Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB715

Introduced
5/2/25  
Refer
5/2/25  
Refer
6/24/25  
Report Pass
6/25/25  
Engrossed
6/25/25  

Caption

Further providing for expiration.

Impact

The proposed extension is expected to have a positive impact on the coordination of services and support for rare disease patients. It would enable the Department of Health, the Insurance Department, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Education to continue their collaborative work in addressing the complexities involved in rare disease management. This could lead to improved access to essential healthcare services and resources, as well as enhanced awareness and understanding of rare diseases among healthcare providers and the general public.

Summary

Senate Bill 715 aims to extend the expiration date of the Rare Disease Advisory Council Act from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028. This amendment seeks to enhance the ongoing efforts of the advisory council, which is responsible for addressing the needs and challenges associated with rare diseases within Pennsylvania. By prolonging the council's existence, the bill intends to allow for continued collaboration among various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers, to improve health outcomes for individuals affected by rare diseases.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB 715 appears to be largely supportive, as it aligns with the interests of various advocacy groups, healthcare providers, and patients who depend on the services facilitated by the Rare Disease Advisory Council. Stakeholders recognize the importance of maintaining a dedicated body that can address rare disease issues, and many express optimism that the council's continuation will yield beneficial outcomes for those affected by these conditions.

Contention

While the reception of SB 715 has been predominantly positive, there may be some contention regarding resource allocation and priorities. Some stakeholders could argue that extending the council's mandate might divert resources from other critical health initiatives. Nonetheless, the overall consensus favors the extension as a necessary step to further address the unique challenges presented by rare diseases in Pennsylvania.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1990

In special funds, further providing for expiration.

PA HB1527

Reenacting and amending the act of July 7, 2017 (P.L.285, No.14), entitled "An act establishing the Rare Disease Advisory Council and providing for its powers and duties; and providing for duties of the Department of Health, the Insurance Department, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education."

PA HB416

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled "An act relating to the finances of the State government; providing for cancer control, prevention and research, for ambulatory surgical center data collection, for the Joint Underwriting Association, for entertainment business financial management firms, for private dam financial assurance and for reinstatement of item vetoes; providing for the settlement, assessment, collection, and lien of taxes, bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth, the collection and recovery of fees and other money or property due or belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, including escheated property and the proceeds of its sale, the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds and securities belonging to or in the possession of the Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth, authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of certain debt and imposing penalties; affecting every department, board, commission, and officer of the State government, every political subdivision of the State, and certain officers of such subdivisions, every person, association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the Commonwealth," providing for Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program; in 911 Emergency Communication Services, further providing for surcharge; in Department of Revenue, further providing for exclusion from classes of income and providing for research and experimental expenditures and qualified production property, for report to General Assembly and for interest expense; in joint underwriting association, further providing for findings and for definitions, repealing provisions relating to sunset and providing for risk-based capital certification, for fund transfers, for association oversight and additional duties, for Joint Underwriting Association Board, for board meetings, for construction, for dissolution, for appropriations and for reports and hearings; in State Health Insurance Exchange Affordability Program, further providing for Exchange Affordability Assistance Account; providing for Rural Health Transformation Program; in Treasury Department, providing for waiver of interest, costs and fees; in procedure for disbursement of money from the State Treasury, further providing for use and appropriation of unused Commonwealth funds; in oil and gas wells, further providing for Oil and Gas Lease Fund; providing for advanced air mobility sites and for public transportation vehicles; in human services, further providing for resident care and related costs; in Attorney General, providing for home improvement contractor registration fee; providing for Rare Disease Advisory Council, for affordable housing tax credit and for working Pennsylvanians tax credit; in additional keystone opportunity expansion zones, providing for additional keystone opportunity expansion zones for certain counties of the fourth class; providing for additional extensions of keystone opportunity zones; in special funds, further providing for funding, for expiration and for other grants; in additional special funds and restricted accounts, further providing for establishment of special fund and account, for use of fund and for distributions from Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund and providing for refund of 2003 assessment by Insurance Department; in additional special funds and restricted accounts relating to Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, further providing for deposits and providing for Property Tax Relief Fund; in general budget implementation, further providing Executive Offices, for Department of Community and Economic Development, for Department of Environmental Protection, for Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and for Commonwealth Financing Authority, providing for stenography services, further providing for surcharges, for Federal and Commonwealth use of forest land and for Multimodal Transportation Fund and providing for State Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, for interest transfers, for fund transfers and for miscellaneous provisions; in 2024-2025 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Education, for Department of Environmental Protection and for Department of Human Services; in Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program, further providing for scope of article, for definitions and for the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program, providing for review and determination of specific permits and for State agency permits and further providing for construction; providing for electricity load forecast accountability, for 2025-2026 budget implementation and for 2025-2026 restrictions on appropriations for funds and accounts; making repeals; and making editorial changes.

PA HB33

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in practitioners, further providing for pr actitioner registration; in medical marijuana controls, further providing for electronic tracking and for laboratory; and, in Medical Marijuana Advisory Board, further providing for advisory board.

PA HB533

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions.

PA HB1153

In records, further providing for fees for copies.

PA SB1106

In Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits, further providing for definitions, for applicability and for expiration.

PA SB405

Further providing for definitions.

PA HB1907

In access, further providing for requests; in procedure, further providing for exceptions for public records; and, in judicial review, further providing for fee limitations.

PA SB680

Further providing for definitions.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.