Another busy week at the state Capitol and Justin Sweitzer and Andrew Bahl break it down on the latest edition of Right 2 Know. From Medicaid fraud to police reform to amphibians, we look back on the week that was in Harrisburg. Like what you hear? Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Google Play (and, coming soon, iTunes!).

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro revealed findings from a grand jury investigation into the state’s medical assistance program earlier this week, outlining three potential legislative solutions that could help Pennsylvania crack down on Medicaid fraud. 
 

Shapiro said the investigation emanated from two separate Medicaid fraud investigations that inspired the grand jury to explore ways to better police fraud in the state’s medical assistance program. One involved the mother of an autistic daughter who directed caregivers to perform work around the house rather than care for her daughter. 

Efforts to reform the state’s statute of limitations for child sex abuse got more complicated Wednesday, as Senate Democrats unveiled a broader piece of legislation which includes a retroactive window for victims to file suit against their perpetrators and the institutions that shielded them.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro, along with four freshmen senators, led by Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) and Sen. Katie Muth (D-Montgomery), are pushing a bill which eliminates the criminal and civil statute of limitations for certain sex crimes against both minors and adults.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday his office would open a criminal investigation into the Mariner East pipeline and its parent company, Energy Transfer Partnership (ETP).

The investigation, which would be a joint effort between the Attorney General’s (AG) Office and the Delaware County District Attorney (DA), is the latest setback in the construction of the 350-mile pipeline after the Department of Environmental Protection announced last month it would halt permit review on the pipeline.

After a year of what many praised as progress, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday he’s filing 161 criminal charges against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
When the state’s Department of Environmental Protection discovered elevated lead levels in city water in 2016, Pittsburgh was ordered to replace 7 percent or roughly 2,400 lead lines per year. Since 2016 the city has since been replacing lines throughout the city.