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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Edward G. Staback |
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Staback legislation passes state House
Would prevent planning commission delays and better assist in nursing home oversight
HARRISBURG, April 16 – State Rep. Ed Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne, announced today that two pieces of legislation he authored recently passed the state House unanimously.
House Bill 93 prevents municipal planning commission delays by allowing officials to appoint up to three residents to serve as alternates on local planning boards.
"Municipalities in many parts of the state, especially in rural areas, have trouble finding residents who can fulfill their commitment as a member of a local planning board," Staback said. "Something as simple as a scheduling conflict with one or two members of the planning board can stall projects for weeks or even months."
Under his legislation, appointed alternates would be asked to attend meetings in the event a board member is unable to be there for any reason, and the alternates would have full voting privileges. Those privileges would remain in place until the specific matter for which they were appointed has received a final decision.
"It makes sense to have someone who’s familiar with the discussions available to step in and attend and vote at these important meetings," Staback said. "Local statutes require a quorum be present to vote on planning matters. Having a pool of alternates would reduce the potential for backlogs and delays when important projects come up for discussion."
Staback also sponsored H.B. 372, which would amend the Health Care Facilities Act to better assist in long-term nursing home oversight.
This bill would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to initiate investigations of complaints at long-term care nursing facilities within 24 hours if the complaint is a priority complaint or within 48 hours if the complaint is a general complaint.
Staback said priority complaints are those that indicate an urgent situation that has caused or is likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a facility resident.
The legislation clarifies when follow-up inspections of facilities would be required and establishes a clear process for the collection of fines levied against a facility.
"This bill, along with its companion piece, which is still being worked on in the House, addresses the loopholes and inadequacies in the current law, which provides a timeframe for a facility to submit plans for a correction, but does not mandate a timeframe for follow-up inspections," said Staback.
House Bills 93 and 372 were passed unanimously in the House and have been sent to the Senate for consideration.
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