Crime Bills, Long-Term Care Measure Approved by Senate

Legislation targets meth production, cleans up of environmental damage

Harrisburg - The Senate approved several anti-crime bills as well as legislation that would help people protect their life savings when they go into long-term care during the Session week of April 16, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

The Senate approved a four-bill package on Tuesday to crack down on methamphetamine production and clean up the environmental damage caused by illegal meth labs, according to Senator Robbins, a co-sponsor of all four bills.

"It is important that Pennsylvania take every step possible to close down the meth labs that are plaguing communities. The bills we approved will make it a crime to possess the chemicals necessary to make this drug and also will make criminals pay for the environmental hazards that their meth labs create. These are good bills and I hope the House will act to move them on to the Governor," Senator Robbins said.

The bills approved by the Senate include:

Senate Bill 433 which provides for defendants to be assessed the environmental clean-up costs associated with methamphetamine laboratories;
Senate Bill 434 which provides for penalties for possessing the ingredients necessary for the production of methamphetamine;
Senate Bill 436 which provides for the specific offense of operating a methamphetamine laboratory, and increases penalties if the lab is operated near a school, day care center or playground; and,
Senate Bill 432 which combines the criminal provisions of Senate Bill 436 and the environmental provisions of Senate Bill 433.

Methamphetamine -- a highly addictive and deadly drug -- derives from amphetamine, a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Amphetamines were intended for nasal decongestants like Sudafed. These and other meth ingredients are available at neighborhood drug stores. Criminals purchase these ingredients in mass quantities and then "cook" meth in home-made labs or "kitchens."

On Monday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 397, legislation to help counties cover the costs of regional police "booking centers." SB 397 would amend existing state law to specifically allow courts to impose a booking fee on someone who is convicted of a crime.

Regional booking centers use new technology to provide fast and efficient processing for criminals and can make communities safer by allowing police to know who they have in their possession more rapidly. Cumberland and Montgomery counties already impose the fee. SB 397 would give courts across the Commonwealth the statutory authority to impose the fee.

Also on Monday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 548, legislation that would create the Long-Term Care (LTC) Partnership Program, which would provide a financial incentive for individuals to buy LTC insurance. This measure is intended to give people the opportunity to protect their personal assets by buying the insurance.

"Currently, individuals have to spend down their assets before Medicaid steps in to cover the costs of long-term care," Senator Robbins said. "The truth is people are now spending down their assets before going into long-term care, so Medicaid often ends up footing the entire bill anyhow. Under the LTC Partnership Program, individuals would be allowed to retain an amount equal to the amount of long-term care insurance they hold and Medicaid would also realize savings as well."

As an example, a person who has a $100,000 policy would be entitled to keep $100,000 in assets when Medicaid steps in. That means Medicaid would save $100,000, based on the amount paid by the policy, and the individual would be able to keep $100,000.

On Tuesday, Senator Robbins was reappointed to serve as Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee for the 2007-08 Legislative Session. The committee is charged with ensuring that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Agency (PIAA) continues to comply with the 13 specific reforms put in place by Act 91 of 2000.

"I am extremely pleased and honored to have the opportunity to continue serving as the Vice Chairman of this committee," said Senator Robbins, who served in that position last session as well. "High school athletics have played an integral role in my life -- from wrestling as a student to becoming a high school coach to doing radio sports casting. I remain committed to ensuring that the PIAA operates a tight fiscal ship in a manner that is fair to all student athletes."

Also on Tuesday, the Senate confirmed two more of Governor Rendell's cabinet posts, with the approvals of Jeffrey A. Beard as Secretary of Corrections and Colonel Jeffrey B. Miller as Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322