Bill Text: PA HB309 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Providing for a task force on drug-endangered children.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 21-8)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-31 - Referred to JUDICIARY [HB309 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB309-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 264
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 309 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY GINGRICH, BAKER, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DENLINGER, FLECK, GEIST, GOODMAN, HICKERNELL, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, MAJOR, MANN, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, PYLE, RAPP, ROAE, ROSS, K. SMITH, STERN, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JANUARY 31, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 31, 2011
AN ACT
Amending the act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274),
entitled "An act establishing the Pennsylvania Commission on
Crime and Delinquency, providing for its powers and duties
establishing several advisory committees within the
commission and providing for their powers and duties,"
providing for a task force on drug-endangered children.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274),
referred to as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency Law, is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 7.3. Task Force on Drug-Endangered Children.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency a task force on
drug-endangered children.
(b) Composition.--The task force shall be comprised of the
following members:
(1) The Secretary of Health, who shall act as
chairperson of the task force.
(2) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police or
a designee.
(3) The Secretary of Public Welfare or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
(5) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or a
designee.
(6) One representative of the Juvenile Court Judges'
Commission.
(7) The Victim Advocate.
(8) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
(9) Ten members to be appointed by the Governor to
include:
(i) A representative of local law enforcement
agencies.
(ii) A district attorney.
(iii) A county commissioner.
(iv) A representative of emergency medical services.
(v) A representative of fire and emergency services.
(vi) An emergency room physician.
(vii) A representative from county children and
youth services.
(viii) A representative from a county mental health
program.
(ix) A representative from a county drug and alcohol
program.
(x) A representative from a domestic violence
program.
(c) Objectives.--The overall goal of the task force is to
20110HB0309PN0264 - 2 -
improve the health of children exposed to chemicals associated
with methamphetamine production or other drug involvement by
identifying the physical, psychological and sociological effects
on children and providing appropriate intervention. The task
force shall develop protocols establishing a Statewide response
system and a strategic plan related to helping children who may
have been endangered by circumstances involving the illegal
production of methamphetamine or other drugs or by trafficking
or abuse. The task force shall meet the following objectives:
(1) The establishment of medical protocols for the
treatment of children who have been endangered by
contamination from methamphetamine manufacturing or other
exposure to drug production, trafficking or abuse.
(2) The development of coordinated procedures by
agencies that quickly respond to the needs of children who
have been exposed to the contaminants of illegal drug
production to ensure their protection and safety.
(3) The elimination of any delays in the response that
would interfere with important child welfare outcomes aimed
at ensuring child protection and safety.
(4) The development of protocols for the sharing of
information among the various affected response agencies.
(5) The assurance that all affected children will
continue to be enrolled in school programs.
(d) Report.--The task force shall prepare a report
containing the strategic plan for the Statewide response system
and the strategic plan for the treatment of children who have
been endangered by contamination from methamphetamine
manufacturing, drug production, trafficking or abuse. This
report will serve as a blueprint for the development of
20110HB0309PN0264 - 3 -
formalized training and education activities by the commission.
This report shall be submitted to the General Assembly within
one year after the effective date of this section and
distributed to those State and local agencies that respond to
drug-endangered children.
(e) Training.--The commission shall develop training and
education programs that will be available to those agencies that
respond to drug-endangered children. The training shall reflect
the task force's plan to ensure that State and local agencies
are able to establish the necessary protocols for a coordinated
response to drug-endangered children.
(f) Expiration.--The provisions of subsections (a), (b), (c)
and (d) shall expire one year after the effective date of this
section. The commission shall continue to provide training and
education activities and act as a clearinghouse for information
in relation to its duties under this section on an ongoing
basis.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20110HB0309PN0264 - 4 -