Aging & Youth 2013-2014
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 162, PN 2579 (Benninghoff)- Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in adoption, further providing for definitions and for original birth record. Senator Mensch offered amendment # A09414 which would 1) open a three year window for birth parents to approve or deny a release of information, 2) if three years pass without a denial, the record would be opened 3) requires the Department of Health to create appropriate forms 4) requires birth parents to file medical and social history 5) opens an original birth certificate upon the death of a birth parent. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 9-2. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 9-2.
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday June 10, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 1702, PN 3132 (Ross)-Creates the freestanding Pennsylvania Community Adult Respite Services Act, authorizing the Department of Aging to license, inspect and promulgate regulations for community adult respite service programs. The bill would take effect in 180 days. Amendment # A07473 was offered by Senator Vulakovich which added technical language on consent and appeals. The amendment was unanimously approved. The bill was approved as amended by unanimous vote.
HB 2204, PN 3526 (Simmons)-Amends the Early Intervention Services Act of 1990 to add homeless infants and toddlers to the list of at-risk categories which trigger automatic tracking by early intervention services. Senator Vulakovich offered amendment # A07422 which added the appropriation of $640,000 in the DPW budget. The amendment was unanimously approved. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SR 62, PN 753 (McIlhinney)-Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study new approaches to family work support programs. The resolution was reported as committed by unanimous vote
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 to consider the following
SR 303, PN 1788 (Mensch)-Designating the month of April 2014 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Pennsylvania. The Resolution was reported as committed by unanimous vote.
HB 316, PN 324 (Harhart)-Amends the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, further providing for domestic violence and rape victims services; and providing for children’s advocacy centers. Senator Mensch offered amendment # A05997 which addressed the fee structure and the composition of the Children Advisory Committee. The amendment was adopted by unanimous vote. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
HB 434, PN 2009 (Maloney)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to eliminate the separate reporting requirements of suspect child abuse by school employees. Senator Mensch offered amendment # A05958 which would remove the definition of child-care services, independent contractor, indicated report for school employee, person responsible for the child’s welfare, student, and program, activity or service. This amendment would expand the definition of school to include all grade levels and addresses several technical issues. The amendment was adopted by unanimous vote. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
The Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 777, PN 889 (Grove)-Reinstates the moratorium on including Social Security COLA’s in the definition of “income” for purposes of PACE/PACENET eligibility until December 31, 2015. The moratorium expired on December 31, 2013. The bill was reported as committed by unanimous vote.
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 to consider the following:
HB 433, PN 2008 (Aument)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to overhaul the definition of appeals process for individuals on the statewide database in the Child Protective Services Law. Senator Mensch offered Amendment # A04821 which clarified certain language on expungement of records was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 11-0.
HB 436, PN 2011 (Stephens)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to clarify and expand the list of mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and increase the penalties for failing to report. Amendment # A04823 was offered by Senator Washington which clarified certain language on failure to report was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 11-0.
HB 726, PN 2012 (Petri)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to overhaul the definition of child abuse in the Child Protective Services Law and further provides for exclusions. Amendment # A04826 was offered by Senator Mensch clarifying exclusions in reporting of abuses and further clarifying language on supervision, control and safety of children. The amendment was approved on a vote 11-0. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 11-0
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday October 1, 2013, to consider the following:
SB 1116, PN 1141 (Washington)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to clarify the purpose of investigative teams and how the county should handle investigations of suspected child abuse. Senator Washington offered a technical amendment, # A03750. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 11-0.
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday September 24, 2013 to consider the following:
SB 20, PN 679 (Washington)- Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for definitions and providing for exclusions from child abuse. Amendment #A03399 was offered by Senator Washington to provide substantive definitions and technical changes to the bill. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 21, PN 680 (Ward)- Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for persons required to report suspected child abuse, for persons permitted to report suspected child abuse, for reporting procedure, for documentary evidence on a child subject to report and for taking child into protective custody. Amendment #A03409 was offered by Senator Ward to add additional definitions to the bill. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 22, PN 681 (Ward)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for penalties for failure to report or to refer. Amendment #A03410 was offered by Senator Ward that was technical in nature to correct the new section number in Title 23. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 23, PN 682 (Baker)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for definitions. Amendment #A03427 was offered by Senator Baker to clarify the definition of “parent of the child”. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 27, PN 686 (Mensch)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for exchange of information. Amendment #A03424 was offered by Senator Mensch providing for release of information from DPW and county agencies. The amendment was approved by a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 30, PN 689 (Erickson)- Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for definitions, for immunity from liability, for complaint files and for amendment or expunction of information; and providing for immunity from liability. Amendment #A0345 was offered by Senator Mensch to define “school” to reflect the meaning in Title 23 and tighten the timeframe on appeals. The amendment was approved by a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote.
SB 33, PN 692 (Mensch)-Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for protection from employment discrimination. Amendment #A03423 was offered by Senator Mensch clarifies language protecting reporters of suspected child abuse from employment discrimination. The amendment was approved on a vote of 11-0. The bill was reported as amended by unanimous vote
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Wednesday June 26 to consider the following:
HB 1076, PN 1915 (Moul)-Amends the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, providing for family conferencing. The bill was reported as committed by a unanimous vote.
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 to consider the following:
HB 252, PN 1128 (Swanger)-Establishes the Pennsylvania Long-term Care Council; providing for its powers and duties; and repealing related provisions of the Public Welfare Code. The bill was reported as committed on a vote of 10-0.
SB 860, PN 981 (McIlhinney)-This legislation amends the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, in children and youth, providing for purpose and for county purchase of services. A technical amendment that was grammatical in nature, was offered by Senator Baker and unanimously approved. The bill was reported as amended on a vote of 10-0.