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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Senate approves personal care home legislation Over the past several months, the state Senate has approved two pieces of legislation designed to provide more information about personal care homes and assisted living facilities to the public. Elderly and disabled individuals, as well as their families, deserve to know that they are residing in a facility that has been inspected and what kind of services they can expect. Senate Bill 811, which I cosponsored, would require the creation of a web site with licensing and certification information on nursing homes, personal care homes and domiciliary care homes. This web site would also contain information on violations by the facility and any corrective action taken. I was pleased that this legislation won the unanimous approval of the Senate in late June, and I hope that my colleagues in the state House of Representatives will bring it up this fall. In addition, the Senate and the House approved Senate Bill 704 in July, defining assisted living residences and the services that may be offered. Although many personal care homes often refer to themselves as assisted living facilities, there has not been any official licensure category for this type of care. Senate Bill 704 sets minimal standards for regulation by the state Department of Public Welfare, enabling Pennsylvanians to determine what services are offered and whether a particular setting will address their needs. The legislation was signed into law on July 25 as Act 56 and takes effect in 90 days. Well-water testing kits available through Penn State The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University is offering a water testing program for people with private wells as well as for water used for livestock consumption and irrigation. Private water supplies in the Commonwealth are not regulated by the state or federal government. Owners are responsible for maintaining the quality of their own water, and about half of the state's wells that have been tested have failed to meet at least one drinking water standard. To submit a water sample for testing, individuals can obtain a water-test kit from Penn State's Ag Analytical Services Lab by calling 814-863-0841 or by email at aaslab@psu.edu. Kits will also be available shortly at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension at 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, 717-394-6851. Kits include shipping materials, instructions and submission forms. After returning a kit to the lab with the appropriate fee, test results and relevant fact sheets or recommendations should be returned in two to three weeks. If you would like more information, you can visit the lab's web site at www.aasl.psu.edu. Consolidated statutes now Internet accessible As part of our efforts to make state government more open and transparent, the state Senate has changed its rules to require Pennsylvania acts and statutes on the Internet. As of July 13, Pennsylvanians now have the ability to search for state laws online, providing quicker and easier access to those seeking legislative information. If you would like to search through the Consolidated Statutes, you can go to www.legis.state.pa.us. There, under the heading "Law Information," you will be able to see not only state law, but also rules, regulations, and notices posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. We have made many positive changes during the 2007-2008 term to ensure that the public can stay on top of the issues that are most important to them and the activities of their state government, and we in the state Senate will continue working to make sure that our actions are accountable to you.
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