September 16, 2016

Summer Recap:

As of our last newsletter, the General Assembly had recessed after pushing a 2016-2017 state budget over the finish line to meet the June 30 deadline just in the nick of time. Gov. Wolf let the budget become law without his signature on July 12, and by the 13th it was “so long for the summer.”

Since then, we’ve welcomed a new member to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and will bid adieu to two others. Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) was sworn to replace now Senator Tom Killion in the 168th legislative district. Rep. Kevin Schreiber (D-York) dropped his bid for re-election to serve as President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. And finally, after 35 (15 years as a State Representative and 20 as a state Senator), Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria) announced he would drop his bid for reelection to represent the 35th senatorial district to retire.

Since our last writing, we’ve also had two new Attorneys General in the Commonwealth. On August 16, Kathleen Kane announced she would resign her position as Attorney General effective at the close of business August 17. As provided by law, First Deputy Bruce Castor stepped into the role of (acting) Attorney General, but his tenure as short lived; by August 30, the Governor had nominated and the Senate had confirmed former First Deputy Bruce Beemer as our new AG. Beemer served as First Deputy since 2013, but left to become the Inspector General on July 25, a post he’d been serving in until his confirmation.

The Attorney General wasn’t the only AG in town that’s been making headlines. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released a number of audits this summer, on issues ranging pretty much from soup to nuts.

We’ve also seen the fruits of some of the last year’s legislative labor over the last two months. The Department of Health has taken substantial steps toward implementation of the state’s Medical Marijuana Program, which was enacted April 27. Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy announced the appointment of John Collins as the Director of the Office of Medical Marijuana. The Department is also in the process of approving “Safe Harbor Letters” allowing parents and caregivers of minors to administer medical marijuana in the Commonwealth. Finally, temporary regulations for growers and processors were up for review; we’re awaiting regulations to govern the powers and duties of dispensers in the state.

For more about the Commonwealth’s medical marijuana program, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016081861.HTM

The Liquor Control Board has also been busy. As provided under Act 39, grocery stores may now apply to sell wine, some additional state liquor stores will now have Sunday hours and wine producers may apply to ship wine directly to consumers.

Read more: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016080882.HTM

Also front and center this summer was the state’s opioid epidemic. The House Bipartisan Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Caucus held roundtables and hearings throughout the state, and the Governor announced funding for 20 Centers for Excellence in the Commonwealth to serve people suffering from opioid addiction but unable to access treatment.

Check out: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016081165.HTM

On August 30, the departments of Human Services and Aging announced three managed care organizations selected for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Program. CHC will make physical health and long-term services and supports available to more than 420,000 citizens of the Commonwealth. UPMC for You, AmeriHealth Caritas and Pennsylvania Health and Wellness (Centre) will begin to negotiate agreements with the Commonwealth and begin to provide services beginning in 2017.

Find out more about the program: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/communityhealthchoices/

Finally, school funding issues made news just this week; education reformers asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to strike down a school funding formula that they say leaves students in poorer districts without their constitutionally guaranteed thorough and efficient education.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/state-high-court-hears-school-funding-challenge-1.2090564

A Look Ahead:

The House of Representatives returns to Harrisburg for session on Monday, September 19 and the Senate will return on the 26th. Both have a very limited number of session days scheduled before the 2016-2017 session draws to a close on November 30. At that time any bills not enacted will expire and must be re- introduced in the 2017-2018 session to be introduced.

While that will eventually make for a busy January, the time between now and November will likely be less so. Top priorities could include pension reform legislation, legislation to legalize the use of transportation network companies (or TNC’s), the reauthorization of the PA One Call Law, which will sunset at year’s end and legislation to authorize the use of payroll debit cards.

For a complete schedule of session days, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/SessionDays.cfm?Chamber=H

As for next week, the House will reconvene on Monday at one o’clock. On Tuesday, the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will meet to consider H.B. 2303 (Causer, R-Cameron), which would clarify payments made under the Pennsylvania Breeders Fund. The House Consumer Affairs Committee will also meet to consider H.B. 2308 (Godshall, R-Montgomery), which would extend the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line Protection Law, known to most as “PA One Call” for an additional year. Finally, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will hold an information meeting on a new online training program for direct care workers and the House Judiciary Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1516 (Farry, R-Bucks), which would criminalize confining a dog or cat in a motor vehicle in extreme weather conditions.

To read H.B. 2303, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2303

To read H.B. 2308, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2308

To read H.B. 1516, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1516

Wednesday brings additional committee meetings: the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing on converting the remaining Category 1 casino license to a Category 2 license; the House Health Committee will hold a voting meeting to consider, among other bills, H.B. 1663 (Baker, R-Bradford), which would establish an advisory council to develop uniform credentialing standards to be used by health care providers when seeking to be credentialed by a health insurer; and the House Urban Affairs Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1715 (Petri, R-Bucks), revising and clarifying eviction proceedings, H.B. 1954 (Ross, R-Chester), providing for accelerated foreclosure proceedings for abandoned properties, and H.B. 1993 (Kampf, R-Chester), eliminating spot appeals of property assessments.

To read H.B. 1663, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1663

To read H.B. 1715, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1715

To read H.B. 1954, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1954

To read H.B. 1993, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1993

For a complete list of committee meetings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CMS/index.cfm?Chamber=H

For expected action on the House Floor, check out The Week Ahead: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016091554.PDF

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