OPIOID CRISIS

The Wolf administration on March 22 announced synthetic fentanyl-related substances will now be classified as Schedule I drugs, making them illegal substances. This comes as the administration continues to take steps to combat the opioid epidemic as part of Gov. Tom Wolf's statewide opioid emergency declaration.

“The opioid disaster declaration was meant to assist Pennsylvanians who are struggling with opioid-use disorder,” Wolf said in a statement. “By taking this step to classify synthetic street drugs made with fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, we are taking the necessary actions to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. This move gives law enforcement a better chance at getting these deadly drugs off the street.”

As one of the original initiatives of the disaster declaration, scheduling synthetic fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs will classify these substances as such for the next year. This action follows similar steps federally to classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration late last year.

SHALE GAS

On March 21, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the extension of a three-state agreement with Govs. Jim Justice of West Virginia and John Kasich of Ohio to collaborate on efforts to maximize the use of the shared natural gas resources in the Appalachian Basin. The extension of this agreement was aimed, according to a Wolf administration statement, at signifying to domestic and international markets that the region's shared goal is to use its resources to support manufacturing opportunities rather than to simply export gas.

“The shale gas resources in the Appalachian Basin represent enormous economic opportunity not just for Pennsylvania, but for the region as a whole,” Wolf said. “We have a unique proposition: abundant and low-cost feedstock for petrochemical and plastics manufacturing, all within the same geographic footprint. I'm proud to continue our successful collaboration with Ohio and West Virginia to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support additional development—and the jobs and economic growth that go with it—in a region with an unprecedented natural resource.”

Originally signed in 2015, the Memorandum of Understanding among the three governors creating the Tri-State Shale Coalition has led to significant progress in the areas of commonly shared infrastructure, workforce, marketing and research. The three states have collaborated to share information about policy, training and the promotion of economic growth.

CABINET OFFICERS

Gov. Tom Wolf on March 20 congratulated four members of his cabinet on their confirmations. Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jennifer Smith and Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman were all confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate.
“It gives me great pride to congratulate these four accomplished, capable women on their confirmations today,” Wolf said in a statement. “They each bring unique experience to their respective positions, but they share the same passion to serve our commonwealth and its residents.”

ANTI-HAZING BILL

State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he would hold a news conference on March 23, on the steps of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte to discuss the introduction of comprehensive legislation designed to put an end to the growing number of hazing injuries and deaths in Pennsylvania.

The news conference is scheduled to take place on the same day that a preliminary hearing was set for 11 fraternity members facing charges stemming from the death of Penn State student Timothy Piazza, according to the Penn State student news blog Onward State.

A statement from Corman's office said he would be joined by members of the Piazza family at the press conference announcing the initiative. Piazza died in 2017 after falling from the roof of a fraternity house, the blog post said. •