FALL SESSION BEGINS SEPT. 15

The General Assembly returns to Harrisburg on Sept. 15, with 11 session days planned in the Senate and 12 in the House before the 2013-2014 session closes on Nov. 30. Despite the limited timeframe, much remains to be done, including several bills important to counties.

A priority for counties this year has been to comprehensively address the growing substance abuse and drug overdose problem across the commonwealth. Legislation critical to reversing this trend must be approved this fall, including issues such as getting naloxone, a rescue drug effective in treating overdoses and saving lives, into the hands of emergency responders (with immunity for those seeking help and access to it) and creating a prescription drug monitoring system to help identify potential addictions so they can be addressed earlier.

Other outstanding bills include SB 1078, Sen. Sean Wiley's (D-Erie) bill to clarify that cost of living adjustments (COLAs) granted under the County Pension Law would not have to be calculated retroactively to the date of the previous COLA, nor applied to each year since the COLA. It has been referred to the House Finance Committee after winning the unanimous approval of the Senate in late June. House Bill 2131 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester) and SB 1322 (former CCAP member Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair) would fix a drafting error in the County Consolidated Assessment Law to assure all buildings are considered real estate, and thus assessable, as they were prior to the consolidation. Both have been reported by their respective chamber's Local Government committees, and one will need to be approved by both chambers to make it to the Governor's desk. Senate Bill 771, introduced by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia), would create a statewide geospatial board to bring together state, local, and other interests to improve coordination of data collection and analysis. The bill needs just a floor vote in the House to get to the Governor's desk, while a companion bill, HB 1285, introduced by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Finally, HB 942 (Rep. Sandy Major, R-Susquehanna) would provide guidance relating to oil and gas documents filed in county recorder of deeds offices, and is currently before the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

LEGISLATIVE ATTENTION TO DRUG OVERDOSE CRISIS INCREASES

Over the summer, several groups of legislators gathered to address the growing opiate crisis facing the commonwealth. The hearings involved testimony from government officials, drug and alcohol professionals, medical groups, law enforcement, and community partners. Though the backgrounds of these experts varied, a common theme emerged: The need for legislation to provide solutions.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVES HEALTHY PA WAVIER

Gov. Corbett announced on Aug. 28 that the federal government has approved Pennsylvania's Healthy PA Medicaid waiver plan. The plan was originally part of his FY 2014-2015 budget proposal, intended to reform Medicaid, increase access to health care, and improve the financial stability of the state's Medicaid system. Under the approved plan, Medicaid funds will subsidize private insurance for many in the newly-eligible population under the Affordable Care Act. Individuals deemed medically frail, which may include those with serious mental illness and substance abuse, will be placed in a high-risk category and continue to receive their coverage through Medicaid managed care (HealthChoices).

PA SUPERIOR COURT RULES MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The state Superior Court called the current practice of mandatory minimum sentences unconstitutional, vacating the sentence of a Montgomery County man who had received a mandatory 5-year sentence for possession of drugs and a firearm.

RESOLUTIONS AND PLATFORM REVISION

In the prior edition of the Bulletin we reported on policy resolutions adopted following consideration at the CCAP Annual Conference business meeting on August 5, 2014, and approval by the full CCAP membership by electronic ballot. The resolutions amend the Pennsylvania County Platform, the Association's cumulative policy statement. Following is the second installment of resolutions adopted. The full set of resolutions, along with the Platform, is available on the CCAP website, www.pacounties.org. 

Resolution NO. 12 (Submitted by the CCAP Energy, Environment and Land Use Committee) - The Association supports increased state and federal funding to help local communities meet more stringent state and federal water quality standards.

RESOLUTION NO. 13 (Submitted by the CCAP Energy, Environment and Land Use Committee) - The Association supports efforts to guarantee adequate state funding for storm water planning and improve storm water planning across municipal boundaries in order to meet existing water quality requirements, while opposing changes to storm water management laws which:

CCAP's waterway and infrastructure maintenance priority speaks to the need for state funding for storm water planning, which has not been appropriated since FY 2008-2009.