Senate Approves Bill to Open Salaries to Public Review

Passes breastfeeding protections, disabled veterans license plate measures

The Senate approved several bills during the Session week of May 21, including measures to open government salary information to public scrutiny; protect the rights of nursing mothers; to ease the limits on special license plates for disabled veterans; and, to provide state oversight of proposed mergers involving non-profit health insurance companies, according to Senator Bob Robbins.

Senate Bill 729, approved by the Senate on Tuesday, enacts the State Salary Information Act which would require the State Treasurer to post on an official Internet website, and update monthly, the names, titles and salaries relating of officers and employees of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions: townships, boroughs, towns, cities, school districts, local authorities, commissions and any other similar entity performing a governmental function.

"This bill, if approved by the House and signed into law by the Governor, would provide transparency on the issue of government salaries," Senator Robbins said. "It would give citizens the opportunity to monitor the salaries paid to government workers."

Also approved on Tuesday was Senate Bill 34, which protects a mother's right to nurse her child in public. The legislation states that a mother has a right to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, whether or not the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding. The bill also prohibits local governments from banning breastfeeding in public by ordinance.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 47 states have enacted legislation relating to breastfeeding. Thirty-six states allow mothers to breastfeed in any public or private location. Twenty states exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws. Eleven states have laws relating to breastfeeding in the workplace. Eleven states exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. Four states have implemented or encouraged the development of breastfeeding awareness education.

As part of its continuing efforts to assist members of military and veterans, the Senate approved Senate Bill 691 on Tuesday. This bill would reduce the percentage of service-connected disability required for a veteran to qualify for a special license plate. Current law requires the service-connected disability to be 100 percent. SB 691 would amend the Vehicle Code to provide that a veteran whose service-connected disability is certified at 75 percent or greater by the armed forces shall be issued a special registration plated designating that person as a severely disabled veteran.

"I strongly supported the passage of Senate Bill 691," Senator Robbins said. "It is a way that the Commonwealth can repay the sacrifices made by Pennsylvanians who are while serving our country."

Also part of Tuesday's Session was approval of House Bill 112, legislation that would ensure a Department of Insurance review of the proposed Highmark-Independence Blue Cross merger.

"A number of individuals and businesses have raised serious concerns that a merger of these major insurers – without the appropriate state oversight -- could undermine the quality and availability of health care coverage in the Commonwealth," Senator Robbins said.

While the Insurance Department would hold final approval -- or denial -- authority for a merger of non-profit health insurance companies, House Bill 112 also establishes an Insurance Restructuring Public Interest Review Board comprised of the representatives from the Auditor General's Office, the Administration, and the four caucuses of the General Assembly, as well as a policyholder to provide recommendations to the Department.

As a way to protect policyholders and businesses, House Bill 112 would require the Department of Insurance to develop a written determination that the merger or consolidation will result in a sustained reduction in health care premiums, according to Senator Robbins. The Department's written determination must also set forth the reasons why the transaction will be in the public interest, he added.

House Bill 112 also includes a specific "good government" provision that prohibits any contract or agreement between the Commonwealth and Blue Cross or Highmark relating to the disbursement or spending of the proceeds from the merger or consolidation. It also prohibits any spending from the restricted receipt account except upon appropriation by the General Assembly.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322