Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed the following bills into law:
House Bill 1182: Allows licensed barber schools to offer up to 50 percent of their curriculum through distance education. A student at a barber school may only earn study and training hours through distance education for theory-based subjects. A barber school is not permitted to offer practical demonstrations through distance education.
House Bill 1183: Amends the Cosmetology Law to allow licensed cosmetology schools to offer up to 50 percent of their curriculum through distance education. A student at a cosmetology school may only earn training hours through distance education for theory-based subjects. A cosmetology school is not permitted to offer practical demonstrations through distance education.
Senate Bill 397: Updates physician assistant practice under the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act. Specifically, the bill revises the requirement that a physician assistant render medical care and services “under the supervision and direction” of the supervising physician, by requiring the physician assistant only be under the “supervision” of the supervising physician. The bill also increases the composition of the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine by two members, a physician assistant and a physician, who will be appointed by the governor.
Senate Bill 398: Updates physician assistant practice under the Medical Practice Act. Specifically, the bill revises the requirement that a physician assistant render medical care and services “under the supervision and direction” of the supervising physician, by requiring the physician assistant only be under the “supervision” of the supervising physician. The bill also increases the composition of the State Board of Medicine by two members, a physician assistant and a physician, who will be appointed by the governor.
House Bill 523: Requires that property owners who access their property through a private road maintain and repair the road at the expense of the property owner.
House Bill 1774: Amends the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program Act to allow additional designated personnel to access information through Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Following the expiration of the opioid disaster declaration in August, this legislation enables important information-sharing among commonwealth agencies that will help the commonwealth continue to reduce overdose deaths among Pennsylvanians. It is an important step in the efforts to reduce the prevalence of substance use disorder, increase treatment opportunities and help Pennsylvanians get the resources they need for recovery.
House Bill 1861: Amends The Administrative Code of 1929 to provide for temporary regulatory flexibility authority. The bill temporarily extends certain suspensions of regulations and statues that were issued by agencies under the COVID-19 disaster declaration through March 31, 2022. The continued suspension of these regulations and statutes allows the commonwealth to use all necessary resources to fight COVID-19 and help Pennsylvania get back on track from the pandemic.
House Bill 184: Also know as Shawn’s Law, amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues to enhance a sentence for causing or aiding suicide when the victim is under 18 years old, has an intellectual disability, or has autism spectrum disorder.
