Pennsylvania State Capitol. Photo: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action Oct. 4 and the week beginning Oct. 7. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time, and scheduled to return to session Oct. 21.

Signed Into Law

Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 4 signed two bills into law.

House Bill 318 updated the rules governing Pennsylvania's do-not-call list, amending the Telemarketer Registration Act to make enrollment permanent so that renewal is not necessary after five years. The bill also bans phone solicitation on legal holidays and requires robocalls to begin by offering an opt-out to end the call and block future calls. It also allows business telephone subscribers to sign up

State Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny, sponsored the bill, which was passed unanimously in both houses of the General Assembly.

The law, designated as Act 73 of 2019, is set to take effect Dec. 3, 60 days after Wolf's bill-signing.

House Bill 1557 brings Pennsylvania's Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act into line with federal law by allowing operators to retain their permits during periods of temporary cessation of operations.

The law also requires new coal refuse disposal areas to have water contamination prevention systems and allow for revegetation and prevention of erosion.

State Rep. Matt Gabler, R-Clearfield, sponsored the bill, which passed unanimously in the state House of Representatives and was approved on a 46-3 vote in the Pennsylvania Senate.

"I'm proud that legislation I've authored will now take effect, helping the nearly 18,000 men and women statewide who work in the mines, as well as the $4 billion this industry generates annually," Gabler said in a statement. "The coal industry is extremely sensitive to economic headwinds, and any level of stability we can provide for these hard-working Pennsylvanians gives them further peace of mind."

The law was designated as Act 74 of 2019.

Parenting Support

The Wolf administration announced Oct. 9 that, under the guidance of the Department of Human Services, it is expanding home visits to offer support to first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs covered by Medicaid.

The expansion, according to a statement, guarantees at least two home visits to new parents and families with children with additional risk factors across Pennsylvania, expanding access to support for healthy child and family development. The move was made possible in collaboration with physical health Medicaid managed care organizations, the statement said.

"There is no more important focus of my administration than giving all children and families a strong start," Wolf said. "By expanding access to evidence-based home visiting programs, we will put more kids, parents and families on a path to a healthy, happy future."

Since 2015, the administration statement said, investments totaling nearly $16.5 million in state funds have helped increase the number of children and families that can receive home visiting supports in communities around Pennsylvania. Guaranteeing a minimum of two home visits to all first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs through Medicaid continues this work.

Wolf's Ready to Start Task Force released its report in September, including two priorities tied directly to home visiting: to "increase availability of high-quality child care and home-visiting service slots" and to "promote education, engagement, and support of parents and families as children's first teachers."

"This significantly expanded access to home visiting truly helps to fulfill our mission for increasing the ways to help our youngest residents get a strong, focused beginning," Wolf said.

Food Security

The Wolf administration's Food Security Partnership on Oct. 8 hosted the annual food security summit to update stakeholders, advocates and federal partners about progress with the Blueprint for a Hunger-Free PA to address food insecurity and discuss work to combat hunger.

"Food insecurity has overwhelming impacts on so many parts of our society," Wolf said. "The work that has been done to accomplish necessary steps from the Blueprint is a testament to a government that works together to provide Pennsylvanians the resources to live a healthy and happy life. Everyone should be proud of the work that has been accomplished to date, but we know there is still work to be done to ensure no one lives with chronic hunger."

According to an administration statement, more than 1.53 million Pennsylvanians experience chronic hunger every day, including 478,500 older Pennsylvanians and about 437,000 children.

Since hunger and health are deeply connected, the effects of chronic hunger are profound, including increased risks for chronic diseases, higher chances of hospitalization, poorer overall health, and increased health care costs. Adequate access to healthy meals is also critical to child development and success in education so kids can focus in school and lead healthier, more productive lives.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the nation's most important anti-hunger program, helping 1.8 million Pennsylvanians keep food on their tables.

Cyber Education

House Education Committee Chairman Curt Sonney, R-Erie, on Oct. 4 announced that he has introduced legislation that would require all school districts to offer full-time cyber education programs.

Sonney's bill would update the 2002 law authorizing the creation of cyber charter schools. While such schools are supported by local taxpayer dollars, Sonney observed they are not held accountable to their local school districts. He said his bill was meant to resolve that contradiction.

"It is my intention that this legislation will eliminate the tension between school districts and cyber charter schools," Sonney said. "The goal of my legislation is to offer students access to high-quality cyber education programs in a way that is accountable and transparent to local communities."

House Bill 1897 would give school districts the flexibility to create their own full-time cyber education programs or work with third-party vendors such as intermediate units, cyber charter schools, institutions of higher education, other school districts, or educational entities to offer these programs. In addition, the measure would require school districts to provide at least two alternative full-time cyber programs, offered by a third-party vendor, other than the school districts intermediate unit or another school district.

Menstrual Equity

Sen. Maria Collett, D-Montgomery, on Oct. 7 introduced a bill that would ensure that menstrual products are made available at public bathroom facilities.

The measure would be called the Pennsylvania Menstrual Equity Act.

Collett, in a memo to her Senate colleagues, said that Pennsylvania women visiting public restrooms often find that their basic hygiene needs are unmet, even though the contents of restrooms are the subject of a 1921 law requiring soap, toilet paper and other needs.

"This lack of access to a basic necessity can lead to compromised health, embarrassment due to stigma, even missed days of work or school. Lack of public access is especially challenging for and punitive to those living in poverty," Collett said.

The legislation would also require Pennsylvania agencies serving the young, low-income, homeless or incarcerated would be required to make menstrual products available at no cost just as they do with toilet paper and other basic hygiene products.

"To me, it's a no-brainer. Humans need toilet paper. Public restrooms supply toilet paper. This is no different. Lack of access to these products can lead to compromised hygiene, embarrassment due to stigma, even missed days of work or school," Collett said. "Lack of public access is especially punitive to those living in poverty. Menstrual products are not covered by programs like SNAP or WIC."

School Safety

Sen. Pam Iovino, D-Allegheny, on Oct. 8 announced her plan to introduce legislation to restore arrest, detention and citation powers to school police officers.

The measure, Iovino said, is aimed at increasing school safety by undoing an unintended consequence of a law passed earlier this year.

Act 67 of 2019 addressed school safety but removed several powers that had been available to school police officers. As a result those powers have been shifted to municipal police officers, Iovino said.

"I have heard concerns throughout the 37th Senatorial District regarding the repeal of school police officers' arrest, detention, and citation powers and its negative impact on school safety," she said. "I am hopeful for strong bipartisan support for this commonsense school safety legislation."

Iovino's bill would give school police officers the powers they had under Act 30 of 1997. Iovino did say those powers are "not absolute" because those powers must be granted by a common pleas judge in the county where a school district is situated.