Joint State Government Commission

03/16/2021

Drug Treatment Warm Hand-Offs: Continuity of Care - Joint State Government Commission Podcast

We are pleased to release our fifth podcast, "Drug Treatment Warm Hand-offs: Continuity of Care," which accompanies our recent report, "Warm Hand-offs in Pennsylvania: A Task Force and Advisory Committee Report." The podcast is available at :https://jsgc.buzzsprout.com/1400200/8151712-drug-treatment-warm-hand-offs-continuity-of-care, on our website, and can soon be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite audio service.

In this episode, Executive Director Glenn Pasewicz introduces the concept of warm hand-offs, a coordination of public services to encourage people with Substance Use Disorder to seek treatment. The majority of the episode features Susan Elder a...

03/05/2021

JSGC Public Website

We are proud to release our latest report, "Coordination of Veterans Services in Pennsylvania, a Task Force and Advisory Committee Report."

The report is the culmination of the efforts of veterans and advocates, providers, researchers, policy makers, legislators, and our staff. It is a comprehensive study of the networks of services in Pennsylvania, how accessible services are, and how coordination and accessibility can be improved to ensure that veterans get the assistance and care to which they are entitled.

Recommendations to the General Assembly include the establishment of a statewide navigation platform to help veterans access appropriate and necessary assistance programs; that providers follow established and emerging best practices; and that members of the Advisory Committee continue to meet to collaborate on improving the system of veterans services in Pennsylvania.
The full report is available on our website http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/publications.cfm?JSPU_PUBLN_ID=505

02/26/2021

Today we are releasing our latest report, "Mental Health Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Rape: A Staff Study," which includes a comprehensive presentation of laws and statutes that address sexual assault and rape, including special attention to how protection of victims has improved over time.

The Commission investigated the obstacles survivors face when seeking services and how mental health system infrastructure, education, and best practices can be leveraged to remove those obstacles.

Recommendations include: the expansion of sexual trauma-informed training for physical and mental health care providers, law enforcement, and other first responders; improved public awareness of available services; streamlined telephone hotlines; broader use of telemedicine; and increased funding for mental health services for survivors.

The full report is available at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/publications.cfm?JSPU_PUBLN_ID=504

02/23/2021

JSGC Public Website

It's that time of year--We are pleased to release the latest annual volumes of the Snyder (the 48th edition) and Stairs (the 25th edition) reports. They are formally known as the "Instructional Output and Faculty Salary Costs of the State-related Universities," and "Information Disclosure of the State-related Universities," respectively. The reports are compendiums of costs, expenditures, contracts, and education information about the state-related universities in Pennsylvania: Temple, Pitt, Lincoln, and Penn State.

The PASSHE universities had always been included prior to this 2021 edition of the Snyder. Act 50 of 2020 removed the requirement that they submit data for the report.

Both reports are available on our site, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

We are excited to usher in the new year with the release of episode 4 of the JSGC podcast featuring a discussion with Stephen Kramer and Allison Kobzowicz on police powers in Pennsylvania.

01/28/2021

Act 12 Election Law Advisory Board meeting

First meeting of the election law advisory board

01/15/2021

Police Powers - Joint State Government Commission Podcast

We are pleased to release our fourth podcast. This episode is about our report, "Police Powers to Make Arrests, Carry Firearms, and Other Enforcement Authorizations in Pennsylvania." It can be heard at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1400200/7309045, on our website, and will soon be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favorite audio service.

In this episode, Susan Elder and Bryan DeWalt interview Stephen Kramer and Allison Kobzowicz on their report Police Powers to Make Arrests, Carry Firearms, and Other Enforcement Authorizations in Pennsylvania which was released in December of 2020...

01/15/2021

PA State Grange

Our thanks to the Pennsylvania State Grange for inviting Joint State Counsel Yvonne Hursh to discuss our work during the Grange's virtual forum on broadband Internet https://fb.watch/31mFQ14ix_/

This meeting was held on January 14, 2021 as a virtual event. Our legislative meeting is held every year at the PA Farm Show. Due to COVID19 and CDC Guidelines we moved to a virtual platform.

The panelists for this program our:

Wayne Campbell, Pennsylvania State Grange President
office: 717-737-8855 cell:717-275-5045. [email protected]

Honorable Kristin Phillips-Hill, PA State Senate,
Majority Chair, Senate Communications & Technology Committee
717-787-7085 district 717-741-4648 [email protected]

Steve Samara, President, PA Telephone Association
717-238-8311 [email protected]

Honorable Pam Snyder, Co-Chair, House Broadband Caucus
717-783-3797 district 724-966-8953 [email protected]

Yvonne Hursh, Counsel and Program Director, Joint State Government Commission. 717-787-4397 [email protected]

01/08/2021

We are pleased to release our "Biennial Report for the 2019-2020 Legislative Session." It provides a history of the Commission, a description of our activities, a listing of the reports we released during this last session, and a listing of the legislation that was informed by the work of the Commission.
We invite you to take a look at it at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

12/29/2020

We are pleased to release our newest report, "Warm Hand-offs in Pennsylvania," in response to HR216 of 2019. The report covers the complex and complicated subject of how to most effectively and efficiently move people who suffer overdoses immediately into treatment.
The report and recommendations were compiled with the guidance of a legislative task force and an advisory committee that included emergency room doctors, treatment professionals, patient advocates, law enforcement, public health authorities, insurers, and others with expertise in the field.
The report is available at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us.

12/18/2020

Broadband Internet Access Part 2 - Joint State Government Commission Podcast

Part 2 of our two-part presentation on broadband Internet access in Pennsylvania is now online on our website and at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1400200/6911768. It will also soon be available on your favorite audio service, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In this episode, Susan Elder concludes our discussion on broadband internet access in Pennsylvania, which was started in our previous release. This episode again features Project Manager Yvonne Hursh, who is joined by Executive Director Glenn Pase...

12/11/2020

Broadband Internet Access Part 1 - Joint State Government Commission Podcast

Our second podcast is a two-part presentation on broadband Internet access in Pennsylvania. Part 1 is now available on our website and at https://jsgc.buzzsprout.com/1400200/6801667. It will also soon be available on your favorite audio service, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In our second episode, Susan Elder begins her discussion on broadband internet access in Pennsylvania with Yvonne Hursh, the project manager of the Delivery of High-Speed Broadband Services in Unserved Areas and Underserved Areas of the Commonweal...

12/10/2020

We are pleased to release our latest report, "Police Powers to Make Arrests, Carry Firearms, and Other Enforcement Authorizations in Pennsylvania," as directed by House Resolution 620 of 2019.

The report is a fully comprehensive review of law enforcement officers and individuals throughout the Commonwealth who retain arrest authority or other police powers, from State Troopers to constables to horticultural exhibit police.

Specifically, the report examines the historical background, legal authority, appointing authority (if any), hiring qualifications, in-service training requirements, duties, scope of authority, jurisdiction, right to carry firearms, and the training requirements of each officer or individual. The report also provides employment and service numbers and trends for each category for the past five years to the extent that such information was available.

The report includes detailed cross-referenced proposed legislation to codify and modernize existing statutes.

It is available on our site, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

10/08/2020

Conversion of Unused State Property to Drug Treatment Facilities - Joint State Government Commission Podcast

Our first podcast! The topic is our report on converting unused state properties to drug treatment facilities. Plus, there's a little background on who we are, what we do, and how we work.
The podcast is available on Buzzsprout and Spotify and will soon be on iTunes and Google.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1400200/5785858

In our very first episode, Glenn Pasewicz, Executive Director at Joint State introduces the agency and explains our process for creating reports. The remainder of the episode contains a discussion between Susan Elder, Comptroller at JSGC and Bryan...

09/03/2020

We are pleased to release our latest report, "Delivery of High-Speed Broadband Services in Unserved Areas and Underserved Areas of the Commonwealth," in response to Senate Resolution 47 of 2019. This is the first of five reports to be released.
The Commission was directed to study on the delivery of high-speed broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of the Commonwealth. The Commission was further directed to establish an advisory committee to assist in its study. The advisory
committee included representatives from Commonwealth agencies with an interest in broadband delivery, as well as Internet service providers, and related cable, wireless, and other technology industries and associations.
The report is comprehensive presentation of the technology and infrastructure that deliver Internet services to customers in both public and private sectors. The laws and regulations governing broadband services are discussed in detail. The report profiles broadband services around Pennsylvania and how coverage is affected by natural tensions between supply and demand, and regulation and competition. The report addresses the role of broadband in many aspects of life in Pennsylvania, including
education, health care, agriculture, economic and community development, the arts, and tourism. Finally, the report provides the General Assembly with recommendations on how to address challenges to ensure broadband services are available throughout the commonwealth.
The full report is available on our website, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us
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08/06/2020

JSGC Public Website

We are pleased to release our latest report, "Conversion of Unused State Property Into Drug Treatment Facilities," written in response to HR147 of 2019.

The report contains a review of existing laws that control how state and municipal properties are transferred to public and private entities and examples of previous state properties that have been converted to new uses.

The report details the potential barriers to siting, licensing requirements, and the types of services commonly offered by drug treatment centers. The report also provides an overview of vacant properties owned by the Commonwealth, and county-level statistics on drug fatalities. Reuse of vacant correctional institutions and medical facilities are covered in greater detail.

The full report is available on our website, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

07/30/2020

We are pleased to release our latest report, "Behavioral Health Care System Capacity in Pennsylvania and Its Impact on Hospital Emergency Departments and Patient Health," The project included an advisory committee that studied the practice known as psychiatric boarding—wherein people with behavioral health needs are maintained in hospital emergency departments while awaiting care in more appropriate settings.

The report includes a number of recommendations for the General Assembly's consideration. Generally, the recommendations are to improve alignment of patient needs with resources, to improve how behavioral health patients are helped through emergency departments, and to support better outcomes for people with behavioral health needs.

The full report is available on our website, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

06/04/2020

JSGC Public Website

We are pleased to release, "Pennsylvania Mental Health Care Workforce Shortage: Challenges and Solutions," in response to House Resolution 193 of 2019. The report provides a comprehensive discussion of the many professions that work in the mental health field, and how existing shortages are expecting to get worse in the coming years. It suggests recommended ways of mitigating these shortages to help improve mental health care for Pennsylvania residents.

This is the fourth report that the Commission has released on health care shortages in Pennsylvania. "Professional Bedside Nursing in Pennsylvania," "The Physician Shortage in Pennsylvania," "Pennsylvania Health Care Workforce Needs," and this report are available on our website at: http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us.

04/20/2020

JSGC Public Website

We are pleased to release our newest report, "Meningitis: Immunizations on Pennsylvania College and University Campuses." We are particularly proud that this is the first report we've published entirely remotely.

It is timely, if not topical, as it addresses the subject of disease outbreaks on U.S. and Pennsylvania campuses, and how colleges, medical, and public health officials work to prevent and respond to stop the spread of disease, particularly Meningitis B.
It is available on our website jsg.legis.state.pa.us

04/01/2020

Bill Information (History) - Senate Bill 422; Regular Session 2019-2020

Act 12 of 2020 creates the PA Election Law Advisory Board in the Joint State Government Commission. We look forward to supporting the board as it addresses critical parts of democracy in the commonwealth.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=422

02/13/2020

jsg.legis.state.pa.usstatistical

We are pleased to release our two annual reports on higher education in Pennsylvania.

The 47th annual "Instructional Output and Faculty Salary Costs of the State-related and State-owned Universities," is a report of full-time equivalent student levels, degrees conferred, and average workweek hours and instructional salary of faculty, as reported by the universities and compiled by our staff.

The "Information Disclosure of the State-related Universities," is a report of the employment and salary, financial and contract data, and statements on retirement and tuition benefits as reported by the universities and compiled by our staff.

Both reports are available at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

01/10/2020

JSGC Public Website

We are pleased to release "Pennsylvania’s Turnpike Commission and Department of Transportation: A Potential Consolidation of Interstate Operations," in accordance with Senate Resolution 209 of 2017.

This comprehensive and highly detailed report presents the potential benefits and disadvantages that would be presented by combining the agencies.

The report is available on our site at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

10/18/2019

JSGC Public Website

We are pleased to release "Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: the Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times." The report presents the findings of an advisory committee of experts, from researchers to educators to school transportation officials to parents and students.

As teenagers mature, their biological sleep cycles change. On the one hand, they sleep later, stay up later, and evidence shows they perform better if their day starts later. On the other hand, school districts must take into consideration a number of factors before they determine if a change in start times is right for their circumstances.

The full report and a one page summary are available on our website, http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us

10/01/2019

jsg.legis

We are pleased to release the fourth edition of "Diabetes In Pennsylvania: Prevention and Maintenance Programs," a series of reports authorized by House Resolution 936 of 2013.

The report describes new approaches to diabetes treatment that have emerged nationally and globally and focuses on the relevant programs of the Commonwealth agencies charged with implementing public health policy and with assisting individuals with diabetes.

The report addresses the tremendous burden recent insulin price increases places on patients and publicly funded medical assistance plans.

The report is available on our website http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us