HDPC looks at mental health issues and the criminal justice system
Members of the House Democratic Policy Committee
heard from law enforcement officers, and mental health and criminal
justice experts at a public hearing May 9 to examine mental health
issues in relation to the criminal justice system.
State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, requested the hearing and served as chairman.
"This hearing is a positive sign that we are widening the scope
of talking about mental health issues within the criminal justice
system," Caltagirone said. "Time and time again, mental illness links a
criminal to the crime and it's time to take a closer look at what can be
done about that at the legislative level.
Burns bill would require schools to provide student transportation in areas where registered sex offenders live
State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria/Somerset, has introduced legislation designed to improve safety precautions for Pennsylvania children.
Burns introduced H.B. 1242,
which would require school districts to provide busing to any of their
students if a registered sex offender is living in the school district.
"The state police say there are more than 12,000 registered sex
offenders living in Pennsylvania," Burns said. "Given that large number,
it's clear that many of them most likely live near our children's
schools, bus stops and walking routes. I believe it is imperative that
we start the process of enacting legislation to provide further safety
to our children."
Legalization of medical marijuana proposed by Cohen
State Rep. Mark Cohen
has reintroduced legislation that would offer an alternative solution
to the problem of a vast underground network selling marijuana to a
significant percent of Pennsylvania residents who need it for medical
reasons.
"My legislation would limit the legal sale of marijuana to
people who have the recommendation of a medical doctor and it also would
allow a limited number of compassion centers throughout Pennsylvania to
sell it," said Cohen, D-Phila.
Cohen said the proposed Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Compassionate Use
Medical Marijuana Act has the support of a broad majority of
Pennsylvania’s population.
Longietti to serve on panel to improve distribution of special education funding
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State Rep. Mark Longietti,
D-Mercer, has been appointed to a newly created commission that will
determine the best way to distribute state funds for special education.
"Special education funding has been a significant concern for
many years, particularly since we lack a meaningful funding formula and
many school districts are grossly underfunded in this area," Longietti
said. "Many of our local school districts have rising populations of
special needs students and have been shortchanged in the process. The
commission will help remedy that problem by recommending a funding
formula which includes consideration of the severity of student
disability and the number of students served."
Under the current formula, special education funding is
distributed with the assumption that 16 percent of students in each
school district require special education. However, that percentage
varies from district to district, Longietti said.
Markosek questions lottery privatization consultant fees
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In light of a recent media report about the Corbett
administration’s plan to send a revised Lottery privatization contract
to the attorney general this month, State Rep. Joseph Markosek,
D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, Democratic chairman of the House
Appropriations Committee, has called on Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser to
turn over documents associated with fees paid to out-of-state
consultants.
"The secretary has yet to provide the committee with an
explanation for how an out-of-state law firm, hired as part of the
Lottery privatization process, far exceeded its cost estimate;
therefore, leaving the commonwealth on the hook for several million
dollars' worth of fees," Markosek said, noting a letter he sent to
Meuser on April 9 in which he requested a copy of DLA Piper’s contract
extension. "We also asked for a copy of the promissory note the
secretary said would secure Camelot’s bid upon returning the British
company’s $50 million security deposit in February. Without proof, we
question whether or not Camelot’s bid is still valid."
"I again call on the administration to once and for all abandon
its plans to hand over management of our highly successful lottery to a
foreign company," Markosek said. "Polls show the majority of
Pennsylvanians are opposed to it and the Attorney General has already
deemed the contract to be unconstitutional.”
Sponsorship for Pa. non-discrimination bills hits new record
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A record number of state legislators are sponsoring bills that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 300 and S.B. 300 have a combined 102 sponsors, 77 in
the House and 25 in the Senate, including seven House Republicans and
two Senate Republicans, legislators announced at a Capitol news
conference. The bills would ban discrimination based on sexual
orientation or gender identity or expression statewide in employment,
housing, credit and public accommodations.
"More and more people inside the Capitol – from both parties --
agree with the vast majority of people outside the building on this.
Being gay or transgender has nothing to do with your ability to do a
good job or to be a good neighbor or tenant. This is just commonsense
legislation. Many people think it's the law already, and it should be,"
said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, lead Democratic sponsor of H.B. 300 and co-chairman of the legislature's LGBT Equality Caucus.
HDPC considers preservation of Loyalsock State Forest
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The House Democratic Policy Committee
heard from environmental experts, advocates and members of the public
at a hearing at Lycoming College May 1 to further investigate a proposal
to drill for natural gas in Loyalsock State Forest.
State Rep. Rick Mirabito, D-Lycoming, requested the hearing and served chairman. State Rep. Greg Vitali,
D-Delaware, Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources
and Energy Committee, also attended. Lawmakers heard testimony regarding
the potential environmental impact of drilling on the state forest
land.
Those testifying at the hearing included: Mary Wolf, government
relations adviser, Anadarko Petroleum Corp.: Mark Szybist, staff
attorney, PennFuture; Ralph Kisberg, founding member, Responsible
Drilling Alliance; John Trallo, member, Responsible Drilling Alliance;
Jeff Schmidt, director, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter; Steve Szoke,
vice president, Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association; Walt Nicholson,
Susquehanna Chapter vice president, Trout Unlimited; Curt Ashenfelter,
executive director, Keystone Trails Association; and Paul Zeph, director
of conservation, Audubon Pennsylvania. Testimony was followed by a
public comment period.
Package introduced to improve railroad worker safety
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, has introduced a four-bill package related to safety precautions for railroad employees.
"I've introduced these bills to help ensure a safer work environment for railroad workers," Petrarca said.
The first bill (H.B. 1311)
would establish uniform requirements for drivers hired by contract
carriers to transport railroad crews. Railroads contract with these
carriers for crew transportation services to transport small groups of
railroad employees to and from crew change points and between terminals.
Experts offer insights on making Marcellus drilling more protective of the environment, human health
A panel of experts
offered numerous suggestions to make Marcellus Shale gas drilling safer
to people and the environment during a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing held May 2 in the Capitol.
"We gathered experts in four key areas – water, air, surface and
public disclosure – to give us direction," said state Rep. Greg Vitali,
Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee, who hosted the hearing. "Now we have to analyze their
testimony and craft it into legislation and policy."
Former Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Secretary John Hanger said the state needs to increase the amount of oil
and gas inspectors by 50 percent to ensure the industry complies with
environmental laws. "Right now we do not have enough regulatory eyes
looking over the gas industry," Hanger said.
Costa applauds Senate Law and Justice Committee review of governor’s liquor privatization plan
State Rep. Paul Costa,
Democratic chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, said he is
thankful for the Senate Law and Justice Committee hosting a public
hearing on the governor’s plan to privatize the sale of wine and spirits
in Pennsylvania.
The committee heard testimony from members of the law
enforcement community, CompassMark, Drug and Alcohol Service Providers
Organization of Pennsylvania, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and students
with the Council Rock Coalition for Health Young.
“I commend Senator McIlhinney for holding the hearing. Liquor
privatization will have a severe impact on numerous facets throughout
the Commonwealth,” Costa said. “The issue deserves to be thoroughly
aired out and the public should have the opportunity to voice their
thoughts, concerns and questions on the issue, especially since the
House did not hold any hearings on this bill.”
Matzie introduces bill to assist manufacturers
Rep. Rob Matzie,
D-Beaver/Allegheny, has introduced legislation that would amend the Tax
Reform Code to add the crushing, milling and sizing of fused aluminum
to the definition of processing.
Under current law, companies performing these actions are
assessed a sales tax on a wide variety of items, including their
manufacturing equipment purchases, and other necessities of the
production process, such as leased forklifts and electrical power.
Matzie's bill would exempt these types of companies from the sales tax.
“U.S. Electrofused Minerals Inc. has been a wonderful success
story for my district since it relocated to Aliquippa over a decade
ago,” Matzie said. “The company utilizes crude brown fused aluminum
oxide and refines, crushes, mills and sizes the resulting grain for use
in sandblasting, sandpaper, refractory and anti-skid materials
industries.”
Davis launches Internet gaming proposal
State Rep. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, has introduced H.B. 1235 to establish guidelines and regulations for online gaming in Pennsylvania.
“Property-tax relief and programs that help older Pennsylvanians
would benefit under my proposal,” Davis said. “Internet gaming such as
online poker is moving forward on many fronts, and Pennsylvania should
be a leader, not a laggard, on this issue.”
Davis noted that two states bordering Pennsylvania already have initiated action on online gaming.
“Delaware enacted online casino gambling 10 months ago, and New
Jersey expects to almost double casino revenue with its approval of
Internet gambling in Atlantic City two months ago,” Davis said.
“Pennsylvania is the second-largest gambling market in the country, and
we must keep pace with the 21st century marketplace.”
HDPC examines issues with Community Blue and health care access
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Members of the House Democratic Policy Committee
heard from health care experts and consumers at a public hearing in
Pittsburgh April 29 to investigate why Community Blue customers are
losing access to health care providers.
State Reps. Dan Frankel, Democratic Caucus chairman, and Tony DeLuca,
Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee, both D-Allegheny,
requested the hearing and served as co-chairmen. The hearing looked at
specific contractual issues between Highmark and UPMC that have resulted
in the denial of patient access to care, despite the patients'
willingness to pay out-of-pocket for services rendered. UPMC declined an
invitation to testify.
“It’s not ordinarily the interest of the government to step into
contract disputes between businesses,” Frankel said. “However, it is
the government’s business to protect the interests of our constituents,
and to make sure that we create the right policies and incentives for
businesses – especially not-for-profits providing essential community
services like health care.”
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