HARRISBURG — The state House amended a bill designed to publicize problems at personal care homes Thursday to include Republican-sponsored measures to combat welfare fraud.

The bill would require the Public Welfare Department to post on the Internet incidents in which personal-care home residents are severely injured, or have their rights violated or money misused.

It also mandates disclosure of communicable disease outbreaks, food poisoning, assault, abuse complaints, prescription drug errors and criminal convictions of home workers.

The House amended the bill to require most welfare recipients to apply for benefits in their home counties, make the Public Welfare Department publicly post a variety of federal reports and add the recipient's photograph to welfare benefit cards.

"Welfare spending has surpassed spending on education throughout the commonwealth," said Rep. Julie Harhart, R-Northampton. "We have the opportunity to correct the mismanagement of these vital and important programs."

House Republicans have made welfare reform one of their legislative priorities this year, but all of the amendments that were take up on Thursday passed overwhelmingly. The photo card provision got the closest vote, passing 173-25, with vigorous opposition from some Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Democrats.

"Class wise, and somewhat ethnic wise, we're going to insult an awful lot of people," said Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny.

Republicans stressed the need to reduce the system's cost by ensuring benefits go only to those who legitimately qualify.

The bill now awaits a final vote in the House.