An update of recent legislative
activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats
Oct. 12, 2007
PASSED BY THE HOUSE
Staback bill to prevent planning commission delays passes state House
Rep. Ed Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne, said legislation he authored to prevent
municipal planning commission delays has passed the state House. House Bill 780
would allow municipal officials to appoint up to three residents to serve as
alternates on local planning boards. The alternates would be asked to attend
meetings in the event a board member is unable to be there for any reason, and
the alternates would have full voting privileges. Those privileges would remain
in place until the specific matter for which they were appointed received a
final decision.
"Municipalities in many parts of the state, especially in rural areas, have
trouble finding residents who can fulfill their commitment as a member of a
local planning board," Staback said. "Something as simple as a scheduling
conflict with one or two members of the planning board can stall projects for
weeks or even months. It makes sense to have someone who's familiar with the
discussions available to step in and attend and vote at these important
meetings."
-- Click here to read more.
House passes McIlvaine Smith personal care home inspection bill
The state House has unanimously passed legislation crafted by state Rep. Barb
McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, that would require the Pennsylvania Department of
Public Welfare to submit annual reports on inspections of personal care homes in
a timely fashion to the legislature. McIlvaine Smith introduced H.B. 1788 after
learning that DPW was behind on inspections of personal care homes.
"This legislation would allow lawmakers to monitor the licensing and
inspection of personal care homes," McIlvaine Smith said. "It keeps the
licensing and inspections on track with mandates of existing law, and would help
to protect vulnerable residents, most of whom are older adults or adults with
serious mental or physical impairments."
-- Click here to read more.
APPROVED IN COMMITTEE
Kortz bill for custodial rights of grandparents approved by House committee
Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, announced that his bill, which would give
grandparents standing to seek custody of a child who is removed from parents or
another guardian, has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee. Kortz's
bill (H.B. 1548) would require courts to give grandparents who
are willing to take custody of a child consideration when the court determines
that temporary or permanent legal custody must be given to someone other than
the child's parents or a current guardian or custodian.
"Currently, state law requires that relatives be considered first in
determining custody of a child," Kortz said. "The intent of my bill is to ensure
that grandparents have standing in that process due to their special
relationship with the child."
-- Click here to read more.
BILL INTRODUCTIONS
Bennington introduces bottle bill that would offer refunds for consumers
Environmental advocate Rep. Lisa Bennington is urging support for her
legislation that would establish a program to help capture the millions of
recyclable containers, including plastic beverage bottles, that make their way
into Pennsylvania landfills. Currently, 86 percent of plastic water
bottles purchased annually in the U.S. are not recycled. Bennington,
D-Allegheny, said her bill (H.B. 1839) would provide a refund for beverage
bottles returned to retail stores or certified redemption centers. According to
the Container Recycling Institute in Washington, D.C., litter and waste have
been significantly reduced in the 11 other states that have similar programs.
"Despite the convenience of curbside recycling, once you leave your home, you
have limited opportunities to recycle," Bennington said. "My bill would remedy
this problem and also help those who do not have curbside recycling make the
'green' choice."
-- Click here to read more.
Kula introduces bill to help Pennsylvanians maintain health-care coverage
Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, will introduce a bill designed to
allow adults in Pennsylvania who are eligible for the state's adultBasic
insurance program to purchase limited-benefit health insurance without
forfeiting their eligibility or surrendering their place on the adultBasic
waiting list. Kula said adultBasic was launched in 2002 to cover the basic
health-care needs of Pennsylvanians age 19 to 64 who have no health insurance.
Applicants must meet certain income guidelines that range from $5,100 to $20,420
for an individual and from $10,200 to $62,180 for a family of seven. Once
eligibility is determined, an applicant is placed on a waiting list.
"Many times, health insurance companies will offer limited-benefit health
insurance coverage to people who earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance
and who also do not have access to group health-care coverage," Kula said. "The
way the current law is written, to be eligible for adultBasic, an individual
cannot be covered by any health insurance plan three months prior to determining
eligibility for the program. This provision forces many individuals to have a
gap in coverage when they could very easily secure limited benefits while
waiting to join adultBasic."
-- Click here to read more.
