Legislative Update

June 2008

State bills found in the Electronic Bill Room

SB 550 update
Sponsors: D. WHITE, ERICKSON, RHOADES, ARMSTRONG, RAFFERTY, ORIE, O'PAKE, VANCE, EARLL, STACK and C. WILLIAMS
Printer's No.: 1211*, 293
Short Title: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, providing, in health and accident insurance, for autism spectrum disorders coverage and for treatment of autism spectrum disorders; and further providing for procedures.
Actions: Referred to BANKING AND INSURANCE, March 8, 2007
reported as committed, March 26, 2007
Second consideration, March 27, 2007
Third consideration and final passage, March 28, 2007 (48-0)
(Reported as committed, March 13, 2007
First consideration, March 13, 2007
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, March 19, 2007
Re-Remarks see Senate Journal Page 296), March 28, 2007
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 566), May 22, 2007
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 859), June 30, 2007
In the House
Referred to INSURANCE, April 16, 2007
Reported as amended, June 21, 2007
First consideration, June 21, 2007
Laid on the table, June 21, 2007
Removed from table, June 23, 2007
Laid on the table, July 10, 2007
Removed from table, July 10, 2007
Re-referred to RULES, Sept. 26, 2007
Re-reported as committed, June 30, 2008

HB 681 update
Sponsors: GINGRICH, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CASORIO, COX, DALLY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GRELL, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KILLION, KULA, MACKERETH, MANN, MARSICO, MILLARD, R. MILLER, MUNDY, MUSTIO, MYERS, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, RAPP, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SOLOBAY, STERN, R. STEVENSON, SWANGER, THOMAS, TRUE, WALKO, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, SIPTROTH and MURT
Printer's No.: 767*
Short Title: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of neglect of care-dependent person; and providing for the offense of abuse of care-dependent person.
Actions: Referred to JUDICIARY, March 9, 2007
Reported with request to re-refer to AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, June 10, 2008
Re-referred to AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, June 10, 2008

HB 1150 update
Sponsors: D. O'BRIEN, DeWEESE, PALLONE, PHILLIPS, RAPP, SCAVELLO, STURLA, BAKER, BASTIAN, BOYD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, DALEY, DALLY, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, W. KELLER, KENNEY, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, KULA, LEACH, LENTZ, MAHONEY, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, McILHATTAN, MOYER, MURT, MUSTIO, McGEEHAN, MYERS, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PETRONE, PRESTON, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SCHRODER, SEIP, SHAPIRO, SHIMKUS, M. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STEIL, SURRA, TANGRETTI, TRUE, VEREB, WATSON, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI, YUDICHAK, MACKERETH, MANTZ, BARRAR, HORNAMAN, CAUSER, WALKO, HELM, MELIO, DENLINGER, BRENNAN, RAMALEY, DiGIROLAMO, GERGELY, M. KELLER, FRANKEL, FABRIZIO, YOUNGBLOOD, REED, ROAE, CURRY, K. SMITH, GALLOWAY, SIPTROTH, RUBLEY, SAMUELSON and BOBACK
Printer's No.: 4115*, 4110, 4107, 4085, 2326, 2237, 1448
Short Title: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in preliminary provisions, further providing for effect of act on existing laws; in life insurance, further providing for additional investment authority for subsidiaries; in casualty insurance, providing for autism spectrum disorders coverage and for colorectal cancer screenings coverage; in insurance holding companies, further providing for definitions, for acquisition of control of or merger with domestic insurer, for acquisitions involving insurers not otherwise covered and for standards
and management of an insurer within a holding company system; providing for committee review; establishing the Insurance Restructuring Restricted Receipt Account; providing for community health reinvestment; and making a related repeal.
Actions: Referred to INSURANCE, April 30, 2007
Reported as amended, July 5, 2007
First consideration, July 5, 2007
Re-committed to RULES, July 5, 2007
Re-reported as committed, July 6, 2007
Second consideration, with amendments, July 13, 2007
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, July 13, 2007
(Remarks see House Journal Page 1880-1906), July 13, 2007
Re-reported as committed, July 14, 2007
Third consideration and final passage, July 14, 2007 (194-0)
(Remarks see House Journal Page 1941-1947), July 14, 2007
In the Senate
Referred to BANKING AND INSURANCE, July 15, 2007
Reported as amended, June 26, 2008
First consideration, June 26, 2008
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 26, 2008
Re-reported as amended, June 27, 2008
Second consideration, with amendments, June 28, 2008
Corrective Reprint, Printer's No. 4115, June 29, 2008
Third consideration and final passage, June 29, 2008 (49-1)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page ), June 29, 2008
In the House
Referred to RULES, June 29, 2008

SB 1373 update
Sponsors: ERICKSON, COSTA, WOZNIAK, ORIE, O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, WONDERLING, LOGAN, TOMLINSON, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, McILHINNEY, C. WILLIAMS, KASUNIC, PILEGGI, BAKER, WASHINGTON, STACK, VANCE, MADIGAN, M. WHITE, KITCHEN, ROBBINS, DINNIMAN, CORMAN, SCARNATI, EICHELBERGER, FERLO and BROWNE
Printer's No.: 1965*
Short Title: An Act providing for an annual allocation of funds to county mental health and mental retardation programs.
Actions: Referred to PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, April 25, 2008
Reported as committed, April 30, 2008
First consideration, April 30, 2008
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 5, 2008
Re-reported as committed, May 12, 2008
Second consideration, May 14, 2008
Third consideration and final passage, June 3, 2008 (43-7)
In the House
Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, June 6, 2008

SB 1415 update
Short Title: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for dispute resolution for educating exceptional children.
Prime Sponsor: Senator RHOADES
Last Action: Referred to EDUCATION, June 2, 2008

HB 1596 update
Sponsors: EACHUS, BRENNAN, MENSCH, YOUNGBLOOD, FLECK, JAMES, CALTAGIRONE, HERSHEY, GEORGE, HARHAI, CAPPELLI, GOODMAN, CLYMER, BEAR, WOJNAROSKI, HENNESSEY, SHIMKUS, PALLONE, STABACK, VULAKOVICH, KOTIK, FRANKEL, SANTONI, LONGIETTI, FABRIZIO, THOMAS, BISHOP, JOSEPHS, MURT, MYERS, K. SMITH, KULA, SIPTROTH, PASHINSKI and GRUCELA
Printer's No.: 3574*, 2037
Short Title: An Act amending the act of July 2, 2004 (P.L.492, No.57), known as the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act, further providing for definitions, for responsibilities of Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and for State registration required; providing for provisional registration; and further providing for change of personal information, for registration violations and for suspension, denial, nonrenewal or revocation of State registration.
Actions: Referred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, June 21, 2007
Reported as amended, April 7, 2008
First consideration, April 7, 2008
Laid on the table, April 7, 2008
Removed from table, April 8, 2008
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, April 8, 2008
Re-reported as committed, June 24, 2008
Second consideration, June 24, 2008
Third consideration and final passage, June 25, 2008 (199-0)
(Remarks see House Journal Page ), June 25, 2008
In the Senate
Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, June 29, 2008

HB 1824 update
Sponsors: J. EVANS, PALLONE, BOYD, WATSON, PICKETT, CUTLER, KILLION, MUSTIO, STERN, BAKER, BROOKS, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CLYMER, DENLINGER, HARKINS, KENNEY, MACKERETH, NICKOL, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAYLOR, SONNEY, SIPTROTH, READSHAW, MILNE, HELM, MENSCH, EVERETT, HENNESSEY, HARHART, McILVAINE SMITH, QUINN, HORNAMAN and CALTAGIRONE
Printer's No.: 4118*, 4081, 3956, 2957
Short Title: An Act establishing the Community-Based Health Care Provider Assistance Program in the Department of Health; setting criteria for eligibility for and authorizing payments to community-based health care providers to assist in providing medically necessary care to Pennsylvanians; providing for powers and duties of the Department of Health; and establishing the Community-Based Health Care Provider Assistance Fund.
Actions: Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Dec. 6, 2007
Reported with request to re-refer to INSURANCE, June 11, 2008
Re-referred to INSURANCE, June 11, 2008
Reported as amended, June 17, 2008
First consideration, June 17, 2008
Re-committed to RULES, June 17, 2008
Re-reported as committed, June 23, 2008
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, June 23, 2008
Re-reported as amended, June 26, 2008
Second consideration, with amendments, June 29, 2008
Third consideration and final passage, June 30, 2008 (199-0)
(Remarks see House Journal Page ), June 30, 2008

HB 2625
Sponsors: PALLONE, J. EVANS, TANGRETTI, DeLUCA, HORNAMAN, DERMODY, KOTIK, FABRIZIO, HARKINS, KULA, LONGIETTI, PETRARCA, SAINATO, FRANKEL and CALTAGIRONE
Printer's No.: 4117*, 4082, 3957, 3938
Short Title: An Act establishing the County Access to Community-based Care and Extended Safety-net Services (County Access) Program in the Department of Health; setting criteria for eligibility for counties and health care providers; developing plans to assure people and families with low income access to a continuum of health care services on a county basis; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, the Department of Health and the Insurance Department.
Actions: Referred to INSURANCE, June 13, 2008
Reported as amended, June 17, 2008
First consideration, June 17, 2008
Re-committed to RULES, June 17, 2008
Re-reported as committed, June 23, 2008
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, June 23, 2008
Re-reported as amended, June 26, 2008
Second consideration, with amendments, June 29, 2008
Third consideration and final passage, June 30, 2008 (199-0)
(Remarks see House Journal Page ), June 30, 2008

Federal Bills

H.R.2343
Title: To expand quality programs of early childhood home visitation that increase school readiness, child abuse and neglect prevention, and early identification of developmental and health delays, including potential mental health concerns, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] (introduced 5/16/2007) Cosponsors (66)
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2008 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

S.3101
Title: A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 6/6/2008) Cosponsors (4)
Related Bills: H.R.6212, H.R.6331
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2008 Senate floor actions. Status: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.

H.R.3195 update
Title: To restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Sponsor: Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5] (introduced 7/26/2007) Cosponsors (255)
Related Bills: H.RES.1299, S.1881
Latest Major Action:
7/26/2007 Introduced in House
6/23/2008 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-730, Part I.
6/23/2008 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-730, Part II.
6/23/2008 Committee on Transportation discharged.
6/23/2008 Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
6/25/2008 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 402 - 17 (Roll no. 460).
6/27/2008 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 856.

S.3195
Title: A bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood.
Sponsor: Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] (introduced 6/25/2008) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.3889
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 10/18/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. House Reports: 110-640

H.R.6241
Title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include vision restoration therapy devices and associated software used in the patient's home to treat impaired visual function due to acquired brain injury within the definition of durable medical equipment under the Medicare Program.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 6/11/2008) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 6/11/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.6320
Title: To ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st Century.
Sponsor: Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] (introduced 6/19/2008) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 6/19/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R.6375
Title: To provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood.
Sponsor: Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] (introduced 6/25/2008) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.