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State Legislative Session
The preliminary schedules for Harrisburg session days for the State House and Senate are as follows: (Note that nv means it is counted as a session day, but there are no votes.)

House:
January 4, 18nv, 19nv, 24, 25, 26nv, 31
February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15
March 14, 15, 16, 29, 30
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate:
January 4, 24, 25, 26, 31
February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15
March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22
April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30

Between January, 2003 when the legislative session began and November 19, 2004, when the post-election “lame duck” session began, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed into law, 98 bills. In the few weeks of lame duck session before November 30, 141 additional bills were enacted. PIE will be preparing and sending to all members of the new General Assembly a review of the action last session on legislation of interest to the disability community. Copies will be available upon request to the PIE office within the next few months. Below, we highlight some of the lame duck activity:

Family Support
H.B. 2270 sponsored by Representative Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), provides for the development and implementation of pilot projects with the goal of establishing a statewide system of family support services for families of persons with the full range of disabilities.  The bill establishes principles of a family support program in state law. While it doesn’t provide funding, it does require the Department of Public Welfare to seek funds for a pilot. The bill was passed by both chambers and signed into law on November 30 as Act 198 of 2004.

Mental Health Advance Directives
Introduced by Representative Kenney (R-Philadelphia), H.B. 2036 was developed by mental health consumers and advocates. It provides for mental health care declarations and powers of attorney. Itallows adults to control their mental health care either through instructions written in advance or indirectly through a mental health care agent. The bill was signed by the Governor on November 30 and became Act 194 of 2004.

Public Transit
Public Transit authorities, especially in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, have announced that because of deficits there will be cuts in transit services unless they receive additional funds. In November, the General Assembly passed H.B. 2664 which included a provision allowing the Department of Transportation to provide temporary assistance of up to $6 million of unspent public transit assistance funds for public transit authorities. That bill was vetoed by the Governor. The Governor and the Department of Transportation have transferred $19 million, including $13.3 million in federal highway funds and $1 million in unspent funds from the persons with disabilities shared ride program, to public transit as a temporary fix.

Consent to MH Treatment
S.B. 137 was introduced by Senator Mowery (R-Cumberland) and provides for minors’ consent to mental health treatment. It was signed into law as Act 147 of 2004. It allows parents to consent to inpatient mental health treatment for their children under age 18. It also requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to report to the General Assembly within a year on the children’s mental health system.

Utility Service
In December, Governor Rendell signed S.B. 677 sponsored by Senator Tomlinson

(R-Bucks), and it became Act 201 of 2004. The new law makes it easier for utilities to shut off service when payment is not up to date. There are special rules for people who have medical certification of serious illness.

Print Media Access
S.B. 79 sponsored by Senator Mowery (R-Cumberland), became Act 174 of 2004 when it was signed by the Governor on November 29. Act 174 amends the Dual Party Relay Service and Telecommunications Device Distribution Act to also provide print media access to people who are blind.  

Control of Health Care
S.B. 492 introduced by Senator Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), provided for living wills and health care powers of attorney. The bill was passed by both chambers, but vetoed by the Governor.

Welfare Code Amendments
H.B. 1211 sponsored by Representative Micozzie (R-Delaware), has several purposes. It raises the personal needs allowance from $40 to $45 beginning July 1, 2007. It changes the date for imposition of the ICF-MR assessment for public ICFs from July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2004. It also extends the MCare reduction of malpractice insurance for doctors for another year and adds podiatrists to those who can receive the reduction. The bill became Act 154 of 2004 when it was signed November 29, 2004.

Slots
In July, the General Assembly passed a bill that would use revenue generated by 14 slot machine parlors to reduce school property taxes for homeowners. The entire bill was opposed by a number of groups opposed to gambling. Specific concerns were also raised about some provisions of the law, particularly those related to ownership of slot parlors by elected officials and to who can supply the machines. Just before the legislative session ended in late November, the General Assembly passed another bill which would amend the original slots law to restrict ownership and to change requirements about who can supply the machines and about how much control local governments would have. That bill was then vetoed by the Governor, but the Governor’s veto has been challenged by Republican leaders on a technicality.