The Senate voted unanimously for House Bill 43, which would amend the Volunteer Health Services Act, expanding it to include mental health services provided to military personnel and their family.
The bill would allow physicians and other health care practitioners who are retired from active practice to provide mental health services within their scope of practice as a volunteer. The volunteer would have to be referred by a nonprofit whose purpose is to recommend licensed volunteers to military personnel and their families. This nonprofit would have to be approved by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 177, which would establish a task force on Lyme disease and related sicknesses.
The task force would investigate and recommend how to best survey and prevent new cases of Lyme disease, and develop a program related to raising awareness about the disease and its long term effects. They would work closely with the state Game Commission, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Education, and Department of Environmental Protection to address Lyme issues.
Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease characterized at first by a rash, headache, fever, and chills, and later by possible arthritis and neurological and cardiac disorders, caused by bacteria that are transmitted by ticks.
The task force would have 20 members, appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health, and meet quarterly. They would present a report to the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate, the Health Committee of the House of Representatives, and the Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives within one year of its first meeting.
The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 403, which would allow the National Guard to award stipends to medical and health officers to attract and retain more physicians in the Guard.
The Guard is currently short about 40 physicians, which impairs readiness. The program could affect eight new resident physicians each year, with up to a maximum 32 residents in the program at any one time.
A resident physician, physician, or physician assistant would be eligible to receive a stipend of $12,000 a year for up to four years of medical residency or the first three years of service to the Pennsylvania National Guard. A behavior science officer, public health officer, or environmental science officer would be eligible for a stipend of $6,000 a year for up to the first three years of service.
The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.
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The Senate voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 1090, which would reduce the hunting license fee for veterans rated at 60 percent disabled or above by the Veterans Administration.
The current fee for a hunting license is $19. The bill would reduce that fee to $1 for veterans in this category. Veterans rated at 100 percent disabled are currently provided hunting licenses at no cost.
The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1102, which wouldenable partially disabled war veterans to qualify for a $1 fishing license.
A standard fishing license costs $21. Currently, 100 percent disabled veterans qualify for a free fishing license. The measure would add Pennsylvania veterans who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs classifies as 60 to 99 percent disabled. It is estimated that expanding the program would reduce Fish and Boat Commission revenues by $129,000.
The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously for Senate Bill 1253, which would update the History Code, as well as update the duties of the PA Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).
Under the bill, PHMC could sell or dispose of property that has been on loan for over 21 years if they have tried to make contact with the lender and have not been able to.
Also, the PHMC would now oversee and maintain the State Archives, commonwealth records, local government records and older public records.
Lastly, any public record that is at least 75 years old and sealed from public disclosure would be made public unless specifically prohibited by law. This applies to any item currently in the custody of the State Archives and any item placed in the archives going forward. The PHMC website would be required to have a notice stating this new policy.
The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved a measure intended to address problems that were created by a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that had the potential to increase liability for third parties, including a family member, an attorney or a bank, when they accept powers of attorney in good faith.
The power to act legally on behalf of an individual may include the power to give away property and the power to acquire real estate.
House Bill 1429 would clarify the law regarding powers of attorney and provides immunity when third parties act in good faith.
It now heads to the governor’s desk.
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The Senate passed a pair of bills, House Bill 1989 and Senate Bill 602, which would designate the Piper J-3 as the Official State Aircraft.
The Piper J-3 Cub is a small aircraft recognizable by its famous yellow fuselage and black trim. It was built exclusively in Lock Haven, Clinton County, between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft was modified and used by the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II for reconnaissance and as a hedgehopper during combat.
Senate Bill 602 now heads to the House, while House Bill 1989 heads to the governor’s desk.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1115, which would increase the size of the Educational Assistance Program (EAP).
Currently, the EAP allows qualifying Pennsylvania National Guardsmen to pursue higher educational degrees and have tuition covered by a state grant. Under the bill, fees, room and board, and textbooks would also qualify for state grant funding.
The bill also clarifies that federal tuition assistance grants must be taken into consideration before state educational funds are used under EAP. In the past, state funds have been given to students who also receive federal aid, and that combined aid has exceeded the actual cost of their education, leaving students with surplus funds that were not being used for the direct costs of their education.
The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate unanimously passed the House component of “Rocco’s Law” legislation that would toughen penalties against those who severely injure or kill a police dog.
House Bill 2026 was named after Rocco, a Pittsburgh canine officer that was stabbed while helping police apprehend a suspect. The dog later died from his injuries.
The bill, along with Senate Bill 1261, would respectively amend Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code and Dog Law to toughen penalties against anyone who severely injures or kills a police animal. The measure would increase the seriousness of the crime from a third to a second degree felony. The second degree felony comes with a fine of $25,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
House Bill 2026 now goes to the governor for enactment.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2013, which would help school boards replace directors who have been called into active military duty.
The Pennsylvania School Code provides direction for school board members who enlist during times of war, but it did not address directors who are eligible to be called back into duty.
The bill was presented to the governor for his consideration June 19.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 428, which wouldprovide better direction on so-called pooled trusts for people with disabilities.
Currently, a trust may retain up to half of a remaining pooled trust balance for the benefit of other beneficiaries. The other half of the money must be reimbursed to the commonwealth and any other state that provided medical assistance to that individual — equal to the total amount of medical assistance paid on behalf of the beneficiary.
This bill adds the phrase “or other individuals with disabilities” to the provision outlining how much the trust is permitted to keep. The change would not affect the portion that goes back to the commonwealth.
The bill is now being considered by the House Judiciary Committee.
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The Senate voted 47-1 in favor of Senate Bill 1337, which would end certain recurring projects of the Legislative Budget & Finance Committee.
Three of the identified projects that could be ended include: the performance audit of PennDOT, which is done every six years at a cost of $500,000; a cost-benefits study of mental health insurance coverage required under Act 198-150 that is done every two years at a cost of $100,000; and a $500 annual study of the impact of slots on the state lottery.
Senate Bill 1377 awaits consideration in the House State Government Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1389, which would appropriate $22.3 million for the general government operations of the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The appropriation would be $1.3 million higher than last year.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1390, which would appropriate $41.689 million for the general government operations of the Public School Retirement System (PSERS) for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The amount is the same that was appropriated last year. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1391, which would appropriate $48.777 million from the General Fund to the Department of State to fund the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs ($39.2 million); State Board of Medicine ($7.5 million); State Board of Osteopathic Medicine ($1.2 million); State Board of Podiatry ($225,000); and State Athletic Commission ($536,000). The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1392, which would appropriate a total of $70.860 million from the Workmen’s Compensation Administrative Fund to administer the Workmen’s Compensation law, Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act and Office of Small Business Advocate for 2014-15. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1393, which would appropriate $1.163 million to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development for fiscal 2014-15. The amount would be $71,000 more than last year’s total. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1394, which would appropriate $5.165 million from the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General for fiscal 2014-15. The amount equals what was appropriated last year. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1395, which would appropriate $64.571 million from the state General Fund; and $3.785 million in federal funds to the Public Utility Commission. The appropriation is $1.481 million above what was appropriated for 2013-14. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1396, which would appropriate $71.069 million from the state Gaming Fund to the Gaming Control Board ($37.990 million), Department of Revenue ($9.513 million), State Police ($22.995 million, and Office of Attorney General ($1.141 million) for gaming industry oversight in fiscal 2014-15. The total appropriation is an increase of $1.616 million over last year’s amount. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1397, which would appropriate $7.072 million from the Philadelphia Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund and $500,000 from the Philadelphia Taxicab Medallion Fund to the Philadelphia Parking Authority for fiscal 2014-15. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved the state’s capital budget bill for 2014-15, which would authorize $1.295 billion in additional debt to be incurred for capital projects in 2014-15.
Senate Bill 1400 specifies indebtness of $725 million for buildings and structures, $50 million for furniture and equipment, $175 million for transportation assistance, $335 million for redevelopment assistance, and $10 million for flood control. The total authorized debt is $20 million over what was authorized last year. The bill now goes to the House.
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