Lawmakers propose new laws

Times Leader staff

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Old Forge, has introduced two resolutions that would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct studies on the costs and logistics associated with consolidating state agencies and departments under the governor’s jurisdiction.

House Resolution 180 calls for the committee to study whether it would be financially beneficial to merge the duties of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with the Pennsylvania , and to eliminate the Pennsylvania Department of Health and reassign its duties to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and DEP.

House Resolution 181 is broader and would direct the committee to study the fiscal impact on consolidating all state agencies and departments under the authority of the governor.

H.R. 181 would also direct the committee to analyze how other states have merged their agencies and departments.

Wansacz said state government has a responsibility to review its operations and identify ways to reduce the cost of providing services.

After adoption of the resolutions, the committee would have six months to issue a report containing its findings and merger proposals to the General Assembly.

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, has reintroduced legislation that would allow the state to certify “expanded function dental assistants.”

Pashinski’s legislation – H.B. 602 – would allow dental assistants in Pennsylvania to be certified as “expanded function dental assistants” by the State Board of Dentistry.

To become certified, dental assistants would be required to complete 3,500 hours of training under a dentist’s supervision, possess a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and pass an examination.

Following certification, expanded function dental assistants would be able to assist in dental procedures, such as polishing teeth, providing fluoride treatments and taking impressions of protective devices.

These procedures are now only performed by dentists and hygienists.

Pashinski’s bill is being considered in the House Professional Licensure Committee.

State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, said people should apply for Pennsylvania’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which ends March 30.

LIHEAP is funded by the federal government and administered by the state Department of Public Welfare to help low-income households pay their heating bills and provides assistance to individuals in danger of losing heat due to emergency situations.

A family of four with an annual income of up to $44,443 can qualify for LIHEAP.

To apply for LIHEAP, contact (570) 387-4232 in Columbia County, (570) 826-2041 in Luzerne County and (570) 836-5171 in Wyoming County.

State Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre and Doug Reichley, R-Lehigh, have cosponsored legislation that would expand the heart disease and stroke program within the state Department of Health.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association of Pennsylvania held a rally last week at the state Capitol to increase awareness, prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke.

The legislation, House Bill 816, would create a heart disease and stroke advisory committee, consisting of 18 members, including the secretaries of Aging and Long-Term Living, Health, Public Welfare and the Insurance Commissioner.

In addition, medical professionals and community representatives would also be appointed to the advisory committee by the Secretary of Health. The legislation is being considered in the House Health and Human Services Committee.

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, has joined House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Lansford, Carbon County, in the introduction of legislation that would protect customers of some of the state’s biggest electricity generating companies from massive rate hikes when rate caps expire.

The legislation, House Bill 20, would cap rate hikes at no more than 15 percent per year for a three-year period, allow customers to choose to pre-pay – and earn 6 percent interest on those payments – to reduce the impact of increased rates, and prohibit power companies from putting the burden of recovering long-term rate recovery costs on consumers.

The lawmakers said that the House Consumer Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Thursday, March 26 to gather testimony from consumers, state agencies and power companies.