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Welcome to "Mike's Memo," an update on what's
happening in the 48th Legislative District, the State Capitol, and the progress
on my "Promise to Pennsylvania," a pledge to advance government reforms, enact meaningful lawsuit abuse reform, eliminate wasteful state spending, and cut
taxes. If you haven't done so already, please take a few moments to visit my website at
www.senatorfolmer.com to learn more about issues that may affect you and your family.
Week of February 14, 2011
School Choice Hearing
The Senate Education Committee will hold an important
public hearing on
Senate Bill 1, the Opportunity and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act
(i.e., school choice), on Wednesday, February 16, from 9:15 a.m. –
3:30 p.m. The Hearing will be held in Hearing room #1, North Office
Building. Department of Education Secretary-Designate Ron Tomalis will offer
testimony, as will representatives from REACH Alliance & Foundation, and
American Federation of Teachers. For a complete hearing agenda, visit my
website.
Senate Gets Down to Business
Senate committees have begun to meet and report a number of measures to the
full Senate for consideration. Bills include:
Senate Bill 3 - exempts abortions from insurance coverage under health
insurance exchanges established by the new federal health care law;
Senate Bill 9 - requires proof of citizenship to receive public benefits;
Senate Bill 42 - closes a loophole in Pennsylvania's "Megan's Law;"
Senate Bill 58 - adds additional protections for the victims of sexual
violence;
Senate Bill 59 - establishes complaint procedures for judges under the
Judicial Conduct
Board;
Senate Bill 79 - establishes procedures for foreign depositions and
subpoenas;
Senate Bill 88 - provides oversight of unincorporated nonprofit
associations;
Senate Bill 110 - requires for logs in the use of state aircraft;
Senate Bill 157 - establishes a task force on Homeless Children's Education;
Senate Bill 159 - authorizes the Commonwealth to join the Interstate Compact
on
Educational Opportunity for Military Children;
Senate Bill 200 - establishes standards for the management of concussions
and
traumatic brain injuries of student athletes;
Senate Bill 203 - provides for the transfer of credits among institutions of
higher
learning;
Senate Bill 224 - expands the list of convicted offenses that prohibit a
person from
being employed in a school;
Senate Bill 244 - requires schools to offer CPR training classes at least
once every three
years as an option to all school employees;
Senate Bill 251 - requires schools to post certain contracts online;
Senate Bill 328 - establishes a mechanism for the restoration of student
drivers' licenses
Senate Bill 343 - restricts the Pennsylvania Department of Education from
sharing
certain student identity information; and
Senate Bill 344 - provides for public-private transportation partnerships.
THANK YOU, Governor Corbett!
Governor Tom Corbett recently rescinded the contract awarded in the waning
days of the Rendell Administration for the proposed Pennsylvania Health
Information Exchange (PHIX), a planned automated information system designed to
electronically share patient information among health care providers
confidentially.
The previous Administration proposed paying for this $31.7 million contract
with $17.1 million in federal stimulus moneys. This gap, combined with the plan
to award the contract through a sole-source/no-bid award subsequently modified
through an RFP, resulted in many – including myself – questioning whether the
process was fair, open, and transparent. I see the suspension of the PHIX
contract as a victory for taxpayers and want to extend my thanks and
appreciation to Governor Corbett for fixing PHIX!
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Offices
170 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5708
Fax: 717-787-3455
TTY: 800-364-1581
101 Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-274-6735
Fax: 717-274-7702
Toll Free: 1-877-222-1897 Email:
mfolmer@pasen.gov
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