HB 15  

DiGirolamo

Amends Titles 18 & 75 re Substance Abuse

PLS Summary:

(PN 4008) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 75 (Vehicles) providing for the Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Fund. The bill states that 45% of grant money deposited into the Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Fund each fiscal year would be made available to nonprofit organizations to provide research-based approaches to prevention, intervention, training, treatment, and education services to reduce substance abuse or to provide resources to assist families in assessing the services. Also, up to 20% of grant money may be used to: (1) assist in the start-up of victim impact panel programs, (2) study the impact outcome and benefits of victim impact panels, and (3) provide assistance for the ongoing operation of victim impact panels. The commission would develop guidelines and procedures necessary to implement the grant program. The legislation makes a technical change to Section 3802 (g)(1) pertaining to exception to two-hour rule providing where the Commonwealth shows good cause explaining why the chemical test sample could not be obtained within two hours. The bill also states that courts can order a person who violates section 3802 to attend a victim impact panel program. Lastly, the bill further provides for the standards and operation of victim impact panels. (Prior Printer Number: 2632, 3167, 3448, 3876)

Bill History:

05-03-06 H Signed in the House
05-03-06 S Signed in the Senate
05-05-06 G In the hands of the Governor
05-15-06 G Last day for Governor's action
05-11-06 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 36)

HB 49  

Petrone

Act re MH/MR staff & Drug Counselor loan prog

PLS Summary:

(PN 2108) The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Staff Member and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Programs Act states that qualified applicants would be eligible for payment by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) of a portion of the debt incurred by the applicant through the agency-administered Guaranteed Stafford or Consolidation Loan Programs for the education necessary to be a mental health or mental retardation staff member in PA if the qualified applicant enters into a contract with the agency that requires the qualified recipient to remain employed as a full-time staff member in PA for a period of two consecutive years. PHEAA is authorized to forgive a proportional part of the applicant's loan so that the loan may be entirely 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. PHEAA would be required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the program. (Prior Printer Number: 51)

Bill History:

06-07-05 H Laid out for discussion
06-07-05 H 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted
06-07-05 H Third consideration
06-07-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 0)
06-13-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Education

HB 201  

Nailor

Act re moratorium on mental health facilities

PLS Summary:

(PN 1120) The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Facility Closure or Reduction Moratorium Act would impose a moratorium on the closure or reduction of any facility and require the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the issue of closure of State mental health facilities and report to the General Assembly. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee would study each instance of the issue of the closure or reduction of a facility. In conducting each study, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee would consider and make recommendations with respect to several issues. This act would apply to closures or reductions made after December 31, 2004, and before January 1, 2006. Nothing in the act would prevent or obstruct a resident/patient from exercising his or her lawful ability to enter or leave a facility at any time. (Prior Printers Numbers: 242)

Companions:

SB 229 (I)   

Bill History:

03-29-05 H Second consideration
03-29-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations
05-02-05 H Voted from committee with request to re-refer to Health and, House Appropriations
Human Services
05-02-05 H Reported with request to re-refer to Health and, House Appropriations
Human Services
05-02-05 H Rereferred to House Health and Human Services

HB 433  

Maitland

Amends Mental Health Procedures Act

PLS Summary:

(PN 471) Amends the Mental Health Procedures Act providing for persons who may be subject to involuntary emergency examination and treatment by adding that individuals may be involuntarily subject to emergency examination and treatment if the totality of circumstances supports a finding of danger, that there is a risk of a suicide attempt, that there is a risk of an attempt of self-mutilation; the person has acted in such a way as to evidence that he does not have the capacity to make a rational treatment decision, and serious debilitation would ensue within 30 days from a diagnosed condition; or a person's history of treatment and diagnosis, and a person's past behavior may be considered in determining whether a person's recent behavior constitutes a clear and present danger to others or to himself.

Bill History:

03-15-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Health and Human Services
03-15-05 H Reported as committed from House Health and Human Services
03-15-05 H Rereferred to House Judiciary
06-21-05 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building, House Judiciary
06-21-05 H Passed over in committee House Judiciary

HB 499  

Gannon

Amends Insurance Company Law re mental illness

PLS Summary:

(PN 538) Amends the Insurance Company Law further providing for mental illness coverage. The bill would prohibit insurers from counting medication management visits toward the number of outpatient visits and in fact should cover that visit under the same terms and conditions as it covers outpatient visits for treatment of physical illness. The bill would also eliminate language that calls for a study of the cost and benefits of this section every two years for the General Assembly.

Specific Remarks:

Provides for mental health insurance parity

Bill History:

02-11-05 H Filed
02-14-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Insurance

HB 591  

Barrar

Amends Public School Code re children & drugs

PLS Summary:

(PN 664) Amends the Public School Code by prohibiting school officials or employees from recommending that a child use psychotropic or sympathomimetic drugs, although they could recommend appropriate evaluation of a student by a medical practitioner.

Bill History:

02-15-05 H Filed
02-16-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Education
02-08-06 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Room 60, East Wing, House Education
02-08-06 H Amended in committee and held House Education

HB 815  

Feese

General Appropriations for FY 2005-2006

PLS Summary:

(PN 2568) This is the General Appropriation Act of 2005 providing for expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments, the public debt, for the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006. (Prior Printer Number: 848, 1648, 2282)

General Remarks:

Fiscal Year 2006-07 State Budget

Bill History:

07-07-05 S Signed in the Senate
07-07-05 G In the hands of the Governor
07-17-05 G Last day for Governor's action
07-07-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 9001)
10-16-06 H Set on the House Calendar

HB 1052  

Smith, S

Act re State pharmacy program procedures

PLS Summary:

(PN 1872) The Commonwealth Pharmacy Program Procedures and Policies Act would, through the Office of Administration, establish a series of uniform procedures for PA pharmacies or preferred pharmacy programs. These procedures would ensure the appropriate collection of pharmacy rebates and that standardized auditing procedures would be followed. The Office of Administration would also establish an online claims adjudication system, a drug utilization review system to monitor and correct misutilization of drug therapies and a surveillance utilization review system to monitor, identify and investigate potential misutilization or deficiencies in the level of care and ensure that a brand name product would be dispensed and not substituted with an A-rated generic therapeutically equivalent drug if it is less expensive to the commonwealth pharmacy program. Any access restrictions would have to be reported to the Majority and Minority Leaders in the House and Senate. Such restrictions could be overturned by a concurrent resolution passed within 25 days of notice. Additionally, if a preferred drug list (PDL) or formulary is utilized in the future, certain mental health drugs, immunosuppressants and HIV drugs would be exempted from the requirements. The Office of Administration is also charged with evaluating the feasibility of creating a disease management program and a recycling program for the redistribution of prescription drugs at health care facilities or State correctional facilities. The bill also requires the Office of Administration to issue a report on the program within two years to the to the Majority and Minority Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Public Health and Welfare Committees evaluating the fiscal impact of implementing the act and making recommendations for enhancing it. (Prior Printers Numbers: 2108)

Specific Remarks:

Prevents DPW from implementing additional access restrictions for pharmaceuticals

General Remarks:

Introduced to prevent DPW from implementing a PDL until 1/1/07. Bill was not passed and DPW implemented a PDL.

Bill History:

05-03-05 H Laid on the table
05-11-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
05-11-05 H Removed from the table
05-11-05 H Second consideration
05-11-05 H Rereferred to House Appropriations

HB 1168  

Habay (Res. 2/7

Amends Public Welfare Code re medical expenses

PLS Summary:

(PN 2560) Amends the Public Welfare Code providing for use of medical expenses to establish medical assistance eligibility, for lifetime limit on unpaid medical expenses, for penalty period for asset transfer, for treatment of life estates and annuities, for community spouse income, for eligibility for home and community-based services, for verification of eligibility and for eligibility redetermination of persons for medical assistance; further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care, for other medical assistance payments, for reimbursement for certain items and services and for relatives' responsibility; providing for medical assistance benefit packages, for coverage, copayments, premiums and rates, for definitions of limited applicability, for rebates, for pharmacy management systems, for enrollment limitation and for established drug regimens; further providing for other computations affecting counties, for special provider participation requirements and for third-party liability; and providing for data matching, for special needs trusts, for a health insurance premium payment program and for parity in insurance coverage for State-owned psychiatric hospitals. (Prior Printers Numbers: 1374, 1873, 2432)

Bill History:

07-06-05 H Signed in the House
07-06-05 S Signed in the Senate
07-07-05 G In the hands of the Governor
07-17-05 G Last day for Governor's action
07-07-05 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 42)

HB 1233  

Leach

Amends Title 42 re mental health court

PLS Summary:

(PN 1446) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary) by allowing the court of common pleas of any county or judicial district to apply for a grant to establish a mental health court division. The mental health court division would have the following objectives: 1) increased cooperation between the criminal justice and mental health systems; 2) faster case processing time; 3) improved access to necessary services and support; 4) increased services for offenders with mental illness; 5) reduced recidivism; 6) continued judicial supervision, including periodic review of preliminarily qualified offenders with mental illness who are charged with misdemeanors or nonviolent offenses; and 7) coordinated delivery of services, including specialized training of law enforcement and judicial personnel, voluntary outpatient or inpatient treatment, centralized case management, and continuing supervision of treatment plan compliance.

Bill History:

03-30-05 H Filed
03-30-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary

HB 1307  

Washington (Res

Amends Title 42 re mental health court

PLS Summary:

(PN 1555) 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:

SB 374 (I)   

Bill History:

04-06-05 H Filed
04-11-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary

HB 1370  

Wojnaroski

Act re certification for cognitive support

PLS Summary:

(PN 2106) The Cognitive Impairment Support Services Certification Act would create a certification program in facilities that offer cognitive support services to persons with cognitive impairments and for individuals that work in facilities that deliver services to individuals who are cognitively impaired. The Departments of Aging and Public Welfare would be responsible for establishing criteria for the certificates. The bill provides for certain rights and disclosure requirements for patient transfers between non-certified and certified facilities. The bill would also require, within one year of the effective date of this section, the Department to issue a report to the General Assembly on programs within PA and throughout the U.S. that seek to maximize the effectiveness of charitable pharmaceutical programs and to provide recommendations for new laws and initiatives to enhance the ability of Pennsylvanians to take advantage of such programs. Lastly, nothing in this act would be construed to invalidate or supersede department regulations insofar as they are not inconsistent with the act. (Prior Printer Number: 1658)

Bill History:

09-26-05 H Laid on the table
11-21-05 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
11-17-05 H Removed from the table
11-17-05 H Laid on the table
10-16-06 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for

HB 1372  

Fairchild

Act re State mental health facility closures

PLS Summary:

(PN 1660) The Mental Health Facility Closure Act would regulate the closure of state-operated mental health facilities. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Public Welfare from closing a facility unless enabling legislation is enacted and a pubic hearing is held or a court order is obtained. The bill provides for the waiving of sovereign immunity if the Department closes a facility in violation of the Act. It also establishes procedures for the Department to seek closure of a facility.

Bill History:

04-13-05 H Filed
04-14-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 1422  

Washington (Res

Amends Public School Code re psychotropic drug

PLS Summary:

(PN 1717) Amends the Public School Code by requiring school boards to adopt and implement a policy prohibiting school personnel from recommending the use of psychotropic drugs for school children. The legislation states that a county office of children and youth, or other similar office, cannot take a child into custody and that a court cannot order a child taken into custody because a parent, guardian or other individual responsible for a child refuses to administer or consent to the child receiving psychotropic drugs unless that refusal causes the child to be neglected or abused.

Bill History:

04-19-05 H Filed
04-26-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Education

HB 1479  

Pistella

Act re Office for People with Disabilities

PLS Summary:

(PN 4367) The Office for People with Disabilities Act creates the Office for People with Disabilities within the Office of the Governor. The legislation outlines the powers and duties of the office, including to ensure that all disabled citizens of PA have access to quality services and programs, establish interagency agreements, and advocate for consumer control. (Prior Printer Number: 1797)

Bill History:

09-26-06 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate State Government
09-26-06 S Reported as committed from Senate State Government
09-26-06 S First consideration
10-04-06 S Set on the Senate Calendar
10-04-06 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations

HB 1488  

Kenney

Act re info on parenting & prenatal depression

PLS Summary:

(PN 1831) The Prenatal and Postpartum Counseling Act states that a hospital, birthing center, physician, nurse-midwife or midwife who provides prenatal care to a pregnant woman during gestation or at delivery of an infant has the duty to provide the woman with a fact sheet that includes common symptoms of prenatal depression, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and emotional traumas associated with pregnancy and parenting and with a resource list of professional organizations that provide prenatal counseling, postpartum counseling and assistance to parents.

Bill History:

05-10-05 H Set on the House Calendar
05-10-05 H Laid out for discussion
05-10-05 H Third consideration
05-10-05 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 0)
05-24-05 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare

HB 1497  

Kenney

Amends Public Welfare Code re HCPRP

PLS Summary:

(PN 1833) Amends the Public Welfare Code by adding that a health care provider would not be eligible for assessment abatement under the Health Care Provider Retention Program if the health care provider is not enrolled as a medical assistance provider.

Bill History:

05-02-05 H Filed
05-03-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 1500  

Veon

Amends Public Welfare Code re medical expenses

PLS Summary:

(PN 1813) Amends Public Welfare Code by providing for use of medical expenses to establish medical assistance eligibility, for lifetime limit on unpaid medical expenses, for penalty period for asset transfer, for community spouse income and for treatment of life estates and annuities; further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care, for other medical assistance payments, for reimbursement for certain items and services and for relatives' responsibility; providing for medical assistance benefit packages, for coverage, copayments and premiums, for payment for prescription and over-the-counter medications and for eligibility limitations; further providing for restrictions on provider charges and payments and for third-party liability; and providing for data matching, for special needs trusts, for a health insurance premium payment program and for parity in insurance coverage for State-owned psychiatric hospitals.

Specific Remarks:

Portions of this bill were amended into H.B. 1168 and signed into law.

General Remarks:

Some of the changes proposed in H.B. 1500 were amended into H.B. 1168 and signed into law.

Bill History:

04-29-05 H Filed
05-02-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 1649  

True

Act re Drug & Alcohol Treatment & Prevention

PLS Summary:

(PN 2077) The Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Fund Act establishes the Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Fund into which the revenues derived from the first 13.407 percentage points of the liquor tax rate would be deposited. Monies in the fund would be allocated as follows: (1) 11.754% to the Department of Public Welfare to provide for a continuum of alcohol and drug detoxification and rehabilitation services to persons eligible for medical assistance; (2) 28.443% to the Department of Public Welfare for behavioral health services for individuals affected by eligibility changes for the general assistance medically needy only program; (3) 24.994% to the Department of Health to distribute to single county authorities for the provision of drug and alcohol services to include prevention, treatment, intervention and case management; (4) 10.234% to the Governor for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to provide drug and alcohol treatment-based restrictive intermediate punishment programs; and (5) 24.575% to the Department of Corrections to provide comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment to the inmate population including assessment, education, intensive treatment and aftercare.

Companions:

SB 727 (I)   

Bill History:

06-19-06 H Set on the House Calendar
06-19-06 H Laid out for discussion
06-19-06 H Third consideration
06-19-06 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:197/N: 0)
06-23-06 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare

HB 1683  

Bishop

Amends PA Drug & Alcohol Abuse Control Act

PLS Summary:

(PN 2128) Amends the PA Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act by allowing the family member of a drug dependent person to petition the court of common pleas for the commitment of that person to involuntary drug and alcohol treatment services, including inpatient services, if the person is incapable of accepting or unwilling to accept voluntary treatment. The bill requires the petition to set forth sufficient facts and good reasons for the commitment and provides for assessments and for criteria to be met before the judge can order treatment for up to 90 days at a time. It also sets forth criteria to be followed for hearings on petitions for court- ordered involuntary services. The bill also states that a decision must be made within 48 hours of the close of evidence or the petition must be denied.

Bill History:

06-07-05 H Filed
06-08-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health and Human Services

HB 1773  

DiGirolamo

Amends Administrative Code re drug & alcohol

PLS Summary:

(PN 2268) 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.

Companions:

SB 832 (I)   

Bill History:

10-03-06 H Laid on the table
10-05-06 H Set on the Tabled Calendar for
10-05-06 H Removed from the table
10-05-06 H Second consideration
10-05-06 H Rereferred to House Appropriations

HB 1813  

Kenney

Act re county MH/MR program fund allocation

PLS Summary:

(PN 4619) Act providing for the allocation of funds to county mental health and mental retardation programs stating that the Secretary of the Budget would include in the budget submission to the General Assembly the amounts required for certain funding. The bill provides for a calculation of index adjustment. Also, the bill states that funds included in the governor's budget submission for the community mental health, community mental retardation services and early intervention services programs would be identified as increases in the rates or amounts of funding for existing community-based mental health and mental retardation services. (Prior Printer Number: 2386, 3214, 3725)

Companions:

SB 1006 (I)   

Bill History:

09-25-06 S Voted favorably from committee as amended Senate Appropriations
09-25-06 S Reported as amended Senate Appropriations
10-03-06 S Set on the Senate Calendar
10-03-06 S Second consideration
10-16-06 S Set on the Senate Calendar

HB 1992  

Herman

Amends Fiscal Code re Local Government loans

PLS Summary:

(PN 4516) Amends The Fiscal Code further providing for the Local Government Capital Project Loan Fund by stating that the amount of a loan made to a municipality for purchasing equipment would not exceed $50,000 (current law is $25,000) for any single piece of equipment. The bill states that the amount of a loan to a municipality made for purchasing, constructing, renovating or rehabilitating facilities would not exceed $100,000 (current law is $50,000) for any single facility. The bill also provides for budget implementation, for restrictions on appropriations for funds and accounts and for family planning funding limitations. (Prior Printer Number: 2733, 4506)

Specific Remarks:

Contains language preventing DPW from carving the pharmacy benefit out of Medicaid managed care.

General Remarks:

Contains language to prevent DPW from carving the pharmacy benefit out of Medicaid managed care.

Bill History:

07-05-06 S Signed in the Senate
07-05-06 H Signed in the House
07-05-06 G In the hands of the Governor
07-15-06 G Last day for Governor's action
07-05-06 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 66)

HB 2082  

Allen

Act re local school property tax elimination

PLS Summary:

(PN 4504) The Taxpayer Fairness Act provides for a nonbinding statewide referendum on local school property tax elimination. The bill requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth to place on the ballot a nonbinding referendum to determine the will of the electorate with respect to the elimination of local school property tax through the use of sales and use tax revenue. (Prior Printer Number: 2872, 2886, 3037, 3117, 3152)

General Remarks:

Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) places caps on state spending that are tied to the rate of inflation. Very controversial; advocacy coalitions have held rallys opposing the bill.

Bill History:

11-21-05 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 31/N: 18)
11-22-05 H Received as amended in House and rereferred House Rules
11-14-05 H Discussed in HDPC public hearing on spending caps, House Democratic Policy Committee
07-01-06 H Re-reported on concurrence as amended House Rules
07-01-06 H Rereferred to House Rules

HB 2364  

Mann

Amends Titles 18 & 42 re sexual offenders

PLS Summary:

(PN 3373) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) by deleting current grading for failure to comply with registration of sexual offenders requirements and adding that an individual subject to registration under 42 Pa.C.S. Sec. 9795.1(a) or (b)(1), (2) or (3) who commits a violation or a similar offense commits a felony of the third degree. The bill also adds that the street address of registered offenders would be made available on the Internet.