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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow employees of small employers to continue their group health insurance coverage through COBRA. Senate Bill 1422 would add a new section to authorize Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Policies. It would allow employees or dependents of employees of small employers (2-19 employees) who lose health care coverage through a qualifying event to continue the group health insurance coverage at cost. The continuation of coverage includes coverage for the employees’ dependents. The bill now moves to the House.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1453, which would allow dependent children to receive health insurance coverage through their parent’s policy up to age 30. To be eligible, the dependent child must be 29 years of age or younger, unmarried, have no dependents, be a Pennsylvania resident or enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher education in Pennsylvania, and have no coverage through any other health insurance plan. The extension of coverage would not apply to hospital indemnity, accident, specified disease, disability income, dental or vision insurance; insurance provided by the U.S. military; Medicare supplemental insurance; long-term care; and other limited benefit plans. The bill now moves to the House.
* * * The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 908, which would continue to allow people to sell items through on-line auctions without auctioneer licensure requirements. This legislation would allow people selling items on online bidding sites, such as eBay or Craigslist, to be excluded from the requirements of becoming a licensed auctioneer. Only those who are selling other people’s items on-line (trading assistants), would be required to pay a $100 fee, twice a year, to the State Board of Auctioneer Examiners. Under this bill, trading assistants would also need to be bonded, place money from sales into escrow and would not be allowed to sell if they were convicted in any state of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, extortion, criminal conspiracy to defraud or other like offense. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow licensed clinical social workers to receive reimbursement from insurance companies for providing mental health services. House Bill 1177 would also allow reimbursement for services offered by occupational therapists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors. The bill now moves back to the House.
* * * By votes of 42-8, the Senate passed three bills that would permit members of certain religious sects to make applications to their township so that they would be relieved of the requirement to connect to sewer and drainage systems because of their religious beliefs. The bills (Senate Bill 461, 462, 463) would make changes to the First Class Township Code, the Borough Code, and the Second Class Township Code respectively. The bills are now in the House.
* * * The Senate passed Senate Bill 884 by a vote of 49-1. This bill would restrict municipalities from regulating amateur radio service communications. The legislation would create a general rule that a municipality that takes action involving the placement, screening or height of antennas would reasonably accommodate amateur radio service communications and would only impose the minimum regulations necessary. The bill is now in the House.
* * * The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1496, which would allow municipal authorities to participate in intergovernmental agreements with municipalities. The legislation would allow one or more local governments to enter into an agreement with one or more municipal authorities. The agreement would not be able to delegate or transfer the governmental powers or functions of a local government to a municipal authority or enlarge or diminish the powers of a municipal authority beyond those authorized and permitted by law. The bill is now in the House.
* * * By a unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1555. This bill would add restrictions to the release of cell phone records. Cell phone records would still be able to be released with written proof from the subscriber or by court order. The bill is now in the House.
* * * By a vote of 37-13, the Senate passed a bill that outlines requirements for businesses in fourth through eighth class counties to file assessment appeals. Senate Bill 1258 would allow businesses to appeal an assessment if:
The bill was sent to the House where it awaits action in the Finance Committee.
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