HARRISBURG – Bills sponsored by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) to protect the rights of corrections officers and encourage more employees to join the long-term care workforce were approved with bipartisan support in committee today.
Senate Bill 113 would establish procedures for investigating all corrections officers and forensic employees who are accused of crimes. Argall drafted the bill after officers were suspended without pay or benefits without any hearings or opportunities to appeal. The Senate Labor and Industry Committee approved the bill by a bipartisan vote of 11-0.
“While wrongdoers should be prosecuted, we need to ensure that all corrections officers, who put their safety on the line to protect us from Pennsylvania’s most dangerous criminals, are afforded their constitutional right to due process,” said Argall.
Senate Bill 115, also sponsored by Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50), would allow individuals without a high school diploma or GED to take a skills competency examination to receive their long-term care employee certification. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved the bill by a bipartisan vote of 13-0.
“Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center,” Argall said. “The professionals who make sure they are cared for have an extremely important job yet are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages.”
The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite this sharp increase, labor statistics revealed that from 2019 to 2022, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals.
Both bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger