An update of recent legislative activity by
Pennsylvania House Democrats

April 20, 2007

 

Mann bill creating penalty for
viewing child porn passes House

 

The House has passed a bill introduced by Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, that would make it a crime to view child pornography.

 

The bill (H.B. 35) would make intentionally viewing child pornography illegal under Pennsylvania law. Under current law, only the possession of child pornography is punishable, not merely viewing it.

 

"This bill provides another measure of safety for our children," Mann said. "It also gives the justice system and the police more leverage to prosecute criminals who view these materials and who engage in the exploitation of children."

 

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House passes Petrone's loan forgiveness bill

 

The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Thomas Petrone, D-Allegheny, that would provide student loan forgiveness to mental health and mental retardation staff members and substance abuse addiction counselors.

 

The bill (H.B. 282) would provide forgiveness of up to $5,000 per year and $20,000 total per person on qualified student loans.

 

"My loan forgiveness bill would help to ensure we continue recruiting the best and the brightest into this demanding and often under-recognized field," Petrone said. "I am pleased that my colleagues in the House agree that these talented people deserve to be rewarded for the hard work they do each and every day."

 

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Costa commercial driver's license bill
headed for House vote

 

The House Transportation Committee has approved and sent legislation introduced by Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, to the full House for consideration.

 

House Bill 347 would require the state Department of Transportation to waive the skills test for a commercial driver's license applicant who is an active or reserve member of the armed forces and holds a valid Class 2, 3 or 4 driver's license issued by any of the military branches.

 

"Members of the U.S. Armed Forces who already meet qualification standards and apply for a commercial driver's license should receive one without having to go through unnecessary formalities," Costa said. "My goal is to provide these men and women with a smooth transition from the military into professional life."

 

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Surra mandatory overtime bill sent to full House

 

Nurses and other health-care workers that provide patient care could no longer be routinely required to work beyond their normal shift under legislation approved by the House Labor Relations Committee and sent to the full House.

 

The legislation (H.B. 834), introduced by Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, would allow hospitals to require overtime for health-care workers in emergencies, and nurses and other health-care workers would still be permitted to volunteer for overtime, but the use of mandatory overtime as a routine staffing strategy in hospitals would no longer be permitted.

 

"Forcing nurses to work as much as 16 hours a day and up to 80 hours a week - in some cases double shifts with little or no warning - is not fair to nurses or their families and compromises quality patient care," Surra said. "In addition, it's costing our health-care system skilled and experienced health-care professionals as nurses continue to burn out and leave the profession."

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Readshaw joins Pa. Farm Bureau
call for landowner liability fix

 

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is calling for prompt passage of legislation (H.B. 13) introduced by Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, that would strengthen protection from liability for landowners who allow the public to use their property for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and snowmobiling.

 

The proposal sponsored by Readshaw would remove landowners from liability for the safety of the people they allow to use their property for lawful recreational activities and from responsibility for accidents caused by people utilizing their property.  

 

"The sale of sporting goods to anglers and hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts is a business that is important to many jobs in Pennsylvania," Readshaw said. "We need to see the legislature act on my bill and other bills addressing landowner liability before the fall, or a lot of Pennsylvania hunters are going to find themselves staring at posted signs on property where they have hunted for years, even generations."

 

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Bishop legislation would allow
dental hygienists to help more patients

 

Rep. Louise Williams Bishop, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would allow dental hygienists in the state to provide routine, preventive dental service to underserved people.

 

Bishop's measure (H.B. 914) would target specific groups of dental patients in facilities such as personal care homes, correctional facilities, public health-care agencies, hospitals and schools.

 

"State law needs to be changed to allow hygienists to work in public facilities without the authorization or supervision of a dentist," Bishop said. "My bill would help people who can't afford to visit a dentist for preventive dental care."

 

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Dermody, Kula introduce bills to address consumer protection and privacy

 

Reps. Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, and Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, have introduced legislation that would address consumer protection issues regarding the use of on-the-go payment and other systems utilizing radio frequency identification.

 

House Bill 992, introduced by Dermody, would address this issue by criminalizing the unauthorized remote reading of personal data using RFID technology.

 

"Anyone carrying a credit card or passport containing an RFID chip runs the risk of broadcasting their identity," Dermody said. "Advocates of the technology claim that the chip must be within a few centimeters of the reader, but with advanced technology I am concerned that this range will only increase, allowing hackers and thieves to steal your personal information from a greater distance."     

 

House Bill 993, introduced by Kula, would require companies to inform consumers if RFID tags are used in their products and to let them know if RFID readers are in use in an area.

 

"Consumers should be made aware if these devices are in their clothing or any other product they buy," Kula said. "The potential for companies to develop a network of RFID databases that could constantly read and track someone's movements and purchases is something right out of a science-fiction novel. This information could be passed along from company to company to keep track of the activities and behaviors of unsuspecting consumers."

 

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Casorio bill aimed at helping children ravaged by meth manufacture and use

 

A special state task force to develop and coordinate state and local agency response to children whose lives are impacted by the illegal production and use of methamphetamine would be created under legislation reintroduced by Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland.

 

The bill (H.B. 994) would create a state task force on drug-endangered children. The task force would be chaired by the state secretary of Health and would include the secretaries of Education, Public Welfare and Environmental Protection, the state police commissioner, the state's crime victim advocate, and representatives from local agencies that provide services to drug-endangered children.

 

"We have an entire generation of children in Pennsylvania whose lives are at risk of being destroyed by methamphetamine, not because they themselves are using, but because they are surrounded on a constant basis by adults who are manufacturing and using this dangerous drug," Casorio said. "The health and safety issues this presents for children are too numerous to count, and we need to make sure that they are receiving the support and care they need for a healthy future."

 

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Allentown City Delegation
introduces bills to protect students

 

Reps. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, Steve Samuelson, D-Lehigh/Northampton, Joe Brennan, D-Lehigh/Northampton, and other members of the Allentown City Delegation in the state legislature unveiled a package of bills they are introducing that would help make Pennsylvania's schools safer for children.

 

The bills would strengthen memorandums of understanding -- agreements between schools and law enforcement agencies that set procedures to be followed after a criminal incident (H.B. 1055); expand the Office of the Safe School Advocate, which currently operates only in Philadelphia, to schools districts in smaller cities like Allentown (H.B.  1077); and require the transfer of students' disciplinary records when they move to a new school (H.B. 1067).

 

"We have been reviewing the current requirements under the 'Safe Schools' section of the state School Code to determine what kind of procedures would be necessary to prevent these crimes from being repeated and to establish penalties that would be enforced if the procedures were not followed," Mann said.

 

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Cohen introduces plan to keep EMT workers saving lives

 

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced a bill aimed at keeping emergency medical technicians who are returning from military service on the job.

 

The bill (H.B. 1062) would permit EMTs whose certification has lapsed while they are serving in the military to continue to work as EMTs when they return until the next recertification test is offered.

 

"EMTs play a critical role in emergency situations, in treating injuries and potentially saving lives," Cohen said. "It seems counterproductive to keep service members from performing their job once they return to civilian life. Denying these EMTs the ability to return to the job also puts lives in the community at risk."

 

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Solobay introduces a pair of bills to protect a woman's right to breastfeed

 

Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, has introduced legislation that would prevent local governments from adopting ordinances that ban breastfeeding in public. House Bill 1072 also would stipulate that breastfeeding is not a criminal offense and could not be considered indecent exposure, obscene, sexual conduct or a nuisance.

 

Another bill would protect the rights of nursing mothers in the workplace. House Bill 1073 would prohibit any employer from firing, withholding pay, demoting, refusing to hire or otherwise discriminating against a lactating woman should she breastfeed or express breast milk at the workplace. This measure also would bar employers from prohibiting an employee from expressing breast milk during any break period required by law.

 

"We know that in most circumstances breast milk is healthier for babies, and moms should be allowed to feed their babies the best food possible without being harassed or made to feel uncomfortable," Solobay said.

 

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Shapiro bill would help Pa. attract and keep doctors

 

Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, has introduced legislation that would strengthen Pennsylvania's health-care system by encouraging more doctors to practice medicine in the Commonwealth. 

 

Shapiro's proposal (H.B. 1093), which has 23 co-sponsors, would create a medical school loan forgiveness program for doctors who promise to practice in Pennsylvania for 10 years.   

"We already have world-class medical schools that attract top medical school students to Pennsylvania," Shapiro explained. "The problem is, because of a variety of factors, those students leave Pennsylvania when they graduate med school. My legislation creates incentives to keep those doctors in Pennsylvania to practice and care for our citizens."   

 

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Grucela bill would establish adoption reporting system

 

Rep. Rich Grucela, D-Northampton, has introduced legislation that would establish a data collection and reporting system for all adoptions in Pennsylvania.

 

The measure (H.B. 1102) would require courts in each county to forward certain non-identifying information to the Department of Health on a monthly basis. The information would enable the state to specify the number of adoptions and types of adoptions finalized annually and reveal trends and issues in adoption practices. 

 

"The information would provide greater insight on the needs of the children and their families so they are given the support they require, and placed in loving, compassionate homes," Grucela said. "If we have a clear picture as to what groups of children struggle the most, programs can be adapted to reflect their individual needs."

 

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Curry introduces bill to set hemophilia standards of care

 

Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., has introduced legislation that would set a standard of care for Pennsylvanians with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

 

The legislation (H.B. 1105) would preserve access to the following services essential to the well-being of people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders: medical services provided by the eight state-recognized hemophilia programs; the clinical coagulation laboratories associated with the eight state-recognized programs; all blood clotting products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; full-service home care pharmacies and home support services; and mandatory medical screenings for bleeding disorders for women prior to undergoing certain surgical procedures.

 

"This legislation is not only what hemophilia patients want -- it is what they need," Curry said. "This legislation would give Pennsylvanians with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders peace of mind by maintaining access to the excellent care they receive through our state-recognized hemophilia programs."

 

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Wansacz bill would eliminate reimbursement disparity for nursing homes

 

Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, has introduced legislation (H.B. 1124) that would balance reimbursement rates for nursing homes across Pennsylvania.

 

Current regulation provides reimbursements based on facilities' peer group designation, which is determined by its geographic location and bed complement. The designation provides larger reimbursement amounts for facilities in urban areas. However, no provision is made for facilities that are not located in an urban area but are in close proximity to one and typically have similar costs.

 

"This legislation aims to level the reimbursement playing field for our state's nursing homes," Wansacz said. "Nursing homes with similar bed complements that endure the same operational costs deserve to receive similar reimbursements, even if one is technically in a location not designated as an urban area but competes with an urban area for employees."

 

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Payton bill would draw young people into legislative process

Rep. Tony Payton, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would create a commission encouraging Pennsylvania's youth to become active, involved and, most importantly, heard in the legislative process.

 

The legislation (H.B. 1127) would establish a Pennsylvania Youth Commission consisting of 10 regions across the Commonwealth. Five youths from each region would be selected and charged with the responsibility of compiling the ideas, concerns and issues facing the young people of their region. One of the youths, elected by his or her peers, would be given the opportunity to annually address a session of both the House and Senate to relate the findings of the commission. 

 

"I pledged to voters last November that if elected, I would create a youth commission to provide leadership opportunities for our young people," Payton said. "A commission like the PYC would provide structure and organization, as well as a voice to the legislature, for our young people, and let them know that we do recognize them and that their ideas and concerns are important."

 

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Caltagirone introduces tax credit proposal for small-business hiring

 

Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, will introduce legislation that would provide a state tax credit to small businesses that hire new or laid-off employees for full-time positions.

 

The credit would be available to businesses that have 50 or fewer employees and would be limited to the amount of the salaries paid to the full-time hires.

 

"This is a win-win situation -- small businesses across the state would be rewarded for helping our unemployed gain full-time jobs," Caltagirone said.

 

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Caltagirone wants to honor former House speaker

 

Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, said he wants to honor the accomplishments of the Commonwealth's first Italian-American speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, former Rep. James J. Manderino.

 

Caltagirone will introduce legislation that would designate the state's Keystone Building, which houses the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a number of other state agencies and offices in Harrisburg, as the Speaker James J. Manderino Office Building.

 

"James Manderino was a kind and approachable person, but he also had a toughness to his personality. He did whatever it took to solve a problem. This building designation would be a fitting tribute to his tremendous accomplishments of service and skill," Caltagirone said.

 

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Caltagirone seeks to restore neglected cemeteries

 

Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, will introduce legislation to establish a State Cemetery Relief Fund.

 

The relief fund would be created and paid for with a $1 fee on birth and death certificates. The money in the fund would be used for the restoration and refurbishment of neglected and abandoned cemeteries.

 

"It is important to preserve the history and legacy of all cemeteries," Caltagirone said. "They are a part of history; they help us to remember important events and appreciate what our ancestors lived through."

 

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Lentz to introduce bill strengthening public's right to know

 

Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, will introduce a bill that would shed more light on how public officials conduct business and make decisions on taxpayers' behalf.

 

Under Lentz's proposed legislation, the Sunshine Act, or the open meetings law, would be revised to strengthen criminal penalties, add civil and administrative enforcement tools, and treat intentional misrepresentations and intentional failures to disclose information more harshly.

 

"The Sunshine Act is useless if it is not enforced and, too often, violations of the law go unchecked because the public has no idea that a meeting ever took place," Lentz said. "This legislation would send a strong message that ignoring the public's right to be informed, particularly intentional efforts to conceal, will not be acceptable anymore."

 

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Wagner, Smith unveil strategic investment in biomedical research

 

Pennsylvania's biomedical capacity would be greatly enhanced by a proposal unveiled recently by Reps. Matt Smith and Chelsa Wagner, both D-Allegheny. The pair was joined by Gov. Ed Rendell to announce they will introduce legislation to establish the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, named in honor of the renowned innovator who developed the polio vaccine. The fund would provide a major infusion of funding into research, commercialization and health-venture investments.

 

The Salk Fund would directly support the advancement of Pennsylvania's capacity in biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and research and development. Grants would focus on capital investments in facilities and research infrastructure, as well as provide specialized equipment for newly recruited faculty to convert and upgrade research facilities in universities and colleges across the state.

 

"By expanding our state-of-the-art research facilities and jobs, we would make Pennsylvania an irresistible destination for cutting-edge bioscience and pharmaceutical companies that bring good jobs," Wagner said. "The research funded through this investment could lead to the next great medical breakthrough that will save lives and enhance our ability to provide a higher quality of life for everyone."

 

"The Jonas Salk Legacy Fund would provide up to $500 million in state funding over the next two years at no cost to taxpayers," Smith said. "Each dollar would be matched by grant recipients, resulting in $1 billion to accelerate the rate of medical breakthroughs and create thousands of high-paying jobs."

 

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Seip to introduce bill to allow local property tax, rent rebates

 

Rep. Tim Seip, D-Berks/Schuylkill, soon will introduce legislation to allow school boards and local governments to offer property tax and rent rebates to senior citizens and widowers or widows 50 or older, as the state already does.

 

The rebates would be up to $650 and would carry the same eligibility requirements as the state program - a person would have to be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or a permanently disabled person 18 or older. The household income limit would be $15,000 for renters or $35,000 for homeowners.

 

"This initiative would help many homeowners on fixed or limited incomes, who are often at the highest risk of losing their family homes due to property taxes. This would also give counties, school boards, cities, boroughs and townships an important tool to provide property tax relief," Seip said.

 

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