Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 | Off the Floor
Rules Committee Conference Room
Senate Approves Culver Bill to Allow Hospice LPNs to Make Death Pronouncements
HARRISBURG – The state Senate today approved a bill introduced by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements.
Pennsylvania law allows registered nurses (RNs), medical doctors, physician assistants and coroners to make death pronouncements.
“LPNs in hospice settings provide end-of-life care to patients in the weeks and months before they pass away,” Culver said. “LPNs provide care up until the moment of death, but when the patient dies, the LPN lacks the authority to make a death pronouncement. My bill would enable LPNs to make death pronouncements.”
Culver introduced Senate Bill 1080 after learning many hospice facilities across Pennsylvania face workforce shortages. Giving LPNs the authority to make death pronouncements can help hospice facilities address their staffing issues.
“LPNs provide quality and essential care during a highly emotional time for patients and their families,” Culver said. “Requiring a doctor, RN, physician assistant or coroner to make a death pronouncement when an LPN easily could fulfill that function can be costly.”
Senate Bill 1080 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
More information about Culver is available online at SenatorCulver.com. Residents can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenCulver and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SenatorCulver for updates about legislative action in Harrisburg and news in the 27th District.
Media Contact: Betsy Reichenbach
717-787-8928
Robinson: Senate Approves Bill Honoring Pennsylvania Veterans with Specialty License Plate
HARRISBURG – Sen. Devlin Robinson’s (R-37) language in House Bill 2301 has been approved by the Senate today to allow recipients of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) to apply for a specialty license plate. The plate would honor Pennsylvania veterans who have earned the distinguished medal through their service overseas in the War on Terror.
“This legislation honors Pennsylvania veterans who bravely served overseas during the War on Terror, recognizing their unwavering dedication and sacrifice,” said Robinson. “The GWOT-EM license plate stands as a visible symbol of our community’s deep gratitude and respect, ensuring these heroes receive the acknowledgment they deserve for their invaluable contributions to our nation’s defense.”
The GWOT-EM was established by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003, to recognize members of the Armed Forces who were deployed in direct service to the War on Terror following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The award symbolizes the bravery and dedication of those who have served in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives.
CONTACT:
Allison Dutrey
Bill to Modernize Uniform Commercial Code Becomes Law
HARRISBURG – Sen. Greg Rothman’s (R-34) historic and comprehensive legislation to modernize the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) has been signed into law by the governor. Act 41 of 2024, which received unanimous support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, extensively revises the UCC to accommodate emerging technologies utilized in commercial transactions. The updates provided by Act 41 are “necessary to ensure security, consistency and confidence,” Rothman said.
The UCC has been providing consistency for commercial law and interstate commerce since 1954, when Pennsylvania led the initiative to adopt it. It has since been adopted by all states and gives Americans legal confidence when transacting business across state lines. The last major revisions to the UCC took effect in 2001. In the two decades since, electronic property, or digital assets, have become much more prevalent in commercial transactions.
Act 41 brings the law into the 21st century by establishing guidelines to cover digital asset transactions involving virtual currencies, non-fungible tokens, electronic accounts, and other forms of electronic commerce. The legislation would also make other needed technical updates to the UCC.
“The UCC provides security and consistency to our nation’s commerce,” Rothman said. “I’m pleased that digital asset transactions are now properly addressed in law so that all parties are protected and can operate with confidence.”
Visit senatorrothman.com for more information.
Robinson: Bill Improving Cancer Treatment Access Signed into Law
HARRISBURG – Legislation to improve cancer treatment access was signed into law this week, according to Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37).
Act 39 of 2024 – the companion bill to Robinson’s Senate Bill 954 – will provide Pennsylvanians better access to personalized treatments following a diagnosis of cancer and other specific diseases through biomarker testing and precision medicine. Biomarker testing looks for biological changes at a molecular level, helping to detect cancer and other conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease to ensure patients get the right treatment option, and predicts the growth and spread of disease.
“It was an honor to work with Rep. Mullins to write legislation with the shared goal of improving cancer treatment access,” said Robinson. “Act 39 of 2024 is a significant step forward in ensuring that patients receive the most effective, personalized treatment options available. By expanding access to biomarker testing and precision medicine, we can detect diseases and tailor treatments to the individual needs of each patient. It addresses critical disparities in care, ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have access to these life-saving advancements.”
The law takes effect in 60 days.
CONTACT:
Allison Dutrey
Argall: Public Hearing to Focus on Antisemitism on Pennsylvania College Campuses
HARRISBURG – Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) announced today that the Senate Education Committee will convene a public hearing about the impact of rising antisemitism on Pennsylvania college campuses. The hearing will be held in the State Capitol on Thursday, July 25 at 10:30 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building.
“It has been deeply troubling to witness the antisemitic protests at many college and university campuses here in Pennsylvania and across the country after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7,” said Argall. “The committee will hear directly from those affected to determine if further action should be taken to protect our students.”
Testifiers planned for the hearing include students, college administrators, and other stakeholders.
On Oct. 7, 2023, more than 1,000 Israelis, mostly civilians, were murdered by Hamas terrorists. U.S. college campuses experienced volatile antisemitic protests that called for the complete destruction of Israel. students were required to shelter in place in their dorm rooms out of fear for their lives. Protesters demanded that colleges divest from Israel, as well as companies that do business with the Israeli government.
In response, Argall voted in favor of Senate Bill 1260 when it was approved by a strongly bipartisan vote of 41-7 by the Senate last week. This legislation would cut off state tax dollars from going to higher education institutions that boycott or divest from Israel. It would also prohibit the PA Treasury’s Office, the State Employees’ Retirement System, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System from boycotting or divesting from Israel.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger
Public hearing on combatting antisemitism on Pennsylvania college campuses
Senate Education Committee
Thursday, July 25 | 10:30 a.m.
Hearing Room 1, NOB
Meeting to consider SB 1280
Senate Finance Committee
Wednesday, July 3 | 9:30 a.m.
Room 8E-A, East Wing
Meeting to consider SB 25, SB 67 and SB 219; and HB 816, HB 1086, HB 1446, HB 1466, HB 1716, HB 1820, HB 1853, HB 2200 and HB 2233
Senate Appropriations Committee
Tuesday, July 2 | Off the Floor
Rules Room
Agenda
SB 25 (Bartolotta) Amends the Professional Nursing Law to establish the Rural Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners Health Care Access Program.
SB 219 (Costa) Amends the First and Second Class County Property Tax Relief Act to authorize a city of the second class to adopt a longtime owner-occupant property tax relief program.
HB 816 (Giral) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to require towing and storage agents of the Philadelphia Parking Authority to take photographs documenting a parking violation prior to the removal of a vehicle.
HB 1086 (Takac) Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to authorize the sharing of information under the Veterans Registry.
HB 1446 (R. Mackenzie) Amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to clarify eligibility for Unemployment Compensation benefits for victims of domestic violence who
voluntarily leave their employment.
HB 1466 (Bizzarro) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to provide for a cause of action based on protected public expression and to establish the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act.
HB 1716 (Warren) Amends Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) providing for shareholder rights in derivative actions and providing for name registration
guidelines for domestic non-filing associations.
HB 1820 (Bullock) Amends the Cosmetology Law to eliminate the natural hair braiding license under the State Board of Cosmetology.
HB 1853 (Shusterman) Amends the Health Care Facilities Act to direct the Pennsylvania Department of Health to hold annual meetings with licensed nursing facilities under its jurisdiction.
HB 2200 (Burns) Amends Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) to provide for criminal history background checks.
HB 2233 (Curry) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to provide that a tow truck operator shall not be convicted of certain traffic law violations when directed by an on-duty police officer.
Bartolotta’s Bill Increasing Health Care Access in Rural Counties Passes Senate Committee
HARRISBURG – Legislation to increase access to health care sponsored by Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) was passed by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee today.
Senate Bill 25, as amended, would allow qualified Advanced Practice Registered Nurses-Certified Nurse Practitioners (APRN-CNPs) to practice primary health care in rural counties independent of a physician after fulfilling a three-year, 3,600-hour collaboration agreement with a physician. Current law requires nurse practitioners to practice under a collaboration agreement at all times.
“In rural counties, people must travel significantly farther to access care and there is rarely public transportation. It can be very difficult and even impossible for people to access the health care they need, particularly as people age and tend to need care more often,” Bartolotta said.
The bill uses the Center for Rural PA’s definition of rural, which is when the total population of a county divided by the total number of square land miles yields a population density fewer than 291 people per square mile.
More than 3.4 million Pennsylvanians live in rural areas, where nurse practitioners are twice as likely – compared to physicians – to practice.
According to recent findings, the number of patients seen by nurse practitioners per week would increase by almost 1,800 if Pennsylvania adopted full practice authority.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463