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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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In a 28 to 21 party line vote, the Senate this week approved Senate Bill 1305, which would require the Governor’s office to take additional steps before an interagency transfer of appropriated funds could take place. Historically, the governor has had the authority to transfer budgeted monies between agencies. Under the bill, the state budget secretary would be required to notify both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in writing about such transfers 10 days in advance. In addition, the Attorney General would be required to approve the transfer in writing before it can be executed. Democrats said the bill is aimed at doing little more than adding needless bureaucratic hurdles to a funding procedure that governors have used for many years. The bill may have been prompted by the Rendell Administration transferring excess money from the Revenue Department to help fill funding shortfalls in the Gaming Board’s Budget this year. Administration officials claim the governor will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The measure now goes to the House.
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In order to deter frivolous complaints against court-appointed experts and delays in child-custody decisions, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 845, which would prohibit complaints from being filed until 60 days after a final decision in the case. Some parents in child custody cases frequently file complaints to state licensing officials against court-appointed psychologists or other health providers who provide testimony unfavorable to their case. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 983. This bill would make changes to the Vital Statistics Law to require more of districts and local registrars' duties for death and fetal death registration. Local registrars would have to send a copy of the death certificate for a person who was at least 18-years-old to the county board of elections in which the person resided at the time of death. Local registrars would also be required to issue blank pre-signed permits to funeral directors for the disposal of a dead body or fetal remains. The funeral director would then have to file within 96 hours a certificate of death or fetal death to the local registrar. The bill will know go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously on legislation that would further regulate the practice of acupuncture. Senate Bill 1235 would remove certain language from the Acupuncture Registration Act, which regulates the practice of acupuncture. Prior to the first acupuncture treatment, an acupuncturist would no longer be required to ensure that a patient has undergone a medical exam or get from a patient the results of the medical exam or a written referral from a doctor. Also in the bill, an acupuncturist would be able to treat a person’s condition without being diagnosed by a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist for 60 days after the first treatment. An acupuncturist would be able to treat a person’s condition beyond the 60 days if the person obtains a diagnosis of the treated condition from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1285, which would establish administrative law judges (ALJs) within the Department of Transportation. Under the bill, ALJs would be permitted to hold hearings and decide cases on various appeals, reviews, record review requests and other PennDOT licensure decisions. The ALJs would replace department hearing officers on these tasks. The bill, which was amended in the Senate, now returns to the House for concurrence.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1297. This bill would designate the third Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day." The day would commemorate the impact of slavery, the abolition movement, and the African-American emancipation in the United States. The bill now goes to the House.
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