An update of recent legislative activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats

June 20, 2008

PASSED THE HOUSE

Bill to prevent child abuse deaths and severe injuries approved by House

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at preventing child deaths and serious injuries caused by child abuse. Senate Bill 1147, which includes a proposal by Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, would require the state Department of Public Welfare to review and report on each case of child fatality or serious injury resulting from child abuse. It also would create uniform standards for county children and youth agencies in responding to, reviewing and reporting on child fatalities or near fatalities resulting from child abuse. Current law does not provide specific guidelines for the review and reporting of child fatalities and near fatalities resulting from abuse.

"Today's passage marks an important step forward in child abuse prevention," Dermody said. "This bill would help the agencies and communities to better protect children from tragic and fatal consequences caused by neglect and abuse. Through local and state agency collaboration, we can improve our capacity to reduce the number of young lives lost or seriously injured by child abuse."

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Freeman bill would allow housing authorities to establish police forces

A bill (H.B. 1674) that would allow public housing authorities to form police forces unanimously passed the state House this week, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton. Under the bill, housing authorities would be permitted to create police forces to patrol public housing projects. These officers would be required to complete the same course of instruction and accreditation as is required for municipal police officers under state law. Funding would come from public housing authority budgets for their own forces.

"Under current law, only housing authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been allowed to form police forces," Freeman said. "Smaller cities and other municipalities across Pennsylvania have the same problems with crime. By allowing public housing authorities in these communities to form police forces, we would be able to add more police officers to help in the effort to combat crime."

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COMMITTEE ACTION

Kirkland's education empowerment funding bill heads to floor 

Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, said an education funding bill he introduced has been approved by the state House Education Committee. Kirkland said his legislation (H.B. 2475) would provide up to $4.5 million in additional funding during 2008-09 to assist Chester-Upland School District, which is certified by the state as an education empowerment district.

"We must continue to support Chester-Upland with an adequate level of school funding for our children's future, "Kirkland said."Our children deserve a chance to succeed in school regardless of the economic conditions of our community and school district."

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Seip proposal to expand job creation tax credit wins committees' OK

Rep. Tim Seip's proposal to expand Pennsylvania's Job Creation Tax Credit has won approval from two House committees. Seip's legislation was approved as part of a broader tax-credit and economic-development bill (H.B. 2250). That bill was approved by the House Finance Committee, on which Seip serves, and the House Rules Committee. It is currently in the House Appropriations Committee, which is expected to send it to the full House after producing a required fiscal-impact estimate for the bill.

"My legislation would promote greater investment in business projects across Pennsylvania by immediately increasing this tax credit from $1,000 to $3,000 for each eligible job created," said Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks. "This would build on the economic stimulus package the General Assembly passed in 2004."

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Consumer advocate for health insurance bill voted out of House Insurance Committee

Rep. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne, said a bill he sponsored that would establish an Office of Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance in Pennsylvania to help protect the rights of consumers in insurance-related matters was voted out of the House Insurance Committee today. House Bill 1121 would establish the office as an independent organization within the Office of Attorney General. The Office of Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance would represent consumers’ interests on any health insurance matter before the state Department of Insurance or any other state agency or court. The advocate also would be responsible for identifying and tracking trends in the health insurance industry, recommending consumer protections, responding to consumer complaints and educating state residents about health insurance issues and practices.

"As the cost of health care increases, it’s more important than ever to have an agency to field complaints and work for fair coverage for consumers," Yudichak said. "This office can look into whether insurance companies are justified in raising their premiums and help save consumers money."

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Bishop independent living program bill approved by House committee

Rep. Louise Bishop, D-Phila., said the House Children and Youth Committee has approved her bill that would require children and youth agencies to demonstrate that young adults are prepared to successfully live on their own before they are released from the foster care system. Bishop said the legislation (H.B. 2582) would create the opportunity for young adults to receive trial discharges from foster care to become independent. It would also allow adults under 21 to petition to re-enter the child welfare system if they find they cannot successfully live on their own. 

"Each year, many of our young adults leave the child foster care system without permanent family connections and attempt to live independently, but just aren’t ready to be on their own," Bishop said. "My bill would ensure our young adults have the care they need and a place to live until they are truly ready for life on their own."

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Youngblood's proposal to improve inspections of day-care homes approved by House committee

The state House Children and Youth Committee this week approved a measure introduced by Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila., that would improve the state's inspection process for family day-care homes. Youngblood said the committee's action moves Pennsylvania a step closer to reforming the inspection process for these child care facilities. The legislation (H.B. 2485) would require the state Department of Public Welfare to inspect family day-care homes at least once every two years. She said existing law limits the inspection process by only permitting DPW to inspect these facilities on a random sample basis, when there is a complaint issued or at the request of the day-care home.

"I am pleased that the committee endorsed this proposal to further protect our children from potentially dangerous situations," Youngblood said. "Only around 15 percent of the 4,200 registered family day-care homes are inspected each year, leaving more than two-thirds unchecked. It is important to the safety of our state's children that we improve upon the inspection requirements and oversight of family day-care facilities."

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House committee advances McGeehan homeowner insurance protection bill

The state House Insurance Committee has voted to send to the full House for consideration a measure long championed by Rep. Mike McGeehan, D-Phila., that would keep insurance companies from refusing a homeowner's insurance renewal because a nearby property is vacant. The McGeehan bill (H.B. 2490) would declare the refusal to issue or renew insurance on real property because of a vacancy in adjoining property as an unfair and deceptive insurance practice.

"For too long, we have watched our neighborhoods deteriorate to the point of abandonment," McGeehan said. "Challenges continue to pile on urban dwellers such as increased costs, crime and unemployment. It is time we protect those homeowners who are determined to live in our urban communities despite the blight that plagues them."

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Committee advances bill to streamline fragmented tax collection process

The House Finance Committee voted to approve a bill this week that would consolidate the collection of the Earned Income Tax and net profits tax from 560 to 69 tax collection districts, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenue. Rep. David Levdansky, chairman of the committee, said the bill (S.B. 1063) would establish 69 tax collection districts and each would be served by one appointed tax officer. In each district, a tax collection committee would be formed by appointed delegates from each municipality and school district and would be responsible for the appointment of a tax collector to collect the Earned Income Tax, also known as the wage tax.

"The current system forces businesses and taxpayers to navigate a time-consuming and confusing process," said Levdansky, D-Allegheny/Washington. "It's a burden to our businesses and residents, and it's also costing municipalities and school districts millions of dollars in uncollected tax revenue. That is not being fiscally responsible and it is unfair to taxpayers. This bill will enact a process by which local taxes will be collected in an efficient and comprehensive manner."

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Hanna bill to reduce runoff into Pa. watersheds voted out of House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, said legislation he sponsored that would establish a program to help meet nutrient reduction mandates and make water sources safer across the Commonwealth has been voted out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The legislation (H.B. 2656) would increase funding for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program, a state tax credit program that allows farmers and businesses to earn credits for implementing nutrient management plans, conservation plans and best management practices to preserve the environment, increase productivity and reduce costs. It would also include supplemental funding for the state Department of Agriculture and the state Conservation Commission to assist municipalities statewide in addressing nutrient reduction issues.

"The problems caused by the runoff of fertilizer and other nutrients into groundwater and streams have to be addressed, but many agricultural producers struggle with the cost of implementing a nutrient reduction plan," Hanna said. "This program would help farmers reduce nutrient runoff while easing any financial burden involved." 

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BILL INTRODUCTIONS

Lawmakers announce housing trust fund and mortgage foreclosure rescue program

Democratic House lawmakers have unveiled legislation aimed at creating both a Pennsylvania Housing Trust Fund and a mortgage foreclosure rescue program. House Bill 2600, sponsored by House Commerce Committee Chairman Peter J. Daley, D-Washington/Fayette, would create a housing trust fund and enable the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to build or rehabilitate and preserve housing for low- to moderate-income people, the elderly, and people with disabilities. House Bill 2602, introduced by Reps. John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike, and W. Curtis Thomas, D- Phila., would establish a foreclosure rescue program to aid in transferring families from unaffordable, adjustable-rate mortgages to fixed-rate mortgages. Rep. Mark Longietti’s bill, H.B. 2601, is a companion bill to H.B. 2602 and would provide $10 million to PHFA to reimburse the agency for losses incurred in assisting homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

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Pallone introduces bill aimed at increasing access to medical care for the uninsured and underinsured

Rep. John Pallone, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, has introduced a bill that would empower county governments and county health departments to create a partnership to facilitate access to health care and address health-care issues for the uninsured and underinsured. House Bill 2625 would establish an Access to Community-based Care and Extended Safety-net Services program in the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It would develop plans to assure low-income people and families have access to a continuum of health-care services on a county basis. It would also help counties and community-based health-care providers establish eligibility criteria for such programs.

"One of the single biggest impediments to good health is a lack of access to care," Pallone said. "But through a coordinated, concerted effort on the part of public officials, health-care providers, community and health activists and others, we can create a new way to improve access to care and raise the overall health status of those who are uninsured and underinsured."

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Bennington amendment to strengthen animal cruelty bill

Rep. Lisa Bennington, D-Allegheny, has introduced an amendment intended to strengthen an animal cruelty bill awaiting a vote in the state House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2532 would require certain types of procedures on dogs, such as debarking, to be performed by a licensed veterinarian. Bennington's proposal would prohibit many current procedures from being performed at all, and would protect animals of all types, such as chickens, turkeys, pigs and cows.

"My amendment attempts to remedy the horrors of factory farming that exist in Pennsylvania every day," Bennington said. "There are certain procedures that are not necessary and are extremely cruel to carry out on any animal, pet or not. I want to see these barbaric practices stopped, and my amendment would ensure that happens."

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Taylor completes package to put more muscle behind Megan's Law 

Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, has completed introduction of his package of legislation that would greatly enhance protection of Pennsylvania children from sexual predators. The eight-bill package of legislation would close the loopholes in state law that allow some offenders to escape registration under Megan's Law; require electronic monitoring of offenders, monitor and restrict the Internet use of offenders if their crime involved the Internet, allow polygraph testing on sexual offenders during their probation or parole; restrict where sexually violent predators can live; and prohibit offenders from maliciously loitering in places where children are

"Our Megan's Law needs a more comprehensive approach to improve it, rather than a piecemeal approach, and my bills would give our children much greater protection from sexual offenders," Taylor said. "The package I'm proposing would give Pennsylvania tools that would be far more comprehensive for tracking child sexual predators, especially those who have recently been released after serving time for their crime."