SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK
OF MARCH 26, 2001

HARRISBURG -- The Senate this week unanimously approved a bipartisan, 10-bill package establishing a plan to distribute Pennsylvania’s share of the National Tobacco Settlement.

The measures include funding for smoking prevention and cessation programs, home care for senior citizens, health insurance for working adults, medical research, reimbursement to hospitals for uncompensated care.

Pennsylvania is expected to receive up to $11 billion, in annual increments of approximately $400 million, over the next 25 years. Senate Bill 2, the Health Investment Act, creates the Tobacco Settlement Fund. The fund would be earmarked exclusively for health-related purposes. The bill also reserves funds for expansion of the PACE or PACENET programs. Within the fund would be two accounts: the Health Endowment Account for Long-Term Hope (HEALTH) Account, which reserves funds to overcome any future shortfalls in Tobacco Settlement income; and the Health Venture Investment Account, dedicated to health care, biotechnology and other health-related businesses.

The rest of the tobacco package includes:

*Senate Bill 501, the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Act, which would provide funding for Pennsylvania research institutions to conduct biomedical, health services, collaborative, and clinical research projects.

Senate Bill 500, the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Efforts Act, establishing a tobacco prevention and cessation program within the Department of Health.

Senate Bill 65, the Home and Community-Based Care Act, which would fund services that enable older people to receive care in their homes. The bill also would fund services through the Department of Aging for those who need nursing home care but don't qualify for Medical Assistance.

Senate Bill 503, the Health Investment Insurance Act, providing basic health insurance benefits for qualified, low-income working adults. The benefits would include preventive care, physician visits, diagnosis and treatment services, inpatient and outpatient hospitalization, and emergency accident and medical care.

Senate Bill 504, the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities Act, allowing disabled low-income workers to purchase health insurance benefits through Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance Program.

Senate Bill 502, the Hospital Uncompensated Care Act , establishing the Hospital Uncompensated Care Program and the Hospital Extraordinary Expense Program. The Hospital Uncompensated Care Program would reimburse hospitals according to the amount of uncompensated care they provide, the number of low-income Medicare patients they treat, and the number of Medical Assistance patients they treat. The Hospital Extraordinary Expense Program would reimburse hospitals for the extraordinary expenses of caring for an uninsured patient.

Senate Bill 505, the Regional Biomedical and Life Sciences Research Centers Act, establishing three regional biomedical and life science research centers, which would share funds, equipment, personnel, and other resources.

Senate Bill 506, the HealthLink Act, which would would create a medical and surgical capital equipment grant and loan fund for rural hospitals and health centers. The institutions could buy certain medical equipment with grants of up to $500,000.

Senate Bill 507, the Pennsylvania Health Center and Clinic Act, which would provide grants for health care outreach in low-income communities, aimed at preventive care, reducing emergency rooms visits, and chronic disease management.

The entire 10-bill package has been referred to the House.

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 130, which would require Pennsylvania courts recognize and enforce valid protection orders issued by courts of other states, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes, territories, possessions or commonwealths of the United States.

The bill now goes to the House.

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Under Senate Bill 147, which unanimously passed the Senate, taking recyclable items from a municipal recycling container would become a summary offense, resulting in a fine or community service.

The bill now goes to the House.

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Child welfare caseworkers would be added to the list of officers, agents and employees of the commonwealth protected under the aggravated assault statute under Senate Bill 490, which was approved unanimously in the Senate. The crime would be either a first- or second-degree felony, depending on the severity of injury.

The bill has been sent to the House.

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Senate Bill 49, which unanimously passed the Senate, amends the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act by clarifying the definition of daily drawings for clubs.

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