| The Legislative Week in Review |
An
update of recent legislative activity by June 29, 2007
SIGNED INTO LAW
Lentz bill renewing first responder grant program signed by governor
"This grant program allows volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel to concentrate more on saving lives and less on time-consuming fund raisers for equipment and training they need," Lentz said. "Renewing the program automatically for five years will provide security to the volunteers who rely on the grant money for operating needs, and give communities peace of mind that should an emergency arise, their first responders will be there."
PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE
Bill to help hunters keep access to private property goes to governor
"It's critical that this bill becomes law well before the start of hunting season so property owners don't post 'no hunting' signs to avoid lawsuits," Readshaw said. "With the continuing bipartisan support that this bill has gotten, we're now just one stroke of the pen away from giving landowners the protection they need and ensuring that there will be plenty of land open to hunters."
PASSED THE HOUSE
House Democratic proposal would fix roads, bridges and transit
"We have more than a quarter-million miles of roads that need to be maintained, more than 6,000 bridges that are in need of immediate repair and transit systems that are facing collapse. The time to act was long overdue," said Majority Whip Keith McCall, D-Carbon. "The plan that passed the House today provides a stable funding source that will give us the tools we need to keep our economy moving by improving our transportation system and makes getting from point 'A' to point 'B' as easy and safe as possible."
"Every year our transit systems, from the smallest in the rural counties to the giants of the cities, had to struggle with an unpredictable, untenable and unmanageable funding plan," said Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington. "This plan, shepherded through the legislature by Keith McCall and Transportation Committee Chairman Joe Markosek, gets the job done for a better future for every county in our Commonwealth."
"We want Pennsylvanians to know we are serious about this problem," said House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland. "There is absolutely no way we can stay on this current path of neglect. After 10 years of inaction, this plan would fix the state's crumbling transportation and transit infrastructure at a reasonable cost and with maximum benefit to Pennsylvanians. We can't afford to 'spin our wheels' anymore on this issue," Markosek added. "The longer we wait, the more expensive this will be to fix."
Liquor legislation introduced by Waters passes House
"I'm glad to see this legislation endorsed by my fellow members of the House," Waters said. "It is one more step in the battle to ensure that alcohol is responsibly served and kept out of the hands of minors and people who are already visibly intoxicated."
House passes Leach's 'green' schools bill
"The original point of the current law was to prevent school districts from building huge structures," Leach said. "However, it also prevents constructing environmentally friendly schools. Schools built according to these environmental standards are much more energy-efficient, reduce pollution and are significantly cheaper to operate in the long run."
House passes Taylor long-term care bill
"We will all be touched by the need for home or nursing care at some point in our lives, be it for grandparents, parents or ourselves," said Taylor. "This legislation offers Pennsylvanians the tools they need to plan for the future, protect assets they hope to leave behind and reduce their dependence on medical assistance."
Bennington reform measure clears House
"Posting statutes online is a fundamental part of reform," Bennington said. "Clearing the path of obstacles for the public to explore and examine our state's laws should be at the foundation of the movement. I'm glad my House colleagues saw the importance of this bill and voted in support of it."
Shapiro bill to attract, keep doctors in Pa. passes House
"The growing demand for health care in the Commonwealth, coupled with a large number of physicians who will be retiring in the next decade, leaves us facing a crisis that needs to be addressed now," Shapiro said. "The shortage of doctors is especially acute with primary care doctors and those in obstetrics/gynecology. Providing incentives for doctors to practice in Pennsylvania is vital to our health-care system."
House passes legislation permitting gift vouchers for hunting licenses
"I'm an avid outdoorsman myself, so I know firsthand how a program like this could provide parents and grandparents throughout Pennsylvania with a new way to share this pastime with their children and grandchildren," Kortz said.
Ramaley bill setting penalties for impersonating professionals passes House
"People seek guidance from licensed professionals, often involving sensitive personal, medical or financial information. They deserve to know the person with whom they are speaking is truly the holder of that license," Ramaley said. "Moreover, licensed professionals deserve to have their years of education and hard work in their field of expertise protected from individuals who prey on innocent consumers."
Wagner/Smith biomedical proposal approved by House
Pennsylvania's biomedical industry stands to take a leap forward thanks to a proposal passed by the state House this week. The legislation (H.B. 1142), introduced by Reps. Chelsa Wagner, D-Allegheny, and Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, would establish and fund a Jonas Salk Legacy Fund to advance Pennsylvania's capacity in biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and research and development. Grants from the fund would help to create about 12,000 high-quality, research-related and support jobs and produce $24 million in tax revenues for the state. Salk grants would target capital investments in facilities and research infrastructure, as well as provide specialized equipment for newly recruited faculty to convert and upgrade biomedical and pharmaceutical research facilities in universities and colleges in Pennsylvania.
"Some day in the near future, the lives of our families, friends and neighbors will benefit from the wise decision made today by my fellow lawmakers," Wagner said. "This is a landmark piece of legislation that has the potential to truly change not only the quality of health care here and abroad, but also to greatly bolster our position in an ever -growing sector of the national economy at no cost to taxpayers."
"While this proposal is about economic growth and development, when it comes right down to it, it is also about medical research that will impact lives for many generations to come," Smith said. "For the sake of those who follow us, we cannot afford to let this opportunity pass us by, and I encourage my friends in the Senate to move this proposal forward."
Hornaman energy independence legislation passed by House
"Alternative energy from renewable sources is our future," Hornaman said. "By making Pennsylvania a leader in both the production and use of alternative energy, we'll give consumers more choice, reduce costs by $1 billion a year and attract new industry and 35,000 new jobs to our state."
Readshaw physician assistant bill heads to the Senate
"These changes would be especially beneficial in emergency rooms by helping to free up doctors from less urgent cases so that they can concentrate on patients in need of more complex care," Readshaw said. "When emergency physicians have to deal with non-emergencies like sore throats and small cuts, sprains and splinters, it adversely impacts the ability hospitals to handle treat other patients and increases costs for medical insurers, hospitals and taxpayers."
Gibbons' bill to certify clinical nurse specialists in Pa. sent to Senate
My bill and others will ensure that all health-care professionals are able to practice to the full extent of their training," Gibbons said. "This will open up access to routine health care for many more Pennsylvanians, cut down on emergency room visits for routine care, and save our health-care system and patients' money."
House passes Waters bill to expand midwives' scope of practice
"Nurse midwives have already been trained to prescribe these medications," Waters said. "My bill simply changes an outdated law to let them practice to the full extent of their training and ability. There's no reason why nurse midwives shouldn't be able to prescribe medications. It's an unnecessary limit that only serves to restrict access to health care."
House OKs Longietti bill extending health coverage to young adults
"Currently, there are more than 1 million Pennsylvanians without health insurance, yet a majority of them have full-time jobs or are still seeking some form of higher education," Longietti said. "The cost of insuring these citizens is placed on the backs of those who do have health insurance, with about 6 percent of their premium paying for health care for those who have none. That costs Pennsylvanians about $1.4 billion a year."
APPROVED IN COMMITTEE
Dermody measure aimed at preventing child abuse fatalities
"We must take every step possible to learn from each tragic and senseless child death and near fatality in order to identify ways to improve our practices and services and prevent future tragedies," Dermody said. "My proposal would publicly reveal the strengths and weaknesses in our systems to better protect children from abuse-related fatalities and injuries."
House to consider Darfur divestiture bill
"Targeted divestment is an effective way of showing that Pennsylvania will not support genocide," Josephs said. "It can help bring an end to the atrocities in Darfur by placing much-needed economic pressure on the Sudanese government."
BILL INTRODUCTIONS
Cruz introduces pilot gun-tracking program for Philadelphia
"Gun violence is an epidemic in Philadelphia and we need to establish strict and strong policies that will stem the tide of violence in our communities," Cruz said. "If we could establish a significant gun registry system for the city, we could track illegal guns and discourage people from selling them for illegal purposes."
Wagner bill would overhaul Port Authority board
"Analysis by the Allegheny Institute and a state audit confirm what has become painfully obvious through years of PAT mismanagement," Wagner said. "With no state representation on the Port Authority board, there has been inadequate protection for the millions of taxpayer dollars provided each year. A state presence could have prevented many of the authority's irresponsible actions that have exacerbated its funding shortfalls."
Vitali introduces cyber charter schools bill
"My bill would give school districts an option for reducing costs to taxpayers and increasing accountability for the education that takes place in cyber charter schools," Vitali said. "Right now, school districts are forced to fund these online schools at a level far above their actual cost, and have limited ability to ensure they are meeting the educational needs of the students enrolled in them."
Grucela to introduce Link-to-Learn legislation
"Link-to-Learn would provide students who do not attend public schools with some of the benefits our students in the public system already receive," Grucela said. "It's about giving every opportunity to all of Pennsylvania's children because they are the leaders of the future."
Levdansky bill would streamline local tax collection
"Municipalities and school districts lose an estimated $237 million of uncollected earned income tax revenue each year because of complex and cumbersome practices and a lack of statewide standards," Levdansky said. "That is not being fiscally responsible and it is unfair to taxpayers."
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