PRINTER'S NO. 2779
No. 2185 Session of 1980
INTRODUCED BY HASAY, SHUPNIK, COSLETT, MUSTO AND B. F. O'BRIEN,
JANUARY 29, 1980
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 29, 1980
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing a procedure for
4 the review and approval by legislative committees of proposed
5 State mental hospital closings or substantial reduction in
6 patients or staff.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Article III, act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
10 No.21), known as the "Public Welfare Code," is amended by adding
11 a subdivision to read:
12 ARTICLE III
13 STATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
14 PUBLIC WELFARE
15 * * *
16 (f) State Mental Hospitals
17 Section 361. Legislative Intent.--It is hereby declared to
18 be the legislative intent to promote the welfare of this
19 Commonwealth by providing a review and approval process by
1 certain committees of the General Assembly before any State
2 mental hospitals are closed or before their staff or patient
3 population are substantially reduced by department action.
4 Section 362. Review and Appraisal by Legislative Committees
5 Required Prior to Closing.--(a) At least ninety days before the
6 department schedules the closing of any State mental hospital or
7 initiates a policy of staff reduction or patient transfer or
8 outplacement which will result in a twenty-five percent or
9 higher reduction during a twelve-month period of either the
10 staff or patient population of such State mental hospital, the
11 department shall notify the majority and minority chairmen of
12 the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and of the House
13 Health and Welfare Committee.
14 (b) Upon being notified of the proposed closing or a
15 substantial reduction in staff or patients as provided in
16 subsection (a), the House Health and Welfare Committee and the
17 Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee shall promptly hold
18 either joint or separate public hearings on the department's
19 proposal to determine the impact on the patients, community and
20 staff.
21 (c) The department shall not implement any proposed closing
22 or substantial reduction in staff or patients as provided in
23 subsection (a) until such time as the Senate Public Health and
24 Welfare Committee and the House Health and Welfare Committee,
25 acting individually, each approve the department's proposed
26 action and so notify the department.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall
28 be applicable to all closings and substantial staff or patient
29 reductions proposed to take effect on or after January 1, 1980.
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