House Round-Up: some of the bills that passed this week

(The Center Square) – This week, the House sent the Senate the Pennsylvania Food Bucks program, as well as a hastily passed controversial cyber charter funding reform bill.

Here’s a look at some of the other measures that passed the House this week.

Medical Care

A bill ensuring insurance coverage for contraceptives passed the House with a vote of 116-87.

In a memo supporting the bill, prime sponsor Rep. Leanne Krueger wrote, “These are uncertain times for women’s health including contraceptive access. At the Federal level, we have seen policy proposals that threaten access to contraceptives mandated by the Affordable Care Act. These potential threats endanger the health and economic security of at least 2.5 million women in Pennsylvania who depend on the coverage funded by their employers for access to affordable, effective contraceptives. These targeted and cruel assaults on women’s health must end.”

For those reentering society after incarceration, a gap in medical services including substance use treatment can create huge obstacles, sometimes leading to recidivism or death. Rep. Tim Briggs, D-King of Prussia, has seen the successful passage of his bill which would allow inmates to access medical services and a 30-day supply of medication during their transition.

House Bill 554 promises to make practicing social work in the state a more appealing prospect. The bill, which received broad bipartisan support, would enter the state into the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing social workers to apply for multi-state licenses and serve clients across state lines. The change would increase telehealth opportunities for patients.

Another bill, HB 668 would authorize the state to join the National Counseling Compact, achieving a similar aim by allowing states within the compact to recognize each other’s licensure for counselors.

A bill with bipartisan sponsorship received 197 yes votes to 5 no votes from Republicans. The bill would institute a Neurodegenerative Disease Research Program and corresponding $10 million fund. Both of the bill’s prime sponsors, Kyle Mullins, D-Olyphant, and Bryan Cutler, R-Quarryville, lost parents to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS.

“Although we often associate “loss” with these diseases, we must never lose hope that more effective treatments or cures are just one medical breakthrough away,” wrote Mullins. “Pennsylvania is home to some of the top research institutions in the world, but this research is largely dependent on limited federal grant dollars, which are extremely competitive.”

Older Adults

A bill that would remove the profit margin for the Pennsylvania State Lottery received resounding bipartisan support. The move is expected to help the lottery become more competitive with other gambling and entertainment industries, thereby increasing the revenue brought in to support older Pennsylvanians.

Another important legislative assist to older Pennsylvanians is the state’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program, which helps those with low and fixed incomes. A bill moved to the senate that would allow payments to be issued as soon as they are approved rather than waiting till after July 1st.

Economics

Legislators moved forward an update to the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program will allow beginning farmers to share the tax credits it provides. Currently the program offers tax credits to veteran farmers as incentive to assist people new to the work. According to the bill’s prime sponsor Rep. Paul Friel, D-Pottstown, since the program’s inception in 2019, only 50 new farmers have been certified.

A bill that would establish a program for drivers who have received lifetime disqualifications from their commercial driver’s license, or CDL, passed the House. Meant to address a shortage in the industry, it would allow those who are at least ten years out from their disqualification to enroll in a reinstatement program. The bill excludes those who have committed more egregious offenses like drug or human trafficking.

Speculative ticketing, a much bemoaned practice in which scalpers sell concert and event tickets online before acquiring them has passed the House.

“The concept is simple: If you don’t have it, you can’t sell it,” wrote the bill’s prime sponsor Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Ambridge.