December 2, 2009, 3:08 pm
The House Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing this morning to discuss House Bill 1393, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. HB 1393 would allow the Department of Health to create and regulate a means of dispensing medical marijuana to individuals with specific debilitating diseases. Prime sponsor of the bill, Representative Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) suggested that the intent of the bill is to afford protections from arrest and prosecution for individuals whom with recommendation of a physician, wish to use medical marijuana to alleviate chronic pain or combat negative side effects from chemotherapy or HIV/AIDs treatments. In addition to the prime sponsor, numerous proponents and opponents of medical marijuana offered testimonies and answered committee member’s questions. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more information.
November 17, 2009, 3:44 pm
The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 1616 which adds the chemical Dextromethorphan to the list of specific chemicals subject to registration under the Non-Controlled Substances Reporting and Registration Act. Also unanimously reported as committed was HR 285 directing the Department of Health to conduct a study on the accessiblity and effectiveness of sickle cell services in the Commonwealth. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
November 16, 2009, 1:54 pm
The House Health & Human Services Committee held a public hearing today on House Resolution 585 of 2006. HR 585 directed the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, of the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a parent panel which would study family and community access to drug and alcohol treatment programs. At the hearing, committee members heard numerous testimonies from parents of children whose lives have been severely affected by addiction and the lack of available treatment resources. The Pennsylvania Parent Panel Advisory Council (PPAC) reported its findings and recommendations to the committee, which included creating a cabinet-level position for the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more information.
November 10, 2009, 10:42 am
The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 882 providing for pharmacy audit procedures and HB 894 establishing a task force on Lyme disease and related maladies. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
October 2, 2009, 3:54 pm
Along a series of party-line votes, the House Gaming Oversight Committee adopted an omnibus amendment into Senate gaming reform bill SB 711 this afternoon, providing for table games and making several changes to the reform measures, and reported the bill out to the House Floor by a vote of 14-11. Minority Chairman Curt Schroder (R-Chester) and Representatives Paul Clymer (R-Bucks) and Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) led a vocal but ultimately fruitless opposition to the circumstances surrounding the passage of the bill. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for full coverage of the meeting, along with analysis of the documents and amendments.
August 26, 2009, 5:04 pm
The House Health & Human Services Committee held a public hearing today to listen to a briefing from Secretary Everette James and other Department of Health officials on a possible H1N1 flu (Swine Flu) outbreak in the fall. Secretary James provided an overview of the outbreak of H1N1 in the spring and also explained what plans the state has drawn up to deal with another potential outbreak when flu season begins in the fall. Topics discussed included the development of a vaccine for H1N1, distribution of that vaccine, as well as how schools, businesses, and regular citizens should be prepared to deal with another future outbreak. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
August 26, 2009, 11:01 am
The House Health & Human Services Committee met today to vote on two bills and two resolutions. House Bill 816 was unanimously reported as amended by amendment A03334 and House Bill 1358 was also unanimously reported as amended by amendment A03590. House Resolution 380 and House Resolution 404 were both unanimously reported by the committee. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
August 12, 2009, 1:03 pm
At a public hearing that began at 9 a.m. and lasted into the afternoon, the House Gaming Oversight Committee heard from a number of stakeholders on the merits of bringing table games to Pennsylvania. Casino operators, representatives of the Commonwealth’s equine industry, tourism industry, and research firm Innovation Group were among those offering testimony. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
