Aging & Youth 2017-2018

The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Monday, September 24, 2018 to consider the following:

HB 1527, PN 2913 (Stephens) – This bill amends Title 23 § 6311 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (the Child Protective Services Law) to require mandated reporters of child abuse to report any suspected child abuse whenever they personally witness suspected abuse of an identifiable child.  Senator Brooks offered amendment A02913, which explicitly requires mandated reporters who witness suspected child abuse of an identifiable child to report the incident to law enforcement, in addition to both existing requirements to (1) immediately make an oral report to the department via the Statewide toll-free telephone number, or a written report using electronic technologies under section 6305; and (2) follow up with a written report (if not done already) to DHS or the county agency within 48 hours.  The amendment was approved unanimously and the bill was reported from committee as amended (also unanimous).


The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Thursday, June 21, 2018 to consider the following:

SB 899, PN 1205 (Mensch) – This bill amends the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) to update denial of employment and criminal background check provisions and moves OAPSA from freestanding act to the Consolidated Statutes (Title 23).  Senator Mensch offered amendment A08816, a gut-and-replace amendment that updates the existing automatic employment bans ruled unconstitutional by Commonwealth v. Peake and includes a waiver request process to comply with the ruling. It provides new prevention measures for financial exploitation of older adults. It also cleans/clarifies existing statutory provisions.  The amendment was approved unanimously and the bill was reported from committee as amended (also unanimous).

HB 296, PN 290 (Sonney) – Amends the State Lottery Law to exclude the principal and any interest accrued on a savings bond from the definition of “income” for PACE/PACENET eligibility.  The bill was reported from committee unanimously.


The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 to consider the following:

HB 2133, PN 3107 (Watson) – This bill creates the Kinship Caregiver Navigator Program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) by freestanding act, which will provide kinship caregivers assistance with connecting to appropriate federal, state, and local resources for support.  The bill was reported from committee unanimously without amendment.


The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 to consider the following:

SB 891, PN 1203 (Argall) – This bill amends the State Lottery Law to require the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to cross-check their list of PACE and PACENET beneficiaries with death records maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

HB 1232, PN 2194 (Murt) – This bill amends the Child Protective Services Law to require K-12 schools, public or non-public, and all hospitals to publicly display a poster that contains the statewide toll-free Childline number for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.  Senator Brooks offered amendment A06910, which:

  • Requires that posters also contain the statewide telephone number relating to school safety (Safe2Say Program);
  • This bill extends from five to ten years the time period valid general protective services reports must be maintained in the statewide database;
  • Allows county agencies to continue to maintain protective services reports after they have been expunged by the state;
  • Changes the status of individuals who are involved in co-op programs from “employer” to “volunteer” so they do not have to pay for a clearance in order to participate in volunteer services; and
  • Requires health care professionals in Pennsylvania to provide notice to the state of any infant under the age of one who is affected by substance use or withdrawal resulting from parental drug use, and removing any current exemptions for notification. The clarifies that notification of infants born affected by or showing withdrawal from substance use or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder will not be deemed child abuse.

The amendment was approved unanimously and the bill was reported as amended (also unanimous).


The Senate Aging and Youth Committee met on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 to consider the following:

HB 425, PN 441 (Nelson) – This bill extends the moratorium to exclude current PACE/PACENET enrollees from becoming income-ineligible for PACE/PACENET solely based on cost-of-living adjustment (“COLA”) increases in Social Security income, otherwise set to expire December 31, 2017. The bill was unanimously approved without amendment.