in order entered May 29, 1990, and July 9, 1990, at Docket Number M-00900239, and as subsequently modified by the commission. The executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in the department shall provide the commission with an annual budget and supporting information for the purchase of telecommunication devices for the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program. The executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the department shall provide the commission with an annual budget and supporting information for the Print Media Access System Program. A portion of the surcharge may be used to fund the Print Media Access System Program. The surcharge shall not be used to fund administrative costs of the Telecommunication Relay Service Program, Telecommunication Device Distribution Program or the Print Media Access System Program.
(d) Limits on expenditures.--Expenditures for the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program shall not exceed collections from the Telecommunication Relay Service Program surcharge allocated for the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program. Any expenditures authorized for the Print Media Access System Program shall not exceed collections from the Telecommunication Relay Service Program surcharge allocated for the Print Media Access System Program and any grant funding received for the use of the Print Media Access System Program.
(e) Annual report.--The commission shall prepare and submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program and on the Print Media Access System Program.
(1) The report shall include the fiscal status of the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program and of the Print Media Access System Program, a statement of the surcharge level established under subsection (c) and the revenues produced by the surcharge for allocation to the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program and to the Print Media Access System Program, an account of Telecommunication Device Distribution Program and the Print Media Access System Program expenses and the fund balance.
(2) The executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in the department shall provide the commission with information on the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program, including the purchase and distribution of telecommunication devices, for inclusion in the annual report to the General Assembly.
(2.1) The executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the department shall provide the commission with information on the Print Media Access System Program, including the annual budget and administration of the Print Media Access System Program, for inclusion in the annual report to the General Assembly.
(3) If the commission determines any of the information is proprietary, the information shall be filed under seal and made available under the terms of an appropriate protective agreement of the type used in cases before the commission.

35 P.S. § 6701.4

1995, July 6, P.L. 255, No. 34, § 4, imd. effective. Amended 2004, Nov. 29, P.L. 1352, No. 174, § 4, effective 1/28/2005.