LEGISLATION OF INTEREST TO NAMI – PA

April 2003

  • Legislation marked in bold indicates bills that are under active consideration either by a committee or the full House or Senate. These bills should receive your immediate attention. If you have concerns or views on the bills, please communicate them to NAMI PA.
  • Legislation marked in red reflects new bills and activity since the last report.
  • Bill Information: To access a copy of any of the bills mentioned below, go to: www.legis.state.pa.us Then, click on “Session” and then click “Electronic Bill Room.” Follow the prompts for accessing the actual bill. At this site, you can obtain the complete text of the bill, view the cosponsors, and review the latest legislative activity.
  • NAMI Position: If NAMI PA has formed an opinion on a particular bill, that information will be provided in the description of the bill in the chart below.
  • If you would like additional legislative information or information on the bills mentioned below, please contact James W. Jordan, Jr., Executive Director of NAMI PA.

Updated April 9, 2003

Bill No.

Sponsor

Description

Date

Action

HB 27

PN 33

Adolph

Prohibits a sexually violent predator from living within 1 ½ miles of a school for children in grades kindergarten through elementary

01/29/03

House Judiciary

HB 44

PN 48

Oliver

Restores cash benefit and food stamps to individuals who became ineligible due to felony offenses.

01/29/03

03/05/03

03/06/03

03/11/03

03/13/03

03/25/03

03/26/03

House Health & Human Services

Reported

Referred to Approp.

Passed by House (162-37)

Sen. Health & Welfare

Reported

Senate Appropriations

HB 380

PN 444

Youngblood

Providing for medical consent for a minor by an adult caregiver

02/24/03

House Judiciary

HB 449

PN 527

McNaughton

Allowing an parent or legal guardian to allow another adult to give medical consent on behalf of a minor

02/25/03

House Judiciary

HB 471

PN 549

Fairchild

The Mental Health Facility Closure Act, regulating the closure of mental health facilities

02/25/03

04/07/03

House State Gov’t

Reported w/amendments

Tabled

HB 473

PN 551

Bishop

Dealing with the involuntary committee of drug dependent persons

02/25/03

House Judiciary

HB 539

PN 633

Gannon

Provides for a Single Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) to administer prescription drugs provided through Medicaid; includes prior authorization of drugs not on the formulary

02/26/03

House Health & Human Services

HB 648

PN 898

Argall

Fiscal Year 2003/2004 State Budget

03/06/03

03/12/03

03/20/03

Passed House

Passed Senate

Signed by the Governor

HB 888

PN 1044

Vance

The Pharmaceutical Reform Act; includes increased copays for PACE and PACENET recipients; references to a formulary and prior authorization procedures

03/13/03

05/14/03

05/15/03

House Health & Human Services

2-day Public Hearing NAMI scheduled to testify

HB 996

PN 1169

Washington

Requires school boards to adopt and implement policies dealing with the use of psychotropic drugs; prohibits school employees from recommending use of psychotropic drugs; allows medical personnel to recommend an evaluation or consult with medical provider with consent of parent

03/26/03

House Education

HB1016

PN 1191

Barrar

Prohibiting school employees or personnel from recommending use of psychotropic or sympathominetic drugs; allows medical personnel to recommend an evaluation or consult with medical provider with consent of parent

04/02/03

House Education

HB1024

PN1991

Gannon

Amends Insurance Company Law with regard to coverage for services to treat mental illness; an insurer may not count toward the number of outpatient visits required to be covered under this subsection an outpatient visit for the purpose of medication management and shall cover that outpatient visit under the same terms and conditions as it covers outpatient visits for treatment of physical illness

04/02/03

House Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SB 43

PN 26

Earll

Restores cash benefit and food stamps to individuals who became ineligible due to felony offenses.

01/21/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SB 73

PN 69

Orie

Establishing a mental health court division

02/27/03

Sen. Judiciary

SB 74

PN 70

Orie

The MH/MR Direct Care Workers Minimum Salary Act

02/27/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SB 75

PN 71

Orie

Grant program for the Empowerment of Mental Health Clients and Family Members

02/27/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SB 76

PN 72

Orie

Amends the Mental Health Procedures Act to require written aftercare plans for all persons receiving treatment prior to their discharge from treatment facility.

02/27/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SB 123

PN 120

Mellow

MH and MR Facility Security Act, requiring security reports for all MH/MR facilities

02/03/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SB 137

PN 586

Mowery

Consent for minors

02/03/03

03/25/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

Reported w/amendments

First Consideration

SB 300

PN 315

Costa

The FairX Prescription Drug Bill" establishes a single PBM for all state pharmaceutical programs, includes prior authorization and rebates, and allows seniors over age 65 to purchase drugs at the PACE price.

02/13/03

Senate Aging & Youth

SB 449

PN 466

Greenleaf

Amends the Mental Health Procedures Act to require DPW oversight of assisted outpatient treatment programs

03/11/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SR 8

PN 16

Orie

Establishing a Jt. State Government Commission study of the mental health services delivery sytem.

01/21/03

Sen. Public Health & Welfare

SR 52

PN 58

Orie

A Resolution recognizing youth mental illness and suicide as a public health crisis and encouraging evidence-based initiatives to screen children and adolescents for mental disorders in order to identify illness and prevent suicide among youths.

03/24/03

Senate Public Health & Welfare

 

NAMI PA Contacts:
1-800-223-0500 1-717-238-1514 TTY: 1-800-890-6093
1-717-238-3593

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