Pennsylvania HB 157: An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Preferred® Trademark, further providing for definitions, for Pennsylvania Preferred® trademark, for licensee qualification, for duties and authority of department, for trademark license agreement, application and licensure process, for costs, for Pennsylvania Preferred® Trademark Licensing Fund, for injunctive relief, for rules and regulations and for purpose, repealing provisions relating to definitions and further providing for qualified veterans and qualified veteran business entities.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 99 PRINTER'S NO. 475
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 157
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RAPP, FRANKEL, TWARDZIK, SANCHEZ, ZIMMERMAN,
VENKAT, HOWARD, KHAN, CUTLER, GREINER, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN,
PICKETT, WEBSTER, GREEN, BOROWSKI AND HANBIDGE,
JANUARY 14, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for grant awards to entities in rural counties and
designated medically underserved areas to pay for the
education debt of practitioners employed at the entity.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Rural Health
Care Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Legislative intent.
It is the intent of the General Assembly through this
legislation to:
(1) Allow entities in designated medically underserved
areas and rural areas to have an opportunity to recruit and
retain high quality practitioners.
(2) Have more practitioners available to practice in
designated medically underserved areas and rural areas.
(3) Give patients in designated medically underserved
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areas and rural areas more access to practitioners.
(4) Prevent the possible closure of entities in
designated medically underserved areas and rural areas due to
practitioner shortages.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Birth center." As defined in section 802.1 of the act of
July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care
Facilities Act.
"DENTAL HYGIENIST." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE ACT OF
MAY 1, 1933 (P.L.216, NO.76), KNOWN AS THE DENTAL LAW.
"DENTIST." AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSED IN THE PRACTICE OF
DENTISTRY UNDER THE DENTAL LAW.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Designated medically underserved area." The term shall mean
the same as defined under section 1301 of the act of December 2,
1992 (P.L.741, No.113), known as the Children's Health Care Act.
"Education debt." Debt incurred for professional schooling
to practice as a practitioner in this Commonwealth.
"Entity." A birth center, a federally qualified health
center, a rural health clinic or a hospital.
"Federally qualified health center." As defined in 42 U.S.C.
§ 1396d(l)(2)(B) (relating to definitions). The term includes a
federally qualified health center look-alike.
"Full-time." A practitioner who works on average more than
30 hours per week or more than 130 hours per month.
"Grant." A sum of money that is awarded to an entity by the
department under this act.
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"Hospital." A general acute care or specialty hospital
located in a designated medically underserved area or rural
county.
"Licensed practical nurse." An individual licensed to
practice practical nursing under the act of March 2, 1956 (1955
P.L.1211, No.376), known as the Practical Nurse Law.
"Midwife or nurse-midwife." As defined in section 2 of the
act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical
Practice Act of 1985.
"Nurse." A licensed practical nurse or registered nurse.
"Physician." Either:
(1) as defined in section 2 of the act of October 5,
1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical
Practice Act; or
(2) as defined in section 2 of the Medical Practice Act
of 1985.
"PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE
DENTAL LAW.
"Practitioner." A physician, nurse or, midwife or nurse-
midwife, DENTIST OR DENTAL HYGIENIST.
"Program." The Rural Health Care Grant Program established
under section 4.
"Registered nurse." An individual licensed to practice
professional nursing under the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,
No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law.
"Rural county." A county within this Commonwealth where the
population density is less than 284 persons per square mile as
defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
"Rural health clinic." As defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)
(2) (relating to definitions) and certified by Medicare.
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Section 4. Establishment.
The Rural Health Care Grant Program is established in the
department to be administered by the department.
Section 5. Use of money.
(a) Duty of department.--The department shall distribute
grants to an entity in accordance with this act from money
appropriated for the program by the General Assembly.
(b) Distribution by entity.--An entity shall use the grant
awarded under subsection (a) to pay for the education debt of
practitioners that the entity employs according to the
following:
(1) An entity shall pay the applicable creditor or
designated person of the education debt on behalf of the
practiti