SB 157 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reports to General Assembly.

PRINTER'S NO.     107

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 157
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, MARTIN, ROTHMAN, COLEMAN, J. WARD,
        HUTCHINSON, BAKER AND VOGEL, JANUARY 23, 2025

     REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 23, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
 4      further providing for reports to General Assembly.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Section 437 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
 8   No.21), known as the Human Services Code, is amended to read:
 9      Section 437.    Reports to General Assembly.--(a)   Two copies
10   of all reports required by the national center for social
11   statistics of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
12   shall be furnished to the Senate Public Health and Welfare
13   Committee and the Health and Welfare Committee of the House of
14   Representatives when they are submitted to the Federal
15   Government. Similar reports prepared concerning general
16   assistance, the State Blind Pension and State supplemental
17   assistance shall be similarly furnished to the committees.
18      (b)   The department shall also issue an annual report to the
19   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human
 1   Services Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
 2   minority chairperson of the Human Services Committee of the
 3   House of Representatives that includes the following
 4   information:
 5      (1)     Details on information relating to the changes in how
 6   lottery winnings are counted for all forms of cash assistance,
 7   including the following:
 8      (i)     Details on how many applicants reported lottery winnings
 9   of six hundred dollars ($600) or more.
10      (ii)    Details on how many of those applicants were denied
11   assistance due to lottery winnings of six hundred dollars ($600)
12   or more.
13      (iii)    Details on any potential gaps in communication
14   encountered between the department and county assistance offices
15   which may have resulted in the failed reporting of winnings of
16   six hundred dollars ($600) or more.
17      (iv)    Details regarding ongoing strategies between the
18   department and the Pennsylvania State Lottery in carrying out
19   the program.
20      (2)     Details on how many vehicles were exempted in total as a
21   result of the provisions covered under this article.
22      (3)     Details on the average equity value of vehicles counted
23   as resources for all recipients.
24      (4)     Details on information regarding replacement access
25   devices, including the following:
26      (i)     Details on how many recipients requested a replacement
27   access device under section 485(a).
28      (ii)    Details on how many additional access devices were
29   issued under section 485(b) and (b.1).
30      (iii)    Details on how many times the fee for replacement

20250SB0157PN0107                    - 2 -
 1   access devices was overridden.
 2      (iv)    Details on how many recipients were reported to the
 3   Office of Inspector General for requesting two or more
 4   replacement access devices in a calendar year.
 5      (5)    Details on how many instances recipients attempted to
 6   make purchases or withdraw funds in violation of section 484.
 7      (6)    Details highlighting any changes in reports from
 8   previous years.
 9      (7)    Any recommendations to the General Assembly that the
10   department may deem necessary to improve the implementation of
11   this article.
12      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250SB0157PN0107                    - 3 -