The state House of Representatives recently passed a bill authored by state Rep.

Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, that would give greater voice to residents before a private company could open a halfway house in their community.The bill would require the company seeking to establish a privately operated corrections facility to have a public hearing in the community and include the comments when submitting a bid to the state Department of Corrections.Halfway house facilities manage the transition back into society for inmates who have been paroled or are about to be paroled.Gibbons said he drafted the measure in response to a halfway house that nearly opened last year in Wayne Township, Lawrence County. The lawmaker said local officials were unaware of the plan."We must make sure that never happens again, Gibbons said.Gibbons said his legislation would not apply to facilities operated by the Department of Corrections itself.The bill also would require the company to notify the public about when a hearing would be held and a contact for people to call for additional information.———The state Senate Majority Policy Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee last month held a joint public hearing on potential fraud and abuse in state welfare programs, said Sen.

Bob Robbins, R-50th"With Pennsylvania's financial resources already stretched and a steady demand for services," said Robbins, majority caucus secretary, "it is essential that Pennsylvania take the appropriate steps to stop fraud, waste and abuse in the welfare system."The hearing focused on potential fraud and abuse identified through audits by the state auditor general.Robbins said an audit in August found 45 percent of the Special Allowance program payments reviewed were issued without documented justification.In January 2009, the auditor general announced an audit of eligibility determinations found the state Department of Public Welfare made $3.3 million in improper payments, $3.1 million of which were made to managed care firms for ineligible Medicaid recipients.The joint committee heard from Auditor General Jack Wagner and Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman.