JSGC Podcast

In todays episode, the JSGC policy podcast team interviews Yvonne Hursh on the subject of Fatherhood. The contents of this episode are based on the report “Greater Father Involvement: Fostering Engagement of Fathers in Improving the Well-being of their Children"” released in January of 2024.  The episode discusses the creation of a Fatherhood Involvement Institute, a permanent government body...

In this episode, we return to our biannual topic of diabetes by interviewing Helen Khanzhina about advances in treatment and advocacy of the disease since 2021. The JSGC Policy Podcast previously covered diabetes in our 11th episode. In this episode, our conversation covers updated statistics, how state departments and advocacy groups work toward prevention and awareness of the disease, and recomm...

In this episode, the JSGC Podcast team convenes to discuss election reform, one of the Commission’s ongoing projects. Guest Yvonne Hursh returns to update listeners on new developments for the Election Law Advisory Board (ELAB) over the last year and proposals for training election directors within Pennsylvania. The content of this episode is based on “Election Law in Pennsylvania: Third Annual Re...

In this episode the JSGC Podcast Team discusses recycling in Pennsylvania with project manager Grant Rosul. Among the topics discussed are challenges faced by communities that recycle, new ways of using recycled material, and recommendations for how to improve recycling throughout the Commonwealth. The content of this episode is based on the report “Recycling Strategies in Pennsylvania,” which was...

This episode concerns training mandates for public school employees. The JSGC podcast crew interviews Helen Khanzhina on whether training mandates are as burdensome and redundant to the teachers of Pennsylvania as their reputation suggests. The content of this episode is based on " Training Mandates on Pennsylvania Public School Entities ," released in June of 2023.  The episode also inc...

How much will a drug and alcohol treatment providers receive in Medicaid funding  for offering their services in Pennsylvania? While the question appears simple, the answer is multifaceted.  In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew interview Allison Kobzowicz and Steve Kramer on the terminology and key players important to understanding the issues surrounding Medicaid capitation rates for treatment...

In this episode Glenn and Susan interview Bryan DeWalt and Lydia Hack about staffing issues facing Long-term Care Facilities.  Topics covered include the importance in investing in Skilled Nursing Facilities, the workplace environment at these institutions, and the impact contracted workers have had on the industry.  A report on this topic, Use of Contracted Workers at Medicaid Funded Long-term Ca...

In this episode, the JSGC podcast team speaks with project manager Yvonne Hursh about common interest ownership communities (CIOCs).  This type of community is widespread throughout Pennsylvania and encompasses homeowner associations, condominiums, and cooperatives.  While JSGC previously published a report on this subject in 2011,  data on where CIOCs are located and their numbers remain sparse. ...

In this episode, the Joint State podcast team interviews David Greene, executive director of the Local Government Commission. Topics covered include the nature of their collaborative efforts with local governments across the Commonwealth,  the duties they undertake on behalf of the General Assembly and recent initiatives such as their academic symposium.  More about the Local Government Commission...

The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) is one of our sister agencies that conducts performance audits and evaluations on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Legislature.  In this episode, the JSGC podcast team interview Patricia Berger, former executive director of the LBFC who retired shortly after the time of this recording. Among the topics covered include how the LBFC's role has...

In this episode, the JSGC Podcast Team interview project manager Glenn Pasewicz  along with policy analyst Allison Kobzowicz about the affects of substance use on children and infants. The discussion draws from the recently released "Report of the Opioid Abuse Child Impact Task Force" which was authorized by Act 2 of 2022. Topics discussed include: neonatal withdrawal syndrome, plans of...

In this episode of the JSGC Podcast, we  continue our  series on the Legislative Service Agencies of Pennsylvania.  This time we interviewed Dr. Kyle Kopko, the Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.  During our discussion we learned more about the Center's mission, how it conducts it own research and manages a grant program, and the recent projects the Center has undertaken...

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew sit down with Yvonne Hursh for an update on broadband internet deployment in Pennsylvania. Topics covered include the newly created Broadband Development Authority, whether Pennsylvania's internet coverage is improving, and how broadband can benefit public education and health.  A short summary and the third annual broadband report, Delivery of High-Spee...

This is the second episode in our election law series featuring the JSGC Podcast crew's discussion with Yvonne Hursh. As we introduced in Part 1 , Yvonne is the project manager for the Election Law Advisory Board which releases annual reports on ways to improve the Pennsylvania Election Code. In this episode we discuss pre-canvasing, balancing accessibility with voter ID requirements, the pro...

In the first episode of this two-part series, the JSGC podcast crew sits down with project manager Yvonne Hursh to discuss the second annual report of the Election Law Advisory Board, known as "ELAB". In this episode, we introduce the ELAB, talk about the challenges involved with maintaining voter registration lists, and the process of cleaning up the election code to ensure that formerl...

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew sits down with Allison Kobzowicz to discuss the school bus driver shortage in Pennsylvania.  We discuss what factors make it hard to attract people to the career, the results of state-wide survey sent out to school bus drivers,  and what steps could be taken to help ease the shortage. More information can be found on our website  in the report " The Scho...

This episode contains an interview between the JSGC Podcast team and project manager Helen Khanzhina about the progress in updating the digital system used by the Commonwealth to manage its child welfare cases and the logistical challenges this undertaking poses. The full report, Development and Implementation of a New Integrated Child Welfare Case Management System in Pennsylvania , was released...

The conclusion of a two-part series, this episode features an interview with Brent McClintock, executive director of the Legislative Data Processing Center. The LDPC is legislative service agency which manages IT throughout the capitol complex.  Topics covered in this episode include: LDPC's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of cyber security for state government offices, and...

This episode is the first of a two-part series on the Legislative Data Processing Center, a legislative services agency which manages IT throughout the capitol complex.  To learn more about this agency, the JSGC podcast crew sat down with Brent McClintock, executive director of the LDPC. Topics covered in this episode include Brent's work experiences, the  duties and responsibilities of the L...

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew interview Frank Lill, project manager of the report "License Processing Times of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing," released in April of 2022.  We discuss how long it takes to get a nursing license in Pennsylvania, factors contributing to delays in processing time, and recommendations for how to improve these conditions.  A one page summary a...

This episode is the conclusion of the two-part interview between the JSGC podcast team and Vince DeLiberato, Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau. Topics covered in this episode include: how the LRB responds to the pressures of working for legislators, the process of drafting bills, and lesser known functions of the LRB. More information about the LRB can be found at their website: https:/...

In this episode, Glenn Pasewicz, Susan Elder, and Bryan DeWalt interview Vince DeLiberato, the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau. Mr. DeLiberato describes the agency's primary responsibility as the "law office of the Legislature" and the LRB is well known in Harrisburg for its vital role in drafting bills for members of the Pennsylvania State Legislature. A few of the top...

During this episode Susan Elder,  Glenn Pasewicz , and Bryan DeWalt spoke with Grant Rosul, the project leader of " Regulatory Waivers and Suspensions Issued by the PA Dept. of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs During the COVID-19 Pandemic " released in October of 2021. The episode covers what the BPOA is, what some of the measures the Bureau took to keep professions...

In this episode, Susan Elder and Glenn Pasewicz interview  Helen Khanzhina about the latest in a series of ongoing reports covering the Diabetes epidemic in Pennsylvania. Their conversation covers the associated  health risks of Covid-19 to people with Diabetes, the role of telehealth in treating the disease, and recent statistical trends. For more information see the full report , " Diabetes...

In this episode, Susan Elder and Glenn Pasewicz discuss a newly released report, Medical School Impact on the Primary Care Physician Shortage, with project manager Bryan DeWalt.  Topics covered include what primary care physicians are, current data collection efforts,  and what medical schools and other states are doing to address the primary care physician shortage. Additionally, a summary of the...