2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Act 50 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CREATION - STATE HEALTH CENTERS AND EDITORIAL CHANGES

Session of 2023
No. 2023-50
HB 1131
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 27, 1905 (P.L.312, No.218), entitled "An act creating a
            Department of Health, and defining its powers and duties," further providing for State
            health centers; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Section 8(b) and (c) of the act of April 27, 1905 (P.L.312, No.218), entitled "An
            act creating a Department of Health, and defining its powers and duties," are amended
            to read:
Section 8.  * * *
(b)  The Secretary of Health shall cause examination to be made of nuisances or questions
            affecting the security of life and health in any locality, and for that purpose the
            secretary, and any person authorized by [him]
the secretary
so to do, may, without fee or hindrance, enter, examine and survey all grounds, vehicles,
            apartments, buildings, and places within the State, and all persons so authorized
            by [him]
the secretary
shall have the powers and authority conferred by law upon constables.
(c)  (1)  With the exception of [the three State health centers selected for the review program
            established in paragraph (2),]
a State health center in any county that is established as a separate county health
               department under the
act of August 24, 1951 (P.L.1304, No.315), known as the Local Health Administration
               Law,
the department shall operate [those] public State health centers and provide at a
            minimum those public health services in effect as of July 1, 1995. [Except as provided
            in paragraph (2), the]
The
department shall not enter into contracts with any additional private providers that
            would result in the elimination of any State health center nor reduce the scope of
            services currently provided nor reduce the number of centers.
[(4)  On or before December 31, 1997, the department shall submit a report to the General
            Assembly, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i)  A review and analysis of the three health care centers or of the provision of equivalent
            services in the review program, including patient utilization and services provided.
(ii)  An analysis of the performance of each local health care provider, including patient
            satisfaction with the provision of services.
(iii)  A review of other delivery systems for health services in the community, both public
            and private.
(iv)  A comparison of the cost and effectiveness of the operation of each of the three health
            care centers by the Commonwealth with the cost of the provision of equivalent services
            by local health care providers.
(v)  Recommendations regarding continuation of the provision of the services previously
            provided by the three health care centers included in the study program by local health
            care providers.
(vi)  Recommendations regarding the public and private operation of all remaining health
            care centers or the provision of equivalent services in this Commonwealth.]
* * *
Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.
APPROVED--The 14th day of December, A.D. 2023.
JOSH SHAPIRO