Opioid Crisis

Gov. Tom Wolf on April 4 announced the renewal of his 90-day opioid disaster declaration, which was introduced in January and set to expire on Tuesday. The renewal allows for 13 anti-opioid initiatives introduced in the past 90 days to continue without interruption and for the introduction of new measures to help those suffering from opioid addiction, a statement from the Wolf administration said.

“Extending this declaration will allow us to continue our efforts to break down silos and enhance collaboration across state government,” Wolf said. “Throughout the next 90 days, we will work to expand our efforts to include additional state agencies and commissions as necessary, so that we can direct our help to more communities across the commonwealth.”

Among several measures extended by the declaration are Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine's naloxone leave-behind standing order, which allows first responders, in the wake of an emergency call, to leave overdose survivors with the treatment and instructions on how to use it.

Public Health

On April 4, Wolf was joined by Pennsylvania Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, leader of the Senate Democrats, to announce legislation—Senate Bill 1001—that would empower the secretary of health to declare a public health emergency, creating a more streamlined vehicle for deploying resources specific to that emergency—which would apply in a health crisis of any nature.

The announcement was made at the same press event in which Wolf renewed the opioid disaster declaration. According to an administration statement, one option that has been unavailable to Wolf is the authority to formally declare a public health emergency.

“We need more tools to beat back the addiction crisis sweeping Pennsylvania, and I'm hopeful that a public health emergency designation will help the administration cut red tape and find creative solutions,” Costa said.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving citations in Pennsylvania jumped by 52 percent last year and have increased 172 percent since 2013, according to a report issued by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts on April 2, a day before a legislative hearing on the topic.

According to an infographic released by the AOPC, Montgomery County led the state with 11 percent of all distracted-driving citations issued.

The state House of Representatives Transportation Committee met on April 3 to consider two proposals: House Bill 892, which would strengthen penalties for those cited for careless driving when the case stemmed from electronic distraction; and House Bill 1684, which would make it illegal to use a cellphone without a hands-free device while driving.

Parental Rights

The National Parents Organization of Pennsylvania on April 4 announced it is organizing a rally on April 25 at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

The event is set to happen at a time when Pennsylvania legislators are considering two bills—House Bill 443 and House Bill 1349—aimed at supporting shared parenting after separation or divorce and combatting parental alienation.

Stephen Meehan, chairman of National Parents Organization of Pennsylvania, said in a press statement: “Shared parenting can prevent attempts to alienate a child from a fit parent.
However, far too often, the courts order sole custody to one parent after a bitter, winner-take-all custody battle instead of ensuring children have both loving, fit parents in their lives. Often, a noncustodial parent has so little time with the child, the winning parent is empowered to knowingly or unknowingly marginalize the child from a fit and loving parent, creating heartbreak for child and parent. The marginalization alienates children and the parents.”
In recent years, Kentucky, Utah, South Dakota, Missouri and Minnesota have enacted similar reforms, the organization said in a statement. •