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Senator Scott Hutchinson

Dear Friend,

I am pleased to send you my Session Wrap Up e-newsletter. This e-newsletter features events and legislative activities from the session week of December 4, 2015.

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website www.senatorscotthutchinson.com for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of the page. If you would like to contact my office, please go to my web page and click the "contact" button. Please do not "reply" directly to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Scott


 

Senate Approves Pension Reform

The Senate approved a bill reforming Pennsylvania’s public pension systems – the number-one cause of local property tax increases. The reform (Senate Bill 1082) requires new state workers and new school employees to enroll in a combination of a traditional pension and a 401(k)-type benefit as used in the private sector.

The bill is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.

Center for Rural PA Releases Heroin Epidemic Report

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania released a report, “ Heroin: Combating this Growing Epidemic in PA,” reflecting testimony collected during a series of statewide public hearings held in July and August.

Focusing on treatment and recovery services in Pennsylvania, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors and legislators heard from 40 experts, including treatment professionals, family, law enforcement officials, government officials, and educators who presented testimony on a range of issues related to treatment and recovery services, and what could be done to help addicts get the treatment they need.

The Pennsylvania State Coroners Association reported that 2,489 individuals died from drug-related causes in 2014, a 20 percent increase from 2013. The association also reported that initial data for 2015 indicated the number of deaths would continue to increase.

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It was created in 1987 under Act 16, the Rural Revitalization Act, to promote and sustain the vitality of Pennsylvania’s rural and small communities.

Senate Sets Hearing on Kane’s Ability to Lead Office of Attorney General

On Wednesday, the Senate approved Senate Resolution 256, a measure mandating a full hearing regarding Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s ability to perform her duties with a suspended law license.

The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building.

The hearing is required by the state Constitution prior to any vote on direct removal. The resolution specifies that Kane or her counsel will have the right to appear before the Special Committee on Senate Address to testify, answer questions and offer evidence of her ability to perform the duties of her office with a suspended law license.

PACE COLA Exemption Extension Sent to Governor

The Senate approved legislation Thursday extending protections to seniors enrolled in PACE and PACENET who would lose eligibility for these programs due to increases in income from Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

House Bill 777 now goes to the Governor for his signature and enactment into law. Act 12 of 2014 provides for the COLA exemption through December 31, 2015 and protects the eligibility of 11,416 senior citizens. House Bill 777 continues the exemption until Dec. 31, 2017. Seven other bills were sent to the Governor this week.

House Bill 477 creates the Activities and Experiences for Children in Out-of-Home Placements Act to give foster parents the ability to approve or disapprove their foster child participating in extracurricular activities. The bill returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 524 establishes the Non-narcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program within the Department of Corrections (DOC). It is intended to increase opportunities for counties to provide long-acting non-narcotic, non-addictive medication combined with comprehensive substance abuse treatment to eligible offenders upon release from county correctional institutions.

Senate Bill 756 eliminates the sunset provisions of the Commonwealth’s First Industries Program.

House Bill 909 authorizes county tax claim bureaus to incur and recover reasonably necessary costs for the rehabilitation and maintenance of property exposed to, but not sold at, an upset sale.

Senate Bill 1046 codifies the standards for the promotion for the Pennsylvania National Guard and ensures compliance with U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force uniform regulations. Currently, when an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted officer retires from the PA National Guard, they are automatically given an honorary in-state promotion if they meet certain criteria and apply for the promotion.

Senate Bill 1045 standardizes the term “other than dishonorable” when dealing with a veterans eligibility for programs and benefits. While this is common language used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, without a clear definition the term has created confusion among veterans as to state benefits eligibility.

House Bill 1161 permits a licensed salesperson who is employed by a vehicle dealer who has an ownership share in more than one dealership to sell at each of those dealerships regardless of the percentage of ownership.

Bill Promoting Organ Donation Sent to Governor

A bill intended to promote organ donation efforts and donor designations on Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and identification cards received final legislative approval and was sent to the Governor for enactment into law.

Senate Bill 398 would redesign driver’s license and identification card applications to include the statement “Pennsylvania strongly supports organ and tissue donation because of its life-saving and life-enhancing opportunities” and the question “Do you wish to have organ donor designation printed on your driver’s license?”

According to the Donate Life America website, more than 117,000 men, women and children currently need organ transplants. Every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list and an average of 18 people die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplant. While 90 percent of Americans say they support donation, only about half of eligible Pennsylvanians have organ donation designated on their driver’s license.

CHIP Reauthorization Approved by the Senate

The Senate approved legislation reauthorizing and extending the life of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through December 31, 2017.

In addition to changing the expiration date of CHIP from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2017, House Bill 857, as amended in the Senate, moves the administration of the program from the Department of Insurance to the Department of Human Services, addresses billing issues for ambulance services, and clarifies liability issues in cases involving auto dealership loaner vehicles.

The bill returns to the House of Representatives for concurrence on the amendment. Four other House bills were also returned for concurrence on Senate amendments.

House Bill 1195 amends the Vehicle Code to permit motor homes and recreational trailers to be financed at lending institutions for up to 20 years.

House Bill 1603 amends the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act to deal with international child and family support orders.

House Bill 1735 amends the Tobacco Product Manufacturer Directory Act.

House Bill 1736 amends the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Act.

Three Senate bills were approved this week and sent to the House for consideration.

Senate Bill 604 provides for broader allocation of proceeds from the Lake Erie fishing permit.

Senate Bill 891 waives Turnpike tolls for vehicles accompanying a fallen firefighter, ambulance service or rescue squad member, law enforcement officer or armed service member killed in the line of duty.

Senate Bill 986 extends “Good Samaritan” civil liability protection to anyone who breaks a window or forcibly enters a parked, locked vehicle in an effort to save a child.

Senate Confirms State Police Commissioner

The Senate confirmed Tyree Blocker on Wednesday to serve as Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner. Blocker started his career with the Pennsylvania State Police in 1975 as a trooper, working in patrol, criminal investigation, staff services and the organized crime unit with Troops J, T, K, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Blocker retired from the State Police in 2005 with the rank of major.


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