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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate approved and sent to the House the following appropriations bills:
* * * The Senate voted 39-10 in favor of Senate Bill 9, which would prevent illegal immigrants from improperly receiving public benefits other than those deemed essential to public health. Under this legislation, applicants for many government benefits would be required to provide some type of government ID and sign an affidavit saying they are legal residents. The bill would affect applications for Medicaid, state-subsidized universities, unemployment compensation, the state's adultBasic health-insurance program, home-heating help, and more. This would not apply to children younger than 18 years old, as well as the disabled who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security and seniors eligible for Medicare. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted 33-17 in favor of Senate Bill 822, which would amend the state constitution to allow the governor to appoint his own lieutenant governor if there is a vacancy. The proposed bill states that if a lieutenant governor becomes governor, he or she would have the power to appoint the replacement lieutenant governor. If a lieutenant governor dies, the governor would pick his or her replacement. The choice would have to be confirmed by a simple majority of the Senate. Currently, the Senate's top officer, the president pro tem, automatically becomes lieutenant governor if there is a vacancy. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1152, which will make extensive changes and conforming amendments primarily to provide enabling language for electronic transactions. A substantial portion of the additions and changes comes from the emergence of electronic communications in commerce such as email and Internet encryption technologies for transmitting secure documents. The aim of the revisions is not to construct a system for the transference of secure electronic documents, but to create a legal and intellectual architecture that will support the development and use of electronic documents in holding and shipping goods. The bill requires that systems for the use of electronic documents ensure that the originals cannot be copied without a clear signature—one that distinguishes the single original from any copies. The new framework also permits the creation of systems that allow the transformation of electronic documents into written form, provided that clear safeguards exist to invalidate the former original. The bill is now on the Governor’s desk.
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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1278, which would enhance the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement Program by providing more support to low-income families, reducing operational costs, and generating revenue through increased Federal incentive earnings. The Department of Public Welfare Office of Income Maintenance, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement has submitted this legislation to meet the requirements of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). Under current law, the court must determine the ability of each parent to provide health care coverage and order that it be provided where appropriate. This legislation would make every order for child support include a requirement that either or both parents pay for medical support for their children. This legislation would also require the collection of an annual $25 fee when $500 or more of support is collected for a family receiving child support services and where the family has never received Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Additionally, the bill would require that all child support orders be reviewed and, if appropriate, adjusted every 3 years. The legislation would also increase the Support Pass-Through to a TANF family to $100 for one child and $200 for two or more children. The bill is now in the House. * * * The Senate passed Senate Bill 1332 by a 49-0 vote. This legislation would add a uniform oath of office for elected and appointed municipal officials. Currently there are several forms of oaths in Pennsylvania through the municipal codes. The bill is now in the House.
* * * By a vote of 50-0, the Senate passed Senate Bill 638, which says that the State Board of Pharmacy will establish a Cancer Drug Repository Program consistent with public health and safety standards that unused cancer drugs may be re-dispensed to cancer patients. Pharmacies approved by the board will dispense unused cancer drugs to residents who are poverty-stricken. The board will develop and publicize rules and regulations to establish events necessary to put into action the program. Participation in the program is voluntary. The cancer drugs can only be dispensed by a pharmacist according to State law pursuant to a prescription issued by a prescribing practitioner. The bill is now on the governor’s desk.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 998, which would allow licensed clinical social workers to receive reimbursement from insurance companies for providing mental health services. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1020, which would amend the Conservation District Law to include assistance in developing and implementing plans for storm water management, and protection of air quality. The bill would also clarify that the conservation districts are the primary local government unit responsible for the abatement of non-point sources of pollution. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1033, which would add to and remove from the composition of the State Veterans’ Commission. The bill would add Military Officers Association of America to the composition of the State Veterans’ Commission and remove Veterans of World War I of the United States of America, Inc. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1225, which would create a system of Intrastate Mutual Aid between participating political subdivisions within Pennsylvania. The system would provide for mutual assistance among the subdivisions in the prevention of, response to and recovery from threats to public health and safety that are beyond the capability of an affected community to respond. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
* * * The Senate approved Senate Bill 1254, which would amend the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to clarify that service contracts are not an insurance product and are exempt from insurance regulation. Service contracts are defined as agreements to repair, replace, or service property for a specific time period for operational or structural deficiencies as a result of poor parts, workmanship, or normal wear and tear. Currently, the Insurance Department does not regulate service contract providers. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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