HB 54  

Frankel

Amends Mental Health Facility Closure Act

PLS Summary:

(PN 79) Amends the Mental Health or Mental Retardation Facility Closure Act providing for proceeds from sales of closed facilities by adding that if a closed facility is sold, the proceeds would come back to the Department and used for community-health based services.

Printer Number(s):

P0079 

Bill History:

01-19-07 H Filed
01-30-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 80  

Leach

Amends Title 42 re mental health court

PLS Summary:

(PN 104) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary) providing for a judicial district to apply for a grant to establish a mental health court division. The mental health court division will provide a single point of contact where a defendant with a mental illness may receive court-ordered treatment and support services in connection with a diversion from prosecution, a sentencing alternative or a term of probation or parole. The Administrative Office, consulting with the Department of Public Welfare Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Corrections, and the PA Board of Probation and Parole, will establish standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants to establish the mental health court division. The bill provides guidelines for establishing these grants.

Companions:

HB 1233 (Refiled from 05R Session)
HB 1307 (Refiled from 05R Session)
SB 374 (Refiled from 05R Session)
SB 587 (Identical)

Printer Number(s):

P0104 

Bill History:

01-25-07 H Filed
01-30-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary

HB 83  

DeLuca

Amends Public Welfare Code re reporting req.

PLS Summary:

(PN 2265) Amends the Public Welfare Code providing for reporting requirements; further providing for assistance recipient identification program; providing for income eligibility verification system; further providing for local administration of assistance; providing for fraud detection system and for residency and county assistance offices; and requiring the Department of Public Welfare to provide personal care home information on the department's Internet website. The secretary would be required to submit and post on its website a copy of certain documents which the department submits to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services under TANF for the federal fiscal year. A photograph of the recipient of benefits would be placed upon each electronic benefits transfer card. The legislation provides for the creation of an income eligibility verification system to eliminate duplication of assistance and deter fraud. The system would require an applicant to provide his Social Security number which would be matched with several different databases. The bill provides for resolution of a discrepancy. Each county would be required to establish procedures to identify, investigate and resolve potential cases of fraud prior to determining an applicant's eligibility for assistance. An individual applying for assistance must do so at the assistance office closest to the residence of the applicant. Lastly, the Department would be required to provide certain personal care home information on its website. The department may remove information from its website that is required to be posted under this section after it has been posted for a period of five years or longer. (Prior Printer Number: 107, 2234)

Specific Remarks:

Contains several welfare reform initiatives

Printer Number(s):

P0107  P2234  P2265 

Bill History:

07-12-07 H Set on the House Calendar
07-12-07 H Laid out for discussion
07-12-07 H Third consideration
07-12-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 1)
07-14-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare

HB 92  

Youngblood

Amends Public Welfare Code re assistance grp

PLS Summary:

(PN 116) Amends the Public Welfare Code further defining "assistance group" by adding that if eligible for temporary assistance to needy families, at the option of the applicant or recipient, the assistance group must exclude any child who receives support payments or any Social Security benefits, including retirement, survivor or disability benefits, provided that such support or benefits are legally limited to the use of the child receiving them. The legislation also states that an applicant or recipient for temporary assistance to needy families may, at the option of that applicant or recipient, exclude from the assistance group any child who receives support payments or any Social Security benefits, including retirement, survivor or disability benefits, provided that such support or benefits are legally limited to the use of the child receiving them. Additionally, in making a determination of need the department would exclude all moneys received by any child which is excluded from the assistance group. Any moneys received under this exclusion would not be assigned under any circumstances to the department or the Commonwealth.

Companions:

HB 55 (Refiled from 05R Session)

Printer Number(s):

P0116 

Bill History:

01-25-07 H Filed
01-30-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 96  

Youngblood

Amends Title 20 re medical consent for a minor

PLS Summary:

(PN 120) Amends Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) providing for medical consent for a minor by an adult caregiver by adding that a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian may authorize an adult person in whose care a minor has been entrusted to consent to any medical, surgical, dental, developmental or mental health examination, diagnosis or treatment, including immunization, to be rendered to the minor under the supervision or upon the advice of a physician, nurse, dentist or mental health professional licensed to practice in PA; and to obtain any and all records with regard to such services; provided there is no prior order of any court in any jurisdiction currently in effect which would prohibit the parent, legal custodian or legal guardian from exercising the power that the parent, legal custodian or legal guardian seeks to convey to another person. The legislation provides an authorization form to be signed by the parent/legal guardian.

Companions:

HB 64 (Refiled from 05R Session)

Printer Number(s):

P0120 

Bill History:

01-25-07 H Filed
01-30-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Children and Youth

HB 165  

Boyd

Act re health insurance policy mandated bens

PLS Summary:

(PN 191) The Mandated Benefit Moratorium Act would establish a moratorium during which the General Assembly would not enact any new or expanded health insurance policy mandated benefit. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee would study the issue of health insurance policy mandated benefits and the cost to employers and individuals of health insurance policy mandates. In conducting the study, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee would consider cost-benefit analyses to determine the cost-effectiveness of mandated benefits. The Committee would submit a final report with recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2008.

Companions:

HB 738 (Refiled from 05R Session)

Specific Remarks:

Monitor with regard to mental health services and access to prescription drugs.

General Remarks:

Prescription drugs or legislation limiting scope of PDLs can be interpreted as a mandated benefit. Need to monitor resolution.

Printer Number(s):

P0191 

Bill History:

01-31-07 H Filed
02-01-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

HB 282  

Petrone

Act re State Loan Forgiveness Programs

PLS Summary:

(PN 985) The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Staff Member and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Programs Act would provide loan forgiveness to PA residents who graduate from institutions of higher education and who apply their degrees to careers in mental health or alcohol and drug addiction counseling in PA. The bill states that loans may be forgiven over four years of full-time staff work. No more than $5,000 would be forgiven in any year, and no more than $20,000 would be forgiven for any applicant. The applicant would enter into a contract with the Commonwealth that states the recipient would agree to be employed by a county mental health or mental retardation service agency located within PA or by a private provider of mental health or mental retardation services for a period of no less than four years in the field. (Prior Printer Number: 314)

Specific Remarks:

MH/MR Staff Worker Loan Forgiveness Program

Printer Number(s):

P0314  P0985 

Bill History:

04-17-07 H Set on the House Calendar
04-17-07 H Laid out for discussion
04-17-07 H Third consideration
04-17-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:191/N: 4)
04-23-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Education

HB 300  

Mundy

Amends Insurance Co. Law re Medical Necessity

PLS Summary:

(PN 374) Amends the Insurance Company Law defining "medical necessity" as clinical determinations made by qualified trained health care providers, and set forth in writing to establish a service or benefit which will or is reasonably expected to (1) prevent the onset of an illness, condition or disability; (2) reduce or ameliorate the physical, mental, behavioral or developmental effects of an illness, condition, injury or disability; or (3) assist the individual to achieve or maintain maximum functional capacity in performing daily activities. The bill states that determinations that do not establish medical necessity for covered care and services must be documented in writing.

Printer Number(s):

P0374 

Bill History:

02-06-07 H Filed
02-09-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

HB 326  

Sturla

Amends Title 18 re criminal gang activity

PLS Summary:

(PN 377) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary) providing for the offenses of criminal gang activity and criminal gang solicitation and recruitment; establishing the Criminal Gang Deterrence Fund; providing for disposition for criminal gang activity offenders; further providing for disposition of delinquent child and for controlled substance forfeiture; providing for alcohol and drug treatment; imposing penalties; and making an appropriation of $1,000,000 to the Criminal Gang Deterrence Fund for the fiscal year 2007-2008.

Printer Number(s):

P0377 

Bill History:

02-07-07 H Filed
02-09-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary
04-26-07 H Discussed in Public Hearing - 4/26/07, House Judiciary
09-11-07 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., Room 418, Main Capitol, House Judiciary
09-11-07 H Public hearing held in committee House Judiciary

HB 430  

Cappelli

Amends Public Welfare Code re employment

PLS Summary:

(PN 498) Amends the Public Welfare Code by stating that adult family members would be required to participate at least twenty hours per week in employment or work-related or educational activities or training to be eligible for assistance for subsidized child day care.

Printer Number(s):

P0498 

Bill History:

02-13-07 H Filed
02-26-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services
06-21-07 H Meeting set for 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Bldg., House Health and Human Services
06-21-07 H Passed over in committee House Health and Human Services

HB 614  

DiGirolamo

Amends Administrative Code re Drug and Alcohol

PLS Summary:

(PN 680) Amends The Administrative Code establishing the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, which would include a Bureau of Prevention and Intervention, Bureau of Treatment and Bureau of Administration. The Department would develop and adopt a State plan for the control, prevention, intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, research, education, and training aspects of drug and alcohol abuse and dependence problems. The Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse would be the advisory council to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act would be repealed.

Printer Number(s):

P0680 

Bill History:

06-26-07 H Set on the House Calendar
06-26-07 H Laid out for discussion
06-26-07 H Third consideration
06-26-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 4)
07-03-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare

HB 695  

Walko

Act re private care residence registration

PLS Summary:

(PN 781) The Private Care Residence Registration Act states that the owner or legal entity responsible for the operation of a private care residence would register annually with the department. At the initial registration with the department, the owner or legal entity responsible for the operation of a private care residence would submit with the registration a report of criminal history record information from the Pennsylvania State Police. The bill states that the department may inspect a private care residence to determine if the facility has complied with the registration requirements of this act. The bill also states that the owner or legal entity responsible for the operation of a private care residence that fails to register with the department would be subject to a civil penalty of $500.

Printer Number(s):

P0781 

Bill History:

03-07-07 H Filed
03-09-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Aging and Older Adult Services

HB 700 (3)

Eachus

Amends Title 40 re reforming healthcare

PLS Summary:

(PN 1011) Amends Title 40 (Insurance) reforming the healthcare system by providing for access to affordable health insurance coverage for previously uninsured individuals. The Cover All Pennsylvanians health insurance program (CAP) would be established to assist certain small business employers to cover their uninsured employees and to provide access to affordable health insurance coverage for uninsured adults.

General Remarks:

Governor's Prescription for PA

Printer Number(s):

P1011 

Bill History:

05-17-07 H Public hearing held in committee House Insurance
05-23-07 H Press conference held
05-30-07 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Bucks Co. Bar Assn, 135 E. State, House Insurance
05-30-07 H Public hearing held in committee House Insurance
06-12-07 H Discussed in House Democrats press conference

HB 802  

Phillips

Act re Emergency Demand Reduction Program

PLS Summary:

(PN 921) The Residential Addiction Treatment Wait List Reduction Act establishes the Emergency Demand Reduction Program to reduce waiting lists for residential addiction treatment and to provide moneys to single county authorities to address the emergency waiting list for residential addiction treatment.

Printer Number(s):

P0921 

Bill History:

03-13-07 H Filed
03-19-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 810  

Bishop

Act re landlords granting medical access

PLS Summary:

(PN 1883) The Residential Lease Protection for Illness Act states that, regarding residential leases, a landlord must provide access to the tenant's dwelling by a person designated under a durable power of attorney, by an attorney-in-fact, or by the tenant or appointed guardian of the tenant. The designation or appointment would be accompanied by a certification of the tenant's illness signed by a licensed physician. A tenant with a certified illness may terminate a residential lease upon 30 days' written notice, provided that the tenant did not know or have reason to know about the illness at the time the tenant entered into the lease. (Prior Printer Number: 928)

Printer Number(s):

P0928  P1883 

Bill History:

06-20-07 H Set on the House Calendar
06-20-07 H Laid out for discussion
06-20-07 H Third consideration
06-20-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:198/N: 0)
06-21-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Urban Affairs and Housing

HB 1000  

Manderino

Amends Insurance Company Law re mental health

PLS Summary:

(PN 1996) Amends the Insurance Company Law providing for mental health services by stating that if an enrollee has obtained a referral to receive outpatient mental health care services from a health care provider or specialist, the referral would constitute a standing referral for any subsequent outpatient mental health care services provided by any health care provider until the mental health care service for which the referral was approved has reached its conclusion. Also adds an article providing for retroactive denial of reimbursement of payments to health care providers by insurers. If an insurer retroactively denies reimbursement to a health care provider, the insurer may only: (1) retroactively deny reimbursement for services subject to coordination of benefits with another insurer, the medical assistance program or the Medicare program during the 12-month period after the date that the insurer paid the health care provider; and (2) retroactively deny reimbursement during a 12-month period after the date that the insurer paid the health care provider. (Prior Printer Number: 1171, 1756)

Printer Number(s):

P1171  P1756  P1996 

Bill History:

06-21-07 H Set on the House Calendar
06-21-07 H Laid out for discussion
06-21-07 H Third consideration
06-21-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:203/N: 0)
06-21-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Banking and Insurance

HB 1160  

Metcalfe

Amends Title 18 re license to carry firearm

PLS Summary:

(PN 1475) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) providing for temporary emergency licenses for carrying a firearm by requiring a person seeking a temporary emergency license to carry a concealed firearm to submit to the sheriff of the county in which the person resides all of the following: evidence of imminent danger to the person or member of the person's family; a sworn affidavit containing information required on an application for a license to carry a firearm and attesting that the person is 21 years of age or older; and a temporary emergency license fee established by the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police for an amount that does not exceed the actual cost of conducting the criminal background check or $10, whichever is less. The amendment also provides that a temporary emergency license issued would be valid for 90 days and may not be renewed and another would not be issued for at least four years after the expiration of the prior temporary emergency license. (Prior Printer Number: 1424)

Printer Number(s):

P1424  P1475 

Bill History:

04-23-07 H Filed
04-24-07 H Discussed in Press Conference - 4/24/07
04-25-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary

HB 1177  

Fabrizio

Act re mental health services reimbursements

PLS Summary:

(PN 1457) The Mental Health Services Reimbursement Act requires health insurance policies issued by insurance companies to reimburse for mental health services provided by licensed clinical social workers.