Recent legislative activity by PA House Democrats

 March 27, 2009

PASSED THE HOUSE

House passes Longietti bill extending parents' health coverage to older children

The state House of Representatives this week unanimously passed state Rep. Mark Longietti's legislation (H.B. 838) that would extend parents' health insurance coverage to their uninsured children through age 29. The bill would require health insurers to give insured parents or guardians the option of having their coverage extended to include an uninsured child through age 29. The insured person would be able to exercise this option at any time during the term of the policy. Employers would not be required to contribute to any premium increase that resulted, but could agree to do so.

"We must find a way to provide affordable coverage to young adults, both to ensure their health and to protect the overall integrity of Pennsylvania's health-care system," said Longietti, D-Mercer. "My legislation offers a cost-effective way to make sure these young adults have access to health care."

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Melio emergency services bills passed by House

The House has passed two bills sponsored by state Rep. Tony Melio, D-Bucks, that would update Pennsylvania's statewide emergency response system and preserve funding for the state's 911 call centers. One of the bills (H.B. 468) is designed to update and enhance the coordination of emergency and medical services among all systems across the state. Under the legislation, the state Department of Health would oversee programs dealing with training, personnel requirements, communications among emergency services agencies, and public awareness and education. The other bill (H.B. 718) would allow for the continuation of state funding to Pennsylvania's 69 Public Safety Answering Points, or PSAPs. Under current law, a $1 monthly surcharge is placed on wireless telephone customers for 911 services provided throughout the Commonwealth. That provision is set to expire on June 30, 2009. Melio's bill would extend the law until June 30, 2014.

"We're talking about saving people's lives," Melio said. "And we have to have emergency medical systems that are uniform, accessible and readily adaptable to the needs of the public."

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Waters bill requiring alcohol management training passes House

State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Phila./Delaware, said legislation he introduced that would require alcohol management and safety training for managers and certain employees in places that serve or sell alcohol in Pennsylvania was unanimously passed by the state House this week. The legislation ( H.B. 115 ) would require certain employees in restaurants, eating places, hotels, clubs and distributors in Pennsylvania to undergo Responsible Alcohol Management Training, or RAMP. Currently, RAMP is only a voluntary program.

"This legislation will help prevent the sale, furnishing or serving of alcohol to minors and visibly intoxicated people,"Waters said. "It will protect Pennsylvanians and I thank my colleagues for their unanimous approval of the bill."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Waters.

House passes Pashinski dental assistant bill

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said the House of Representatives has passed a bill he introduced that would expand the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants and add an expanded function dental assistant to the Dental Board. The Luzerne County lawmaker said his bill
( H.B. 602 ) is also intended to improve access to dental care for patients by allowing expanded function dental assistants to perform more duties in the dental office. This bill also ensures that expanded function dental assistants are represented on the State Board of Dentistry.

"My bill would expand the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants so they would be able to assist in dental procedures, such as polishing teeth, providing fluoride treatments and taking impressions of teeth for athletic purposes," Pashinski said. "As the law now stands, those procedures are only performed by dentists and hygienists."

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Hanna death certificate privacy bill passes House

State Rep. Mike Hanna D-Clinton/Centre, said the House of Representatives this week passed his bill that would eliminate the use of death certificates, including those of minors, for the purpose of updating county voter records. Under current law, county boards of elections have access to all death certificates, including those of minors, which Hanna said raises confidentiality concerns. His legislation ( H.B. 476 ) would instead require the state Department of Health's Division of Vital Records to send monthly updates to the Department of State for the purpose of updating the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors system.

"It is unnecessary to have the personal information of the deceased, especially that of minors, on the books at county offices to update voter files," Hanna said. "The state's Vital Records database is updated regularly and SURE is efficient. My bill would help keep this sensitive information between two state-run agencies only."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Hanna.

DeLuca insurance refund bill passes House

The state House has passed legislation introduced by Insurance Committee Chairman Tony DeLuca D-Allegheny, that would require individual or group credit life and credit accident and health policy certificates to provide a notice that in event of termination of coverage prior to the original expiration date of the insurance coverage, a debtor may be entitled to a refund of unearned premiums. The bill ( H.B. 526 ) also would require the holder of the underlying debt to notify the insurer of the debt's termination within 60 days, as well as the name of the debtor, the payoff date of the debt, and contact information. An insurance company, if the loan is paid off, must refund any money owed to the debtor unless the refund is less than $5.

"This is a consumer friendly bill," DeLuca said. "It would ensure that more consumers who are due refunds on credit life or credit accident and health policies would receive those refunds in a timely manner."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/DeLuca.

Belfanti resolution calls for recovery funds to help U.S. companies, workers

The state House of Representatives this week approved a resolution offered by Labor Relations Committee Chairman Robert E. Belfanti Jr. that calls on state agencies and other recipients of federal stimulus funding in Pennsylvania to spend the money on products and services made and performed in the United States. The resolution ( H.B. 164 ) calls for any plan that is crafted for investing Pennsylvania's federal stimulus money to include a commitment that the goods and services purchased by Pennsylvania using stimulus funds will be produced or performed by companies located in the United States, whenever possible. It also calls on state agencies to publish any requests they receive to waive domestic procurement priorities so that state residents and consumers can identify and support domestic production if they choose to.

"The stimulus funding that Pennsylvania will receive is ultimately coming from the pockets of American taxpayers," Belfanti said. "Whenever possible, that money should be used to benefit American workers and American companies."

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Wheatley wins House approval for review of state contracting, purchasing

State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, won House approval to establish a select committee to review whether enough is being done to ensure participation in state contracts and purchasing from minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged-owned businesses. The House adopted Wheatley's resolution ( H.B. 78 ) to create the select committee, which will review state contracting from 2000 through 2008. His resolution requires the committee to report its findings and any recommendations within six months. The committee will be made up of four members of the House Democratic majority and three House Republicans.

"Many of these Pennsylvania businesses have expressed concerns that state government is not fully using their services in contracting and procurement activities," Wheatley said. "This review is even more important now that hundreds of millions more dollars will be coming through state government as a result of the federal stimulus package."

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COMMITTEE ACTION

House Democratic leaders fight to protect consumers from electricity rate hikes

The House Consumer Affairs Committee this week held a public hearing on legislation introduced by Speaker Keith McCall , D-Carbon, and House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, that would protect customers of some of the state's biggest electricity generating companies from massive rate hikes when rate caps expire. The legislation, H.B. 20 , would cap rate increases at no more than 15 percent per year for a three-year period, allow customers to choose to pre-pay – and earn 6 percent interest on those payments – to reduce the impact of increased rates, and prohibit power companies from putting the burden of recovering long-term rate recovery costs on the consumer.

"When rate caps expired in Maryland, consumers there saw their monthly bills go up 82 percent, and in Maine those monthly bills went up 100 percent. While Pennsylvania energy companies don't plan such enormous increases, we want to stand up for the consumer before their bills skyrocket," McCall said. "This measure will provide peace of mind to electric customers and give them the power to choose how best to manage these rate hikes for their families."

"In this difficult economy, working families have enough to worry about without having to make the choice about whether to feed their families or pay their electric bill," Eachus said. "House Bill 20 will protect consumers from the potential sticker shock that will come when rate caps expire."

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Smith bill to protect patients at personal care facilities approved by House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee

State Rep. Ken Smith, D-Lackawanna, said the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee has approved legislation that would further protect patients in assisted living and long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. Smith's legislation ( H.B. 56 ) would require employees and administrators at assisted living and long-term care facilities to report any patient neglect cases within 48 hours to protective service agencies, such as area agencies on aging. The Lackawanna legislator said Pennsylvania's current law only requires the reporting of abuse, not neglect.

"My legislation would protect residents of long-term care facilities from suffering because hospital workers would be required to report cases of serious neglect," Smith said.

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Committee holds public hearing on Curry bill to prevent sudden infant deaths

Legislation introduced by State Rep. Lawrence Curry , D-Montgomery/Phila., to help prevent incidents of sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexpected death of infants was the focus of a public hearing by the House Health and Human Services Committee in Harrisburg on March 12. SIDS accounts for nearly 3,000 deaths annually in the U.S., including approximately 100 each year in Pennsylvania. House Bill 47 would establish an education and public awareness program overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to inform parents about risk factors associated with SIDS and SUDI, as well as safe sleeping practices for newborns and infants.

"Sudden, unexpected death of newborn babies ranks as the third most common cause of death among newborns and is only exceeded in the first year of life by congenital malformations and prematurity," Curry said. "By educating new parents about the risks of SIDS and SUDI we can dramatically reduce the number of sudden infant deaths in Pennsylvania."

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Burns legislation to boost parental involvement in schools advances

The House Education Committee unanimously approved legislation ( H.B. 705 ) introduced by state Rep. Frank Burns that would require all school districts in Pennsylvania to establish parent involvement programs, policies and committees. Burns said his legislation would have local school boards identify and provide resources and materials to parents that could be used at home to help improve academic achievement. The bill would also require school districts to set up a districtwide system of communicating with parents, and for allowing parents to communicate with the school district, including making recommendations to the school board.

"I believe that this legislation would help improve our schools and student achievement," said Burns, D-Cambria/Somerset. "Parental involvement is a key aspect of any successful education system. Students who have parents actively involved in their education have better test scores, better grades and improved long-term academic achievement. Parental involvement is also positively associated with higher attendance rates and lower suspension rates."

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Grucela bill would grant high school diplomas to Vietnam veterans

The House Education Committee unanimously reported out a bill this week introduced by state Rep. Richard Grucela , D-Northampton, that would grant high school diplomas to veterans of the Vietnam War. The bill ( H.B. 929 ) would authorize school boards to establish a program known as Operation Recognition for Vietnam veterans. The program has been used in the past for World War II and Korean War veterans.

"There are many men and women who were unable to finish their high school education because they left to serve their country," Grucela said. "They may be leading productive lives now, but I believe we should give to them what they gave up -- a high school diploma. It's a small, but important show of appreciation to all those who sacrificed their education to ensure our freedoms."

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Murphy bill would help military service personnel upon returning home

The state House Labor Relations Committee this week unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Kevin Murphy , D-Lackawanna, that would help active-duty National Guard and U.S. military reservists to obtain job training after they return from service. Murphy's legislation ( H.B. 339 ) would give Pennsylvania National Guard and U.S. military reservists and their eligible spouses preference for training programs under the state's Workforce Development Act for a year after their discharge from active-duty assignment.

"Too often, many of our service members return home only to face financial troubles or job placement challenges," Murphy said. "My bill is aimed at helping service personnel transition back into the workplace more easily and quickly when they come home, and help spouses support their families when necessary."

Bill to guarantee military's right to vote by absentee approved by committee

A bill authored by state Rep. Babette Josephs , D-Phila., that would guarantee the military the right to vote by absentee ballot and allow the legislature to permit more Pennsylvania residents to vote by absentee ballot has been voted out of the House State Government Committee. Currently, the state constitution does not specifically guarantee the right of the military to vote by absentee ballot. The state constitution currently only allows people to vote by absentee ballot if they are away from their residential municipality on the day of the election due to illness or if it is a requirement of their job, if they're observing a religious holiday, or in the event that they are employed by the county and have election-day duties. Josephs' bill ( H.B. 333 ) also would authorize the legislature to provide for more expansive reasons to vote by absentee ballot. Twenty-six states have progressed to what is referred to as "no excuse" absentee ballots.

"Elections are the business of the state and the counties," Josephs said. "The federal government's role is minimal, yet the only reason military personnel have the right to vote absentee is based on federal law. My legislation, among other things, puts that right in the Pennsylvania Constitution. The other important thing my bill does is allow the General Assembly more flexibility to decide which classes of citizens should be allowed to vote absentee. Right now that decision is made difficult because the constitution limits that right. I want to change that."

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Houghton bill would keep drunk drivers off Pa. roads

The House Transportation Committee this week held a hearing on legislation ( H.B. 914 ) proposed by Rep. Tom Houghton , D-Chester, that would require anyone convicted of DUI general impairment for a second time to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. DUI general impairment requires a blood alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.10 percent. An ignition interlock device requires that the driver blow into the device to measure the person's blood alcohol content. If the alcohol driver's blood alcohol content is above a certain level, the car will not start.

"Ignition interlocks are devices attached to a car's ignition system that prevent a person from starting their car if they've been consuming alcohol," Houghton said. "Interlocks simply keep drunk drivers off the road. I believe this legislation is a reasonable and effective measure that could make our roads safer from drunk driving accidents and fatalities."

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Smith proposal would reform Allegheny County retirement fund, save millions

State Rep. Matt Smith , D-Allegheny, has reintroduced legislation that would help the Allegheny County Pension Fund reduce its costs and remain actuarially sound. The proposed Allegheny County Pension Preservation Act was the subject of a House Finance Committee hearing this week in Pittsburgh. Smith told the committee that his proposal ( H.B. 566 ) would reform the county's retirement benefits system and save the county millions of dollars over the next 25 years and beyond.

"These reforms would gradually reduce the retirement system's costs as new employees are hired and current employees retire, allowing the retirement fund to remain sustainable for decades to come," Smith said. "This proposal places the fund on an actuarially sound path and protects our commitment to current plan beneficiaries."

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