Claim OwnershipJSGC Podcast
Subscribed: 0Played: 0
Subscribe
© 2024 JSGC Podcast
Description
The Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) is the primary non-partisan public policy and statutory research organization that serves the Pennsylvania General Assembly. We issue reports on a wide variety of public policy topics. Our episodes feature staff discussions highlighting recently released reports. To learn more about us and access full reports, please visit our website: http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/
37 Episodes
Reverse
In this episode, the JSGC podcast team interviews policy analyst Bryan DeWalt on the subject of nuclear technology in Pennsylvania. Among the topics discussed include an overview of how nuclear fission works, why nuclear power plants are difficult to build, and emerging alternatives to make nuclear power safer and more affordable. The content of this episode is based on the report "Benefits of Nuclear Energy and Development of Small Modular Reactors," released in February of 2024. This ...
Today the JSGC podcast team interviews Glenn Pasewicz, Susan Elder, and Allison Kobzowicz to discuss truancy in Pennsylvania schools. Among the topics discussed include important definitions, the penalties truant students face, and the changes brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Recommendations for reducing truancy in schools are also discussed. The content of this episode is based on the report "The Truancy Process: The Challenge of Improving Attendance in Pennsylvania Schools," re...
In this episode, the JSGC podcast team interviews Bryan DeWalt and Allison Kobzowicz about two of our reports relating to higher education transparency. These report are the "Instructional Output and Faculty Salary Costs of the State-related Universities" and "Information Disclosure of the State-related Universities" also known as the Snyder and Stairs reports. The Snyder report focuses on the cost to provide education and University performance metrics while the Stairs report centers a...
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 that would promote fatherhood and coordinate state approaches. The episode also covers potential...
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 recommendations on how Pennsylvania could improve Diabetes care. For more information see the full repo...
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 Report of the Election Law Advisory Board” published in August of 2023. Both the full report and a ...
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 released in June of 2023. Both the full report and a summary are available on our website.Music ...
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 includes information about report's advisory committee, the effectiveness of public school manda...
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 providers, as well as possible solutions. The content of this episode is based on...
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 Care Facilities in the Commonwealth, was released in May of 2023. The report was commissi...
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. Topics include identifying a CIOC, the benefits and potential pitfalls of th...
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 can be found at http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/index.cfm Music by Joseph McDade. Visit...
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 evolved over the years, the lifecycle of their projects, and the methodology and approach employ...
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 safe care for infants, department of health initiatives, and the creation of a Work Group to continue ...
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. Learn more about the Center for Rural Pennsylvania by visiting their websit...
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-Speed Broadband Services in Unserved and Underserved Areas of the Commonwealth, are available on the ...
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 process of training election officials and poll workers, and the constitutionality of mail-in ballots...
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 formerly incarcerated persons are not permanently disenfranchised from the right to vote. The one-page summaries a...
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 School Bus Driver Shortage in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania". We would also like to...
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 in April of 2022 and is available on the JSGC website along with a 1-page summary.Music provided b...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States