The Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week approved a measure that would reform the state's system of workers' compensation and encourage a more competitive business climate, said Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th."This measure would allow for businesses to cut workers' compensation costs associated with court proceedings and to provide a more streamlined process that would benefit both the employer and employee,"Ellis said.The measure would allow businesses to reduce the amount of money spent on workers' compensation so more money can be invested in areas such as operation expansion and the hiring of new employees.The changes, which were developed in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, include:• Establishing resolution courts in each district that are designed to consider compromise and release agreements more quickly. There is no statutory time frame in current law, which often results in increased costs to insurers.• Requiring workers' compensation judges to establish a mandatory trial schedule to be attended by all parties to help prevent delays and higher litigation costs.• Requiring mandatory mediation to avoid costly litigation. Mediation is currently not required for workers' compensation cases, but a state report recommended it as a way to force parties to discuss issues before a judge trained in mediation.• Restructuring the workers' compensation appeals board by establishing a code of ethics for board members and a more streamlined process for final appeal decisions.• Establishing an Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund to provide workers' compensation benefits to injured workers whose employers did not carry the required coverage.The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration———State Rep.

Scott Hutchinson, R-64th, and other members of the Jefferson Reform Initiative, on Wednesday joined a bipartisan group of legislators to introduce their priorities for legislative reforms."Public confidence in state government is at an all-time low," said Hutchinson. "Openness and transparency are paramount in regaining the trust of Pennsylvanians."Reform legislation introduced by the coalition of legislators includes:• A viable Open Records Act to include legislative accounts, leadership accounts and an audit procedure.• A strong, fair and meaningfully lobbyist disclosure act and reporting system.• Campaign finance reform.• An exploration into issues that could lead to the convening of a Constitutional Convention.Reforms in the House operations and legislative procedures contained on the reform agenda include:• The House Rules Committee would be composed of randomly selected House members from each caucus, not primarily made up of members of leadership. Members would select a majority and minority chairperson from committee members.• The House Appropriations and House Rules Committee may not substantively amend any bill, unless the bill originated in the committee. All bills would have to spend three days on the legislative calendar before being voted.• Bills could be amended on second consideration only. The only votes authorized on third consideration will be final passage, constitutionality and re-referral.• During sessions held after the General Election in even-numbered years, the House rules may not be suspended, and all legislation must be approved by a two-thirds majority.• No legislative business may be done between midnight and 8 a.m. and no committee meetings can be called off the House floor where the public and press have difficulty attending.• Committee chairs must rotate and no committee chair may serve more than four terms as chair of the same committee.• Each session, every House member may place one bill that they have prime sponsored on an automatic calendar ensuring committee action within a specific time frame. All bills reported from a standing committee must be voted on in a specific time frame.Hutchinson is a founding member of the Jefferson Reform Initiative, a movement started by a group of House Republicans that aims to change the way the Legislature operates in the interest of open government, representative democracy and the restoration of public confidence in the Legislature.———State Sen.

Bob Robbins, R-50th, announced two bills he authored to combat the spread of methamphetamine were passed by the Senate this week.Senate Bill 1120 would make it a felony of the third degree — punishable by up to seven years imprisonment — for operating a meth lab in the presence of a child.Senate Bill 1121 would create "Meth Watch," a joint program between law enforcement and retailers, training clerks to be aware of individuals purchasing meth ingredients in large amounts. It also educates and warns consumers of meth and the illegal purchase of meth ingredients.———State Sen.

Don White, R-41st, was recently named to serve on the Senate Labor and Industry Committee.White will continue to be chairman of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and as vice chairman of the Community and Economic Development Committee.Also, he is a member of three other Senate committees: banking and insurance; environmental resources and energy; and transportation, and is as a member of the PENNVEST board of directors.