Monday, April 3, 2006

 

Senate Bill 997 (Erickson) would amend the Public Welfare Code to provide that, on or after July 1, 2006, payments to nursing home facilities certified to participate as providers under the Medical Assistance Program would be calculated and made as specified in the Department of Public Welfare’s regulations in effect on July 1, 2003.  The measure would also eliminate the provisions which allow the Department of Public Welfare to change the rate setting methodology for nursing homes without being subject to the full regulatory review process.  Passed:  43-6.

 

Senate Resolution 250 (Wenger) designates April 4, 2006 as “Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Day” and congratulates Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members for their contribution to the Commonwealth and to the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry.  Adopted:  48-0.

 

 

Executive Session

 

Nominations to Various Boards and Commissions.  (See Attached)  Confirmed:  49-0.

 

 

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

 

Senate Bill 1007 (White) would amend the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to authorize insurers to affix a statement to a standard fire insurance policy for commercial business indicating that the policy does not cover loss or damage caused by terrorism, whether directly or indirectly resulting from an insured peril under the policy.  The bill provides a definition of terrorism as used in the section.  Passed:  49-0.

 

Senate Bill 1055 (Regola) would authorize the Department of General Services to accept the donation of approximately 34 acres in Penn Township, Westmoreland County from the Conservation Fund.  Passed:  49-0.

 

Senate Bill 1068 (Piccola) would authorize the Department of General Services to convey approximately 0.389 acres of land in the City of Harrisburg and Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County to Capital Self Storage Associates, LLC for not less than fair market value as determined by an independent appraisal.  No portion of the property conveyed could be used as the location for a licensed gaming entity or similar facility.  In the event the conveyance is not executed within one year of the effective date of the act, the authority for the conveyance would expire.  Passed:  49-0.

 

Senate Resolution 256 (Wozniak) designates the week of April 2 through 8, 2006 as “Sleep Disorders Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  49-0.

 

Senate Resolution 261 (Stack) recognizes the month of April 2006 as “Autism Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 262 (Conti) designates April 4, 2006 as “Arts in Education Day” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 263 (Fontana) recognizes the week of April 2 through 8, 2006 as “National Library Week 2006” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 264 (Tartaglione) observes the week of April 23 through 29, 2006 as “Crime Victims’ Rights Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 265 (Hughes) recognizes the week of April 3 through 9, 2006 as “National Public Health Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

House Bill 893 (Semmel) would create the Water Services Act to regulate the takeover of a water authority by a third class city and to require a water company to provide certain notice of the intent to shut off service for nonpayment.  The bill would require a third class city that has adopted a home rule charter and has a population of not more than 30,000 to follow certain procedures if it intends to take over a water and sewer authority originally created by the city if the authority provides services to customers who are residents of municipalities outside of the city and the total number of residents outside the city exceeds the number of residents inside the city by at least 50 percent.  Under these circumstances, the city would have to obtain approval from 75 percent of the municipalities which have service agreements with, or whose residents previously received water services, sewer services, or both from, the authority before it could terminate the authority, convey a project of the authority or transfer reserves, assets, or funds from the authority.  These requirements would apply to actions initiated after November 1, 2005.  The process would not apply to the merger of authorities.

 

The bill would also update and incorporate the provisions of Act 98 of 1949, which currently governs suspension of water service for nonpayment, into this act.  Among other changes to current requirements, a water company would be required to notify the owner of a property or the property manager before terminating service and comply with the provisions of the Utility Service Tenants Rights Act for certain residential buildings.  Act 98 of 1949 would be repealed.  Concurrence in House Amendments to Senate Amendments:  49-0.

 

House Bill 2215 (Hickernell) would authorize the Department of General Services to convey 0.3 acres and a motor vehicle building in Columbia Borough, Lancaster County at a price to be determined through competitive bidding.  Proceeds from the sale would be deposited in the State Treasury Armory Fund.  Passed:  49-0.

 

 

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

 

Senate Resolution 247 (Pileggi) designates the week of April 16 through 22, 2006 as “Weed and Seed Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  48-0.

 

Senate Resolution 251 (Tomlinson) designates the week of April 23 through 29, 2006 as “Pennsylvania One Call System Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 258 (Lemmond) designates the month of April 2006 as “Alcohol Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 267 (Jubelirer) designates April 8, 2006 as “Cushing Syndrome Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania.  Cushing's syndrome is caused by exposure to an excess of the hormone cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands, located above each kidney.  The normal function of cortisol is to help the body respond to stress and change.  Left untreated, Cushing's syndrome is persistent and fatal as elevated cortisol levels adversely affect body systems.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 268 (Corman) recognizes April 5, 2006 as “Pennsylvania Patient Assistance Day.”  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 269 (Madigan) designates the week of April 16, 2006 as “Rural Road Safety Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

House Bill 1591 (Tangretti) would amend the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act (Act 13 of 2002), by extending patient safety standards to abortion facilities performing 100 or more abortions in a calendar year.  These abortion facilities would now be included in the definition of “medical facility” and would be required to adopt the same patient safety standards as hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities and birth centers.  Abortion facilities would be required to have a patient safety committee, submit a patient safety plan and report serious events, incidents and infrastructure failures upon submission of the patient safety plan.  An abortion facility that fails to report serious events or infrastructure failures to the Department of Health, as required, would be subject to fines of $1,000 per day and license revocation.  Abortion facilities would also be assessed a fee to pay their share of the $5,000,000 operational budget of the Patient Safety Authority.  Passed:  41-8.

 

House Bill 1820 (Goodman) would create the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Act.  The measure would establish a bonus program for veterans who were awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal for service in the Persian Gulf for the time period from August 2, 1990 to August 31, 1991 and who were residents of the Commonwealth.  Qualified veterans would receive $75 for each month of qualifying service up to a maximum of $525.  Prisoners of war and survivors of soldiers killed in combat or as a result of service connected injuries would receive $5,000.  The Adjutant General would be responsible for the administration of the program and for the payment of compensation under the act.  The legislation also provides for a ballot question at the next general election for voter approval of $20 million of indebtedness to fund the program.  Passed:  48-1.

 

House Bill 2054 (Grell) would consolidate existing eminent domain law within the Eminent Domain Code.  The bill would make several changes to existing provisions.  Among other modifications, the bill would:

• Increase the limitation on eligible reimbursement of appraisal, attorney, and engineering fees from $500 to $4,000;

• Permit a condemnee to receive special damages up to $30,000 for loss caused by reduction in rental income;

• Increase damages for dislocation of businesses and farm operations in addition to other allowable damages;

• Increase the additional payments for relocation expenses for homeowners and tenants;

• Establish further restrictions on the disposal of undeveloped or unimproved land in cases where projects have been abandoned by the condemnor;

• Create the Housing Replacement Authorization Act to allow the acquiring agency, as a last resort, to purchase, construct, reconstruct or otherwise provide replacement housing by using funds authorized for the project; and

• Expedite appeals in eminent domain proceedings and establish a six-year statute of limitations in condemnation actions.  Passed: 49-0.