Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township signed 17 new bills into law this week.

Those laws include the passing of HB 155, HB 269, HB 1700, HB 1730, HB 1820, HB 2084, HB 2127, HB 2266, HB 2268, HB 2383, HB 2561, SB 169, SB 170, SB 668, and SB 765. More details on each can be found here.

House Bill 2268

The new law requires health insurance companies to cover the cost of speech therapy for children between the ages of two and six who are diagnosed with childhood stuttering.

“Today, I signed a bipartisan bill into law that requires insurers to cover speech therapy sessions for young kids with a stutter here in our Commonwealth,” Governor Shapiro said in on X.com. “Thank you, @RepMarkosek for your advocacy and leadership in getting this done — and to the parents and loved ones of kids who need these services, I have your back. We’re ensuring PA’s kids get the care they need.”

Senate Bill 840

Senate Bill 840, now Act 111, creates the first-ever Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders (ADRD) Division in the Commonwealth’s history to support older adults living with the disease and their caregivers.

According to a press release, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging will provide oversight for the Division.

“No one should have to face this terrible disease alone – by signing this bill into law, my Administration is committing real resources to older adults, their families and caregivers who are dealing with Alzheimer’s, and making it clear that we have their back,” said Governor Shapiro. “The 2024-25 bipartisan budget invests $80 million more to support our seniors, and this first-ever Alzheimer’s Division at the Department of Aging is part of that investment. While there’s still more work to do to support Pennsylvania’s older adults, creating this Division is a step in the right direction.”

In addition to authorizing the ADRD Division, the law also establishes an ADRD Advisory Committee to convene statewide stakeholders on ADRD State Plan implementation, advocate for policy, secure federal funding, and leverage additional resources to better respond to the unique and complex needs for those living with ADRD and the systems that support them. 

“The Pennsylvania Department of Aging is proud to be the convener of the Commonwealth’s important work with ADRD to help older adults and their caregivers impacted by these terrible diseases. This new division allows the Department to address this growing public health crisis in our Commonwealth and aligns with the work that the Department is already doing in this space,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “I am grateful for Governor Shapiro’s and the General Assembly’s support in establishing this ADRD Division, as well as the stakeholders and advocates so we can all better support these older Pennsylvanians, their families and caregivers.”

There are currently more than 282,000 Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to increase to 320,000 by 2025. There are also 465,000 caregivers providing 822 million hours of unpaid care and the value of that unpaid care is more than $13.6 billion.

The establishment of the ADRD Division with the Department of Aging is among the tactics of Aging Our Way, PA – the 10-year plan designed to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s older adults. In 2023, Governor Shapiro signed an Executive Order to direct PDA to develop the plan.

Senate Bills 169 and 170

According to Pennsylvania House Democrats, Senate Bills 169 and 170 (now Act 107 and Act 108) will implement reforms needed to improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities.

Senate Bill 169 implements a requirement that courts hold a disposition review hearing at least every three months to make sure children placed outside the home are getting the care, treatment, and services they need, and to make sure children are returned home as soon as is appropriate. Senate Bill 170 creates an expungement process for juvenile records and requires that the Chief Juvenile Probation officer notify the court when records are eligible for expungement and request that the court initiate the expungement process.

“For young people in the juvenile justice system to succeed, it is critical that there are supports and pathways to help with the transition into adulthood and to allow these individuals to lead productive lives,” said Senator Santarsiero, minority chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. “I want to thank Senators Baker and Costa for their roles as co-chairs of the Juvenile Justice Task Force and their work to find meaningful ways to improve outcomes for youth exiting the juvenile justice system.”

Senate Bills 169 and 170 secured the support of the Pennsylvania District Attorney Association, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, Governor Shapiro’s Administration, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police, Office of Victim Advocate, ACLU-PA, and many other organizations.   

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Photo: PA House Democrats