| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| HOUSE BILL |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, PALLONE, PAYTON, MAHER, SIPTROTH, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, KIRKLAND, DEASY, THOMAS, BROWN AND JOSEPHS, FEBRUARY 11, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, FEBRUARY 11, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| 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," in public assistance, |
4 | further providing for administration of assistance and for |
5 | additional services for medically needy recipients; and |
6 | abrogating a regulation. |
7 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
8 | hereby enacts as follows: |
9 | Section 1. Section 403(b) of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L. |
10 | 31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, amended May 16, |
11 | 1996 (P.L.175, No.35), is amended to read: |
12 | Section 403. Uniformity in Administration of Assistance; |
13 | Regulations as to Assistance.--* * * |
14 | (b) The department shall establish rules, regulations and |
15 | standards, consistent with the law, as to eligibility for |
16 | assistance and as to its nature and extent. The department is |
17 | authorized to seek waivers from the Federal Government to |
18 | enhance consistency between Federal program standards, |
19 | requirements or procedures. This shall not be interpreted to |
|
1 | require the department to seek waivers to achieve consistency |
2 | among standards, requirements or procedures in Federal programs, |
3 | except as specifically required under other provisions in this |
4 | article. Whenever possible, except for residency requirements |
5 | for general assistance, and consistent with State law, the |
6 | department shall establish rules, regulations and standards for |
7 | general assistance consistent with those established for aid to |
8 | families with dependent children. In no instance shall the |
9 | rules, regulations and standards established for general |
10 | assistance provide for assistance greater than that provided for |
11 | aid to families with dependent children. If three or more |
12 | general assistance recipients reside together in the same |
13 | household, their income eligibility and cash assistance shall be |
14 | no greater than income eligibility and cash assistance from aid |
15 | to families with dependent children for a household of the same |
16 | size. Regulations under this subsection shall provide for a |
17 | personal needs allowance deduction of fifty dollars ($50) from |
18 | the gross income of an individual eligible for medical |
19 | assistance. The secretary or a written designee is the only |
20 | person authorized to adopt regulations, orders, or standards of |
21 | general application to implement, interpret, or make specific |
22 | the law administered by the department. The secretary shall |
23 | issue interim regulations whenever changes in Federal laws and |
24 | regulations supersede existing statutes. In adopting |
25 | regulations, orders, or standards of general application, the |
26 | secretary shall strive for clarity of language which may be |
27 | readily understood by those administering assistance and by |
28 | those who apply for or receive assistance. For the purpose of |
29 | this subsection, the term "household" does not include single- |
30 | room occupancy residences, rooming houses, nonprofit residential |
|
1 | programs or personal care facilities receiving charitable |
2 | funding or Federal, State or local government funding. |
3 | * * * |
4 | Section 2. Section 442.2 of the act, added June 16, 1994 |
5 | (P.L.319, No.49), is amended to read: |
6 | Section 442.2. Additional Services for Certain Medically |
7 | Needy Recipients.--In addition to other services provided to the |
8 | medically needy: |
9 | (1) Persons who receive or are eligible for chronically |
10 | needy general assistance pursuant to section 432(3)(i) shall |
11 | receive coverage for prescribed medications. |
12 | (2) Recipients in general assistance-related categories |
13 | whose benefits are funded at least in part by the Federal |
14 | Government may receive such additional medical benefits as are |
15 | federally funded. The department shall publish notice of such |
16 | additional services in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. |
17 | (3) Persons who are eligible for public assistance shall be |
18 | eligible for a hearing aid sold in accordance with section 403 |
19 | of the act of November 24, 1976 (P.L.1182, No.262), known as the |
20 | "Hearing Aid Sales Registration Law." |
21 | Section 3. The provisions of 55 Pa. Code § 181.452(d)(1)(i) |
22 | are abrogated. |
23 | Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
|