PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3357 PRINTER'S NO. 3578
No. 419 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN, E. Z. TAYLOR, GLADECK, FICHTER, TRICH,
BROWNE, COY, CAPPABIANCA, PESCI, HERMAN, CALTAGIRONE, ORIE,
MAITLAND, READSHAW, LAUGHLIN, KIRKLAND, BELARDI, BATTISTO,
OLASZ, HALUSKA, HORSEY, WALKO, TRELLO, STABACK, JOSEPHS,
YOUNGBLOOD, CIVERA, SEYFERT, JAMES, HERSHEY, RAMOS,
J. TAYLOR, MAHER AND SAYLOR, APRIL 1, 1998
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, MAY 6, 1998
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Forming a commission DIRECTING THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT <--
2 COMMISSION TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP comprised of individuals
3 with expertise in biomedical research, health care, economic
4 development and higher education to assess the level and
5 nature of biomedical research currently conducted by the
6 State's COMMONWEALTH'S universities and teaching hospitals <--
7 and to recommend specific and realistic actions for
8 increasing Pennsylvania's share of Federal and private sector
9 biomedical research funding to enhance the State's <--
10 COMMONWEALTH'S health care system as well as contribute to <--
11 the economy.
12 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's academic institutions are recognized
13 as leaders in identifying and researching public health problems
14 and developing treatments necessary to improve the quality of
15 health care; and
16 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's institutions of higher learning and
17 biomedical companies are drawing more than $681 million in
18 fiscal year 1997-98 from the National Institutes of Health for
19 biomedical research; and
20 WHEREAS, Biomedical research initiatives are vital to
1 maintaining the quality and strength of Pennsylvania's health
2 care system; and
3 WHEREAS, The health care industry, including research and
4 teaching hospitals, plays a vital role in Pennsylvania's
5 economy, employing more than 550,000 people; and
6 WHEREAS, Recent downsizing trends in the State's <--
7 COMMONWEALTH'S hospitals have resulted in the displacement of <--
8 more than 2,000 health care workers; and
9 WHEREAS, The Executive Branch and General Assembly have
10 aggressively undertaken economic development and job creation
11 initiatives; and
12 WHEREAS, Academic biomedical research results in a more
13 vigorous biomedical industry with the development of new
14 procedures and medications; and
15 WHEREAS, An increased supply of Federal and private funding
16 would support current research efforts to enhance the quality of
17 health care and would contribute to the economic development of
18 this State COMMONWEALTH through job creation; therefore be it <--
19 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the House of
20 Representatives direct that a 21-member commission be created to <--
21 assess THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION TO SELECT A WORKING <--
22 GROUP TO REPORT ON the level and nature of biomedical research
23 currently conducted by the State's PENNSYLVANIA'S universities <--
24 and teaching hospitals; and be it further AND HOW THOSE EFFORTS <--
25 COMPARE TO THE EFFORTS OF OTHER STATES; AND BE IT FURTHER
26 RESOLVED, That the commission examine Pennsylvania's current <--
27 research areas and breakthrough research contributions and
28 compare those efforts to other states; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, THAT THE FINAL REPORT RECOMMEND WAYS FOR THE <--
30 COMMONWEALTH TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH; AND
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1 BE IT FURTHER
2 RESOLVED, That the commission recommend FINAL REPORT ALSO <--
3 INCLUDE specific and realistic actions RECOMMENDATIONS for <--
4 increasing Pennsylvania's share of Federal and private sector
5 biomedical research funding to enhance the State's <--
6 COMMONWEALTH'S health care system as well as AND contribute to <--
7 the economy; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That the commission also recommend ways for the <--
9 Commonwealth to encourage the growth of biomedical research; and
10 be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the first commission meeting take place within
12 60 days of the approval of this resolution, at which time the
13 commission will elect a chairperson; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the commission hold hearings, take testimony
15 and make its investigation at such places as it deems necessary
16 in this Commonwealth; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the commission be comprised WORKING GROUP <--
18 SELECTED BY THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CONSIST of the
19 presidents or a designee of the following institutions: the
20 Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, THE <--
21 HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA, The
22 Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine and the Hershey
23 Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, University of
24 Pittsburgh Medical Center System, Children's Hospital of
25 Pittsburgh, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Thomas
26 Jefferson University, Allegheny University of Health Services,
27 Temple University School of Medicine and Temple University
28 Health System, Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia
29 and Erie, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, and the
30 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the President pro tempore of the Senate and, <--
2 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, THE MINORITY LEADER <--
3 OF THE SENATE AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF
4 REPRESENTATIVES shall each appoint two at-large commission
5 members, AND THE MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND <--
6 WELFARE COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE
7 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF
8 REPRESENTATIVES SHALL EACH APPOINT ONE AT-LARGE MEMBER, and the
9 chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and
10 the chairman of the House of Representatives Health and Human
11 Services Committee shall each appoint one at-large commission
12 member; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That members of the commission shall not receive <--
14 compensation for their services except for standard travel and
15 expenses, and that such expenses shall be paid for from funds
16 appropriated to the Joint State Government Commission; and be it
17 further
18 RESOLVED, That this initiative shall receive staff and other
19 administrative support from the Joint State Government
20 Commission; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the commission report its finding and
22 recommendations for appropriate action to the Senate Public
23 Health and Welfare Committee and the House of Representatives
24 Health and Human Services Committee by September 30, 1998.
25 RESOLVED, THAT THE WORKING GROUP REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND <--
26 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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