Appropriations Committee advances five House bills, including Workers' Compensation and patient test-result measures

The Appropriations Committee reported four House bills unanimously and voted to advance House Bill 183 to the House floor during a committee meeting, the panel said.

Committee executive director provided a summary of the five bills under consideration, telling the committee they would consider House Bill 183, House Bill 354, House Bill 409, House Bill 448 and House Bill 467. "We have House Bill 183, which expands the range of injuries and the amount of compensation that can be paid for serious and permanent disfigurement injuries under the Workers' Compensation Act," the committee executive director said. The executive director also summarized the other bills: HB 354 would create the What Is Your Pennsylvania Story Act; HB 409 would amend the Patient Test Result Information Act to require providers of diagnostic imaging services to release most test results to patients once results are ready; HB 448 would permit the Department of Environmental Protection to release radon testing data to previous owners of a property; and HB 467 would amend the Liquor Code to exempt licensees seeking off-premises catering permits for end-of-life memorial events.

Representative Bellman moved to call up House Bills 354, 409, 448 and 467 as a package; Representative Guzman seconded the motion. The committee recorded no negative votes and the four bills were "reported unanimously back to the floor," the chair said.

Representative Kincaid moved to call up House Bill 183; Representative Mullins seconded. The committee completed a roll call and the chair announced that HB 183 "will pass this committee and be re-referred back to the House floor." The transcript does not provide a complete numerical roll-call tally in a form that can be reported here; individual affirmative and negative designations were recorded by voice during the roll call and were summarized by the chair.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 354: "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" Act — Called up as part of a package; motion by Representative Bellman; second by Representative Guzman; outcome: reported unanimously to the House floor. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- House Bill 409: Patient Test Result Information Act amendment — Called up as part of a package; motion by Representative Bellman; second by Representative Guzman; outcome: reported unanimously to the House floor. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- House Bill 448: Department of Environmental Protection radon-data disclosure — Called up as part of a package; motion by Representative Bellman; second by Representative Guzman; outcome: reported unanimously to the House floor. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- House Bill 467: Liquor Code amendment to permit off-premises catering exemptions for end-of-life memorial events — Called up as part of a package; motion by Representative Bellman; second by Representative Guzman; outcome: reported unanimously to the House floor. The committee executive director said this act "will take effect in 60 days." Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- House Bill 183: Workers' Compensation Act amendment for serious and permanent disfigurement awards — Motion to call up by Representative Kincaid; second by Representative Mullins; outcome: passed the committee and was re-referred to the House floor. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

The committee chair declared the meeting adjourned after reporting the bills. The transcript shows limited debate on the measures; the summary presentations and procedural motions comprised the substantive record in the committee minutes.