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Harrisburg Happenings By Senator Bob Mensch Senate Approves "High-Risk Pool" Legislation The Senate approved legislation creating a "High-Risk Pool" as an alternative for individuals with severe health conditions to obtain affordable health insurance. Pennsylvania must be proactive in enacting health care measures or potentially have that role usurped by the federal government. Senate Bill 507 is a key part of the 15-bill Senate Republican HealthNET PA package of legislation to expand access and improve the quality of health care for Pennsylvania's citizens. One concept the federal law embraced and Senate Republicans have long supported is the High-Risk Pool. Now, the federal government is moving very quickly to establish the pools. Since Pennsylvania does not have a High-Risk Pool in place, we will be challenged in some form or fashion to either have a High-Risk Pool established or have the federal government do it for us. Senate Bill 507 establishes a governing board to be appointed by the Governor and General Assembly, which would include insurers, health care experts, the business community, and members of the general public. The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Pool (PHIP) Board would then hire an administering insurer - through competitive bid - to manage the pool. Continuing Education Measure for Engineers and Surveyors Heads to Governor Legislation to update continuing education requirements for engineers, land surveyors and geologists is headed to the Governor following Senate approval of the measure on Tuesday. House Bill 975 will require professional engineers, land surveyors and geologists to complete 24 professional development hours of continuing education every two years. The legislation also provides geologist-in-training certification to improve the marketability of recent geology graduates. The legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors, the Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists and the Department of State. Education Committee Approves Charter School Oversight Bill The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday intended to provide a comprehensive reform of the state's charter school law. Senate Bill 1314 would create an Office of Charter and Cyber Charter Schools within the Department of Education, which would have the authority to receive and investigate complaints of fraud, waste, mismanagement, misconduct or persistently poor academic performance. The office would also be able to investigate the misuse of property; evidence of a pattern of wasteful spending or misappropriation of funds by board members, administrators or staff; mismanagement of school operations; and waste or abuse of state or local government property. The office could make referrals to the Attorney General or local district attorney, and could recommend that a non-compliant charter school's subsidy be withheld. PICPA Offers Tax Amnesty Information The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) recently informed me of information they have available to help applicants with the on-going Pennsylvania state tax amnesty program. In response to the challenges of navigating the Department of Revenue's amnesty website - www.pataxpayup.com - PICPA has developed detailed filing instructions. The PDF document can be found on PICPA's website at filing instructions sheet. PICPA also developed some general consumer information that may be helpful. For a limited time, the PA Department of Revenue is waiving 100 percent of penalties and half the interest for anyone who applies for Tax Amnesty online at www.PATaxPayUp.com and pays eligible delinquent taxes between now and June 18. Committee Also Approves Bill for Valley Forge Appointments The Senate Education Committee also approved legislation I introduced to create a new program for legislative appointments to the Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMA&C). Senate Bill 1318 creates a program with Valley Forge Military Academy & College to establish a legislative appointment process not unlike the programs we have with the national military academies, like West Point. Each legislator, Senator and Representative, would be entitled to one appointment per academic year. VFMA&C is a two-year, transfer program from which almost all students move on to four-year colleges and universities. Valley Forge is also the only institution in the Northeastern United States offering an Early Commissioning Program, which allows successful candidates to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army in two years rather than the standard four years through ROTC programs at other colleges and universities. Valley Forge has a long tradition of providing character-based education within an academic and military environment. The institute provides the training and discipline that builds a solid foundation enabling young men and women to be successful in a wide variety of career paths. Its students have gone on to become military leaders, business and industry executives, government officials, professional athletes, Rhodes Scholars and White House Fellows. Senate Backs State Center for Health Careers The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 174 on Wednesday. This legislation amends the Workforce Development Act to formally establish in state statute the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. The Center was created in 2004 as an initiative of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board. Current funding is provided by the Nursing Shortage Initiative appropriation in the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). The Center is tasked with developing strategies addressing short-term and long-term health care work force challenges including: increasing the capacity for nursing education; retaining health care workers; increasing diversity in health care workers; and, responding to the demand for critical care workers. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. State Offers Online Info on Federal Healthcare Law The Pennsylvania Insurance Department recently launched a new website on the newly enacted federal healthcare law. You can access this information at www.insurance.pa.gov and by clicking on the icon "Health Care Reform & You." The Insurance Department plans to update and expand the site as the federal healthcare measures are implemented. Senate Approves Bill to Establish State Licensing of Plumbing Contractors The Senate approved legislation on Tuesday to establish state licensing of plumbing contractors. Under Senate Bill 288, a State Board of Plumbing Contractors would be created to issue licenses, develop regulations, and administer the provisions of the law. Senate Bill 288 would establish minimum standards that individuals who provide plumbing services must meet. The bill's primary purpose is to protect the public health. At the same time, it will make reciprocity with other states that license plumbers a simple matter. The bill is supported by the Pennsylvania Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors as well as local plumbing unions. The costs of implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions would be covered by the fees set by the Board, as well as the fines and penalties deposited into a restricted account. Senate Bill 288 now goes to the House of
Representatives for consideration. |
Offices Email: bmensch@pasen.gov Bucks County Office | |
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