Dean Receives House Committee Appointments

State Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-153, has been appointed to serve on the appropriations, finance, human services, and judiciary House committees for the 2013-14 legislative session.

Dean will also serve as the Democratic vice chairwoman of the finance committee and will serve as the subcommittee chairwoman on mental health within the human services committee. She also was appointed to the ethics committee, which is not a standing committee. 

“These posts ensure a productive session for me and my staff,” she said. “Through service on these committees, I feel I am better positioned to advance legislation important to my district’s constituents, as well as all Pennsylvanians. It’s with pride and humility that I begin work on each appointment.

"All five committees deal with extremely important legislation,” Dean continued. “In particular, I look forward to working on the Appropriations Committee, as Pennsylvania is faced with another tough budget year. I feel as though my work on this committee will touch on many aspects of our state’s future and pledge to judiciously deliberate all the legislation that crosses our desk.”

There are 28 standing committees in the state House. The committee system allows legislators to assess and amend legislation and evaluate important issues before bringing bills to the full House for a vote.

The appropriations committee meets regularly while the House is in session to consider fiscal-related matters and conducts budget hearings each spring to review and evaluate the Governor's Executive Budget proposal. In accordance with House rules, the committee also evaluates legislative proposals for fiscal implications prior to voting a bill out of the House.

The Judiciary Committee reviews bills pertaining to law enforcement and corrections. It provides oversight over a number of state agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, Attorney General's Office, Department of Corrections, the State Ethics Commission, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Office of General Counsel, Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.

The finance committee reviews bills dealing with financial issues for the state. Tax collection rates and policies are regularly reviewed, as well as banking policies. 

The human services committee reviews bills pertaining to social service issues in Pennsylvania. The committee reviews the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Developmental Programs and the Office of Long Term Living under the Department of Public Welfare, as well as the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and the Bureau of Community Program Licensure and Certification under the Department of Health.

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Information courtesy of Jim Strine, House Democratic Communications Office