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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 create the “Preventable Serious Adverse Events Act.” House Bill 84 would prevent health care providers from knowingly seeking payment from health payors, patients or their responsible party for a preventable serious medical error or services required to correct or treat the problem that occurred under their care. The bill is now in the House.
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The Senate unanimously passed legislation that would authorize Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Policies. House Bill 1089 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. This legislation ensures that people who work for small employers have access to the 65 percent premium assistance provided by the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 6, which would create the Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability, a bipartisan 11-member commission to track, monitor and report on all funds distributed to Pennsylvania as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (federal stimulus law). The bill would create reporting standards for state agencies to determine exactly how and where these additional funds will be used and require the state to establish a searchable database of individual stimulus projects for the public to review online. The commission would also be asked to make recommendations and identify ways to prevent waste and fraud. The body would be required to submit all reports and meeting transcripts to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. The commission would be made up of four members of the governor's cabinet, one member appointed by each of the four legislative caucuses and three members of the general public appointed by the governor, the Senate President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Earlier this year, Governor Rendell created the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission to provide oversight for stimulus funds. Senate Bill 6 is now in the House State Government Committee.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 45, which would change the Landscape Architects Registration Law to require more continuing education for licensed landscape architects. This bill would raise the minimum continuing education requirement from 10 hours per license period to 24 hours per license period. This would bring Pennsylvania up to the continuing education requirements of surrounding states. The bill would also get rid of a clause that permits certain individuals to be registered and licensed to practice without a written examination. The bill is now in the House Professional Licensure Committee.
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By a 36-13 vote, the Senate passed legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. Senate Bill 81 would allow members of the governing board of a public authority to have an interest in a distributor or importing license, even if that public authority has an interest in one or more retail licenses or acts as a landlord for a retail license. The bill also would allow an entity to obtain both a manufacturer’s or limited winery license and a hotel, restaurant or retail license to be used at the same location. More than one location may be licensed in this way. The legislation would also allow licenses, which allow an individual to engage in the operation of a winery or other facility that involves the manufacturing, producing and distilling of alcohol and liquor, to be transferred from one person or place to another. Applicants for a transfer would be assessed a filing fee of up to $700. Senate Bill 81 also would allow implementation of a customer relations marketing program, which would offer customers coupons or discounts on certain products. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously concurred in amendments to Senate Bill 89, which would create a Health Care Cost Containment Council Act Review Committee. The committee would study, review and recommend changes to the Act. In addition, the council’s sunset date would be extended to June 30, 2014. The Health Care Cost Containment Council, which is an independent state agency responsible for addressing the problem of escalating health costs, ensuring the quality of health care, and increasing access for all citizens regardless of ability to pay, is due to end operations for good on June 30, 2009. The Senate failed to reauthorize the council in October. Gov. Rendell extended the council by Executive Order. The bill would also establish a payment data advisory group to produce recommendations on the collection of payment data in order to assure the technical appropriateness and accuracy of the data. The measure now goes to the Governor for enactment.
* * * The Senate voted 48-1 in favor of Senate Bill 101, which would increase the penalties for public officials who intentionally violate the Sunshine Law. Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law, also known as the Right to Know Act, is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to government public records. These laws were updated last year and took effect in January, 2009. Senate Bill 101 would increase the maximum fine from $100 to $1,000 for the first violation and up to $2,000 for a subsequent offense. The bill is now in the House State Government Committee.
* * * By a vote of 30-19, the Senate passed a bill that would require development of a state Web site listing any state expenditure over $25,000. Senate Bill 105, the Taxpayer Transparency Act, would require the state Department of Revenue to develop a searchable, Web-based database by October 1, 2009, listing the expenditures from all state agencies. The bill contains no appropriation for development of the Web site, and most Senate Democrats voted against it because of estimates that it could cost as much as $7.5 million. The bill is now in the House.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 110, which would require that certain information be provided about any passenger flight undertaken using the Commonwealth’s aircraft. The information would be maintained on PennDOT’s Web site and include the flight date and identification number, name of agency requesting the flight and the aircraft used, originating city and all destination cities, departure and arrival times, all passengers (including first and last names and titles), the public purpose of the trip, the total number of hours, and the invoice amount. The log on the Web site would be updated at least monthly. The bill now moves to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would establish problem-solving courts. Senate Bill 383 would establish problem-solving courts with specialized jurisdiction in the Courts of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. Examples of the areas of specialized jurisdiction that these courts may be established for include drug courts, mental health courts and driving under the influence courts. The court would adopt local rules of problem solving courts and their related treatment services. The local rules would not, however, be inconsistent with Title 42 or any rules established by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court would also appoint a statewide problem solving court coordinator. The bill now moves to the House.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow county interagency sharing of juvenile records Senate Bill 531 would authorize the sharing of records and information, subject to all relevant federal law, relating to juveniles who have been accepted for service by a county agency, alleged to be or found to be dependent or delinquent. The contents of law enforcement, county agency, mental health, drug and alcohol and education records would be provided upon request to the county agency, court, juvenile probation office and district attorney. These entities are required to use the information in the records to learn about the disposition of a child, especially to see if he or she is at risk of abuse, neglect or has committed more serious delinquent behavior. The agencies listed would enter into agreement for the sharing and transfer of information. The bill now moves to the House.
* * * The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 829, which would amend the “Pennsylvania Climate Change Act” and require the Department of Environmental Protection to deliver the report 18 months after the effective date of the act (January 2010). The bill was also amended to require the Department of Environmental Protection to hold a 60-day public comment period on a draft of the climate change action plan. The department would also prepare a comment and response document for the plan. The measure is now in the House.
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