An update of recent legislative activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats

Feb. 15, 2008

SIGNED INTO LAW

Legislature completes work on open records measure

State government records are more open to the public than ever before thanks to legislation (S.B. 1) passed this week by the House and Senate. The legislation, which includes major provisions first introduced by Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, was signed into law by the governor.

"I am very proud of this legislation because it represents months of deliberation and input from all groups concerned about open records," Mahoney said. "The people of Pennsylvania will no longer be stonewalled when they attempt to access public records. This legislation represents a new atmosphere of openness and transparency." 

The legislation makes four significant changes to the state's Right-to-Know Law: the government must now prove why a document should not be available to the public; for the first time, the legislature is included in the law; the law specifies that financial accountability applies to all three branches of government; and a state Office of Open Records is to be created to assist residents seeking public records and create a uniform appeals process for people who are denied access to records.

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PASSED THE HOUSE

Energy conservation measure heads to Senate 

The House has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-Clearfield, chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, that would reduce energy use and costs in Pennsylvania and require utilities to implement energy-efficiency measures. The legislation (H.B. 2200) includes a requirement that energy companies would have to equip all consumers with "smart meters" to enable them to monitor their energy use and adjust their use to price changes.

“House Bill 2200 would require utilities to reduce overall output by 2.5 percent, and peak demand – when energy prices are at their highest – by 4 percent,” George said. “It also would direct the Public Utility Commission to change the dynamic so that utilities promoting energy conservation are rewarded rather than punished.”

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House passes two Seip health-care reform bills

Rep. Tim Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks, this week won unanimous House passage of two bills he introduced to make health care more accessible and affordable in Pennsylvania. Seip's bills (H.B.s 1999 and 2051) would further expand the allowable scope of practice for physician assistants. The two bills would allow physician assistants in Pennsylvania to perform several new tasks, such as ordering durable medical equipment for patients and ordering referrals to physical therapy, respiratory and occupational therapy and dietitians. The legislation mirrors a recently passed law that gave the same abilities to certified registered nurse practitioners.

"As a licensed health-care professional myself, I'm very pleased to be able to have a positive impact on our health-care system. These bills could save time and money for many patients," said Seip, a longtime social worker who serves as secretary of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

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House passes Pashinski dental assistants bill

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill he introduced that would enhance the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants and provide certification for dental assistants. Pashinski's legislation (H.B. 1257) would allow the State Board of Dentistry to certify dental assistants. To become certified, dental assistants would be required to complete 3,500 hours of training under a dentist's supervision, possess a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and pass an examination. Once certified, a dental assistant would be able to perform fluoride treatments and take impressions of teeth for athletic appliances.

"I am continually working to improve our health-care system and provide access to quality care for all Pennsylvanians," Pashinski said. "My legislation would expand the duties of dental assistants so they could not only assist licensed dentists but also perform services on their own, such as polishing teeth and providing fluoride treatment to patients. This would make these services available to many more children and adults."

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House passes Curry SIDS prevention bill

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexpected death of infants passed the state House this week by a 201-0 vote. House Bill 1752 would call for the establishment of an education and public awareness program by the state Department of Health to inform parents about risk factors associated with SIDS and SUDI, as well as safe sleeping practices for newborns and infants.

“SIDS is a tragedy that cuts across all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups, although statistics show that African-American and Native-American babies are more likely to be at risk,” Curry noted. “The purpose of this legislation is to reduce the incidence of these tragedies through a concerted program of public awareness and education for parents.”

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COMMITTEE ACTION

Committee approves bill to end insurance payments for hospital errors

The House Insurance Committee has approved legislation introduced by Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, that would allow insurance companies to refuse payment to hospitals for the cost of medical infections and errors that occur at their facilities. DeLuca, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, said his bill (H.B. 2098) would give Pennsylvania health insurers the right to refuse to pay bills for procedures correcting conditions that hospitals should have prevented in the first place.

"My bill would force hospitals to take the extra measures needed to reduce patient infections and medical errors because insurers would no longer pay for these costs," DeLuca said. "In addition, by saving insurance companies the cost of hospital mistakes, the legislation would reduce insurance premium costs for subscribers."

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Josephs' casino buffer proposal moves out of House committee 

Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., announced that the House State Government Committee has reported out a bill that would protect Philadelphia's neighborhoods from the traffic, crowds and noise of casinos -- both now and in the future. The legislation (H.B. 14) as originally introduced would allow municipalities to place a binding ballot question before voters to approve or deny the expansion of gaming within their neighborhood. Josephs was able to amend the legislation with her bill (H.B. 1477), so that it also would require a 1,500-foot buffer zone to be placed between schools, churches and playgrounds and casinos.

"I am very pleased that I was able to secure approval of this legislation," said Josephs, chairwoman of the committee. "This is a very important bill in that it not only protects residents from future gaming expansion by allowing voters to decide in a binding ballot question, it also protects residents now by requiring a buffer zone between the current proposed casino locations and schools, places of worship and playgrounds."

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BILL INTRODUCTIONS

Conklin seeking performance audit of Pa. Turnpike Commission

State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, will introduce a resolution requesting Pennsylvania's auditor general to conduct a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The resolution would ask the auditor general to include recommendations on appropriate staffing levels, wages and salaries. Also, the resolution would call for recommendations on how to ensure each region of Pennsylvania is represented on the turnpike commission's appointed and non-appointed staffs.

"Act 44 gave the turnpike commission the authority to maintain highways, roads and bridges in all regions of Pennsylvania, and it is important that they have the resources and ability to carry through with these added responsibilities," Conklin said. "This audit, which I believe should be conducted within the next six months, is necessary so that an undue burden is not placed on the taxpayers of this Commonwealth."

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Smith calls for reduction in funding for General Assembly

Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, held a Capitol news conference this week to call for a 20 percent reduction in the funding allocation for the General Assembly in the 2008-09 state budget. According to the Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform, the cost to operate the General Assembly is about $23 per Pennsylvania taxpayer. A 20 percent reduction in the General Assembly budget would result in a savings of approximately $62 million based on the 2007-08 appropriation for the legislature.

“In my first term as a representative, I am looking for ways to reduce government spending in a responsible way that still allows the legislature to effectively serve the general public,” Smith said. “I believe that we can absorb a 20 percent reduction in funding and still meet the needs of the people we represent."