House Professional Licensure and Consumer Affairs Committees
Welcome to the Committee Corner! As chairwoman of the House Professional Licensure Committee and member of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, I want to provide you with a snapshot of the many meetings, public hearings and legislative measures that are handled by the two committees.
The Professional Licensure Committee essentially considers all legislation dealing with the 29 professional and occupational licensing boards and commissions in Pennsylvania. Professionals range from physicians and cosmetologists to real estate agents and funeral directors.
The committee is also charged with reviewing the various regulations put forth by the Pennsylvania Department of State on licensed professionals.
The Consumer Affairs Committee considers legislation that would impact the health, safety and welfare of Pennsylvania consumers and advocates for consumer protection.
For more information on the House Professional Licensure Committee, the Consumer Affairs Committee or any of the legislation discussed by either committee, please don’t hesitate to
contact me.
On Jan. 19, the House Professional Licensure Committee held a public hearing on a bill that would allow for the licensing of naturopathic physicians in Pennsylvania. According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, naturopathic doctors teach their patients to use diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and cutting edge natural therapies to enhance their bodies’ ability to ward off and combat disease. The committee heard from various professionals in the health care field, including naturopathic doctors, who offered testimony on why they were either for or against House Bill 1717.
On May 3, The House Professional Licensure Committee, chaired by Rep. Harhart, held a public hearing on House Bill 646, dealing with the expungement of disciplinary records.
On April 6, Harhart held a meeting of the House Professional Licensure Committee to vote on three separate House bills to establish licensing requirements for prosethetists, orthotists, pedorthists and orthotic fitters; to require a license to practice genetic counseling; and to require appraisal management companies to register with the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers. All three bills were passed out of the committee.
A Feb. 24 hearing of the House Consumer Affairs Committee discussed a bill that would provide increased oversight of gas pipelines to increase safety. Rep. Julie Harhart inquired about how the legislation may protect against pipeline accidents. Watch a portion of the hearing below.
On Feb. 9, Rep. Harhart convened the first informational meeting of the House Professional Licensure Committee for the 2011-12 session. Kim Kauffman, executive director of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, presented an overview of the agency's duties and relationship to the committee.