Pennsylvania SB 157: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reports to General Assembly.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 107
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 157
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, MARTIN, ROTHMAN, COLEMAN, J. WARD,
HUTCHINSON, BAKER AND VOGEL, JANUARY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
further providing for reports to General Assembly.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 437 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
No.21), known as the Human Services Code, is amended to read:
Section 437. Reports to General Assembly.--(a) Two copies
of all reports required by the national center for social
statistics of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
shall be furnished to the Senate Public Health and Welfare
Committee and the Health and Welfare Committee of the House of
Representatives when they are submitted to the Federal
Government. Similar reports prepared concerning general
assistance, the State Blind Pension and State supplemental
assistance shall be similarly furnished to the committees.
(b) The department shall also issue an annual report to the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human
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Services Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Human Services Committee of the
House of Representatives that includes the following
information:
(1) Details on information relating to the changes in how
lottery winnings are counted for all forms of cash assistance,
including the following:
(i) Details on how many applicants reported lottery winnings
of six hundred dollars ($600) or more.
(ii) Details on how many of those applicants were denied
assistance due to lottery winnings of six hundred dollars ($600)
or more.
(iii) Details on any potential gaps in communication
encountered between the department and county assistance offices
which may have resulted in the failed reporting of winnings of
six hundred dollars ($600) or more.
(iv) Details regarding ongoing strategies between the
department and the Pennsylvania State Lottery in carrying out
the program.
(2) Details on how many vehicles were exempted in total as a
result of the provisions covered under this article.
(3) Details on the average equity value of vehicles counted
as resources for all recipients.
(4) Details on information regarding replacement access
devices, including the following:
(i) Details on how many recipients requested a replacement
access device under section 485(a).
(ii) Details on how many additional access devices were
issued under section 485(b) and (b.1).
(iii) Details on how many times the fee for replacement
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access devices was overridden.
(iv) Details on how many recipients were reported to the
Office of Inspector General for requesting two or more
replacement access devices in a calendar year.
(5) Details on how many instances recipients attempted to
make purchases or withdraw funds in violation of section 484.
(6) Details highlighting any changes in reports from
previous years.
(7) Any recommendations to the General Assembly that the
department may deem necessary to improve the implementation of
this article.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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