Aging & Youth 2021-2022
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 to consider the following legislation:
HB 2425 – Rep. Flood – Which seeks to clarify that if a report of suspected elder abuse is incorrectly received by the Departments of Aging, Human Services, or Health, that those departments are required to provide the report to the appropriate area agency on aging for investigation within 24 hours of receiving the report. Passed the House unanimously on Sep. 21, 2022. (Reported from Committee as amended, unanimously)
Amendment A05706 – J. Ward – Technical amendment at the request of DOH. (Amendment adopted unanimously)
HB 2538 – Rep. DelRosso – Which would extend the sunset provision on the State Lottery Profit Margin from 2024 to 2029. The law currently requires 20% of the revenue generated from Lottery ticket sales to go to property tax relief and free or reduced fare transit services through 2024. The legislation extends this to July 1, 2029, when the minimum would return to 25%. Passed the House unanimously on Sep. 21, 2022. (Reported from Committee unanimously)
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 to consider the following legislation:
HB 1155 (Jozwiak) Amends the definition of “child care center” in the Human Services Code to provide that the term does not include a program that is operated by a municipality pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution that complies with health and safety standards as provided in the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Protocol for Public Preschool Recreation Programs.
The vote out of committee was 10-1, with Senator Browne voting in the negative.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 to consider the following legislation:
SB 1227 (BAKER): Amends Act 21 of 1967, the Human Services Code, to make its mandates covering the provision of services for dependent and delinquent juveniles consistent with those of the Juvenile Act.
Amendment A04740 (BAKER): Makes technical changes to the bill.
SB 1229 (BAKER): Amends Act 21 of 1967, the Human Services Code, to add the cost of counsel to the list of costs for which the Department of Human Services is to provide a 50% reimbursement to counties for indigent juvenile proceedings.
HB 2426 (HICKERNELL): Amends Title 67 (Public Welfare) of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to incorporating the provisions of Act 68 of 2005, the Resource Family and Adoption Process Act, and Act 73 of 2005, the Resource Family Care Act. The Department of Human Services is directed to promulgate regulations to ensure compliance regarding these new chapters.
All votes were unanimous out of committee.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 to consider the following legislation:
HB 1731 (MIZGORSKI): Directs the Joint State Government Commission to establish the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement within the Commission.
HB 1866 (BOBACK): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary) and Title 67 (Public Welfare) of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to enhance permanency planning and improve outcomes for older youth in the foster care system. The bill clarifies the expectations that services, including counseling, must meet. The goal is to ensure that these services are effective in the development and support of permanency goals for youth in the system. It codifies practices from various statutory and court procedural sources to update and improve the foster system, particularly for older youths. It also makes editorial and organizational changes to Title 67.
HB 2214 (KLUNK): Adds a new section to Title 67 (Public Welfare) of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes that renders unenforceable certain indemnification clauses in government contracts between county children and youth agencies and entities that provide children and youth services regulated under Title 55, Part V of the Pennsylvania Code.
All bills were reported from committee unanimously, without amendment.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 to consider the following legislation:
Senate Resolution 288 – J. Ward – A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of long-term care facilities’ staffing impact relating to Medicaid funds in this Commonwealth.
Amendment A04225 – Collett – An amendment to expand the scope of the study to include any payments to corporate related entities, any rent payments owed by the facility, and a comparison of any increases in those payments to national real estate rent trends within the study.
The amendment failed by a vote of 3 to 6.
The resolution was adopted unanimously.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Monday, January 24, 2022 to consider the following bills:
SB 936 (Boscola) – An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for notification to department and development of plan of safe care for children under one year of age.
Aprobado por unanimidad.
HB 996 (Davanzo) – An Act providing for access to long-term care facilities for members of the clergy, for additional safety requirements for residents, for suspension of access for members of the clergy and for personal protective equipment for members of the clergy.
Aprobado por unanimidad.
HB 1737 (Flood) – An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, further providing for investigation of reports.
Passed 7-3, along party lines.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 to consider the following bills:
HB 291, introduced by Representative Labs, extends the current Social Security COLA moratorium for PACE and PACENET cardholders from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2023.
HB 1260, introduced by Representative Thomas, modernizes the income eligibility limits for the PACE and PACENET programs.
HB 1650, introduced by Representative Delozier and Representative DeLissio, makes editorial changes to Title 67 (Public Welfare) of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 to consider the following bills:
HB 1082, sponsored by Rep. Lewis DelRosso, requires the Department of Health to establish and maintain an Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or a Related Disorder Toolkit for the purpose of educating primary providers on the importance of an early diagnosis for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
- El proyecto fue aprobado por unanimidad.
SB 871, jointly sponsored by Sens Ward and Collett, makes several revisions to the Child Protective Services Law.
- The bill was reported out of committee 10-1 vote, with Sen. Saval voting in the negative.
The Senate Aging & Youth and Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing to discuss Part 1 of the Department of Health’s proposed long-term care nursing facility regulations (#10-221).
The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing on Monday, August 23, 2021
The Senate Aging & Youth & Health & Human Services Committees held a joint public hearing to discuss the Department of Human Services’ intent to contract with Maximus as its independent enrollment broker (IEB) and the impact this will have on seniors and adults with disabilities.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met off the floor on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 to consider the following bill:
HB 253 – Owlett – An Act establishing a task force on the opioid abuse epidemic’s impact on children and providing for powers and duties of the task force.
El proyecto fue aprobado por unanimidad.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 to consider the following items:
Senate Bill 385 (Brooks) – Amends the Fiscal Code by establishing a grant program within the Department of Human Services utilizing federal stimulus dollars ($3 million) to improve indoor air management strategies to reduce the risk of transmission and occupant exposure to COVID-19. The intent/goal of the program is to improve HVAC systems in Long-Term Care Facilities.
Amendment A01421 (J. Ward). The amendment would place the grant program under the Commonwealth Financing Authority ($5 million), set forth guidelines, program requirements, grant limits, ineligibility and define long-term care facilities. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill as amended was reported from committee unanimously.
Senate Bill 668 (J. Ward and Collett) – Amends the PACENET program under the Lottery Law to expand PACENET eligibility; eliminates monthly premiums on PACENET claimants; and provides discretion to the department to enroll PACENET claimants in a Medicare Part D plan. The bill was reported from committee unanimously.
House Bill 649 (Rapp) – A freestanding act providing for the designation of essential caregivers in congregate care facilities. The bill was reported from committee by a 7-4 vote along party lines.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to consider the following items:
House Bill 464 ( (Boback) – Amends the Family Caregiver Support Act to better align the state and federal programs as well as remove barriers and provide more flexibility to effectively administer the program.
Amendment A00760 (J. Ward). This amendment requires the Aging Department to publish in the PA Bulletin and provide committee notification when they make a change in the monetary caps for program services. This Amendment was adopted unanimously.
HB 464 as amended, was reported from Committee with a unanimous vote as committed.
Senate Bill 484 (Stefano) – Amends the Pennsylvania Long-term Care Council Act by expanding the membership of the Council to include the chair of the State Veterans’ Commission or a designee.
SB 484 was reported from Committee with a unanimous vote as committed.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 to consider the following items:
Senate Bill 190 (Mensch) – Creates a stand-alone act providing for essential family caregivers in facilities during a state of disaster emergency.
Amendment A00499 (J. Ward) This amendment makes the provisions applicable to long-term care nursing facilities and hospice, clarifies that it pertains to a state of disaster emergency declared as a result of a communicable disease, and provides that this act will not supersede federal authority or guidance.
The amendment was adopted unanimously. The bill as amended was reported from committee with a 7-4 vote along party lines.
Senate Bill 323 (J. Ward) – Extends the current moratorium on increases in income due solely to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for PACE and PACENET enrollees.
El proyecto fue aprobado por unanimidad.
The Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Aging & Youth and Health & Human Services Committee held a joint public hearing on implementation of the State Vaccination Plan on February 4, 2021
Senadora Maria Collett
Presidente del Comité