PA House Action beginning June 2

Budget Season Begins; Issues of Importance on House Schedule

The House returns to session on Monday, June 2. Live web streams of House session and the majority of committee meetings are available at PAHouseGOP.com.  Important information and events may also be viewed by visiting Facebook.com/PAHouseGOP. 

Budget: Setting Priorities, Spending with Sustainable Revenues

June is budget season in the State Capitol.

State revenue collections have been less than anticipated this year. Knowing we have to govern responsibly, House and Senate leaders have been meeting with the administration to work on the 2014-2015 state budget.

Reviewing each line in the budget, House budgeteers are looking at expenditures which can be reduced and changes to tax credits which may no longer be affordable, as well as considering responsible revenue sources, such as fully privatizing the adult beverage industry.

House Bill 790 (Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County), which passed the House on March 21, 2013, and is awaiting Senate action, could, as passed in the House, bring in to state coffers approximately $1 billion through wholesale and retail licensing, and curbing border bleed. Through additional license fees and renewals, the legislation would ensure hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the General Fund while strengthening the regulatory and law enforcement components of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

For the latest budget updates, visit PAHouseGOP.com.

The Weekly Schedule

Identified by bill number, the sponsors and summaries for bills scheduled to be considered in committee or on the House floor are posted below.  More information regarding these bills can be found at PAHouseGOP.com by clicking on the “Research Bills” tab.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

HEALTH, 11 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

• HB 907 (Rep. Mike Reese, R-Fayette/Westmoreland): Prohibits the use of EBT and EPPI cards to purchase tobacco products.

• HB 2242 (Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne): Removes licensure requirements from pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers that dispense diabetic shoes and inserts.

Session

On Monday, the House will convene at 1 p.m. for legislative business. The members will vote the uncontested calendar and Rule 35 resolutions.

Votes on Second Consideration

• HB 1159 (Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie): Allows a third party to administer the road test portion of driver’s license examinations.
• HB 1989 (Rep. Michael Hanna, D-Centre/Clinton): Designates the Piper J-3 Cub as the official state aircraft.
• HB 2007 (Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie): Amends the Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries Code to add criminal liability language to the acknowledgement which an agent must sign in order for a power of attorney to be valid and adds an additional condition under which an Area Agency on Aging may seek release of documents through court order.
• HB 2128 (Rep. Sue Helm, R-Dauphin): Establishes “Juneteenth National Freedom Day” as an annual designation and holiday observance.
• HB 2204 (Rep. Justin Simmons, R-Lehigh/Northampton): Adds homeless infants and toddlers to the list of at-risk children to be automatically tracked by early intervention services.
• SB 601 (Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Cameron/Clearfield/Clinton/Elk/Jefferson/McKean): Establishes the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act.

Votes on Third Consideration

• HB 1728 (Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny/Washington): Allows school entities to display the national motto “In God We Trust” and the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution in each school building.
• HB 2049 (Rep. Justin Simmons, R-Lehigh/Northampton): Allows trained school bus drivers, in compliance with employer and school district policy, to administer epinephrine auto-injectors to students.
• HB 2202 (Rep. Keith Greiner, R-Lancaster): Amends the Tuition Account Programs and Savings Bond Act by prohibiting all college savings plans from being used as security for a loan and from being subject to attachment, levy or execution by any creditor of any account owner or beneficiary.
• SB 1045 (Sen. Donald White, R-Armstrong/Butler/Indiana/Westmoreland): Amends the Pennsylvania Securities Act to reflect changes necessitated by the merger of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission into the Department of Banking and to be more consistent with appropriate sections of the Uniform Securities Act, federal securities law and existing state regulations.
• SB 1077 (Sen. David Argall, R-Berks/Carbon/Lehigh/Monroe/Northampton/Schuylkill): Adds railroad materials to the list of items that may only be purchased from a commercial enterprise by a scrap processor or recycling facility.
• SB 1254 (Sen. John Yudichak, D-Carbon/Luzerne): Updates the definition of “lead free” in the Plumbing System Lead Ban and Notification Act.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

LIQUOR CONTROL, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• HB 1521 (Rep. Bernie O’Neill, R-Bucks): Allows the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement to do compliance checks in state stores.
• HB 2069 (Rep. Kurt Masser, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland): Allows liquor licensees to offer discounts on food and malt or brewed beverages to patrons who are part of a bona fide club or group program that the licensee offers.

FINANCE, 9:45 a.m., Room 60 East Wing

• HB 314 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Expands the registration exemption for volunteer charitable organizations provided the organization’s volunteers, members or auxiliary or affiliate receive no direct or indirect compensation for solicitation of funds or that no fundraising activities be carried on by a professional solicitor.
• HB 1421 (Rep. Fred Keller, R-Snyder/Union): Excludes the purchases of gun safes and gun locks from the Sales and Use Tax.
• HB 2188 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster): Clarifies accessibility to the Community Based Services Tax Credit by mental health care and intellectual disability services providers.

JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• HB 908 (Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia): Allows for the expungement of certain criminal record information.
• HB 2102 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Berks/Schuylkill): Provides an individual over age 75 the option of being excused from jury duty.
• HB 2167 (Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon): Establishes specific time frames for state agencies and municipalities to provide notice of data breaches involving personal information.
• HB 2253 (Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks): Restricts the circumstances under which a prospective employer may use questions about prior arrests, convictions or adjudications on employment application forms.

TRANSPORTATION, Call of Chair, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• HB 241 (Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks): Expands the definition of “fire department vehicle” to include a vehicle owned or leased by a fire relief association.
• HB 1340 (Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Bedford/Somerset): Bridge designation: Private John W. Mostoller Bridge.
• HB 2171 (Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon): Bridge designation: Sgt. Andrew J. Baddick Memorial Bridge.
• SB 1225 (Sen. James Brewster, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland): Ramp designation: Officer Frank Miller Jr. Memorial Ramp.
• SB 1312 (Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence): Extends the permissible length of school buses to 45 feet.

Session

On Tuesday the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.

Votes on Second Consideration

• HB 945 (Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia): Ensures that the parent of a child conceived as a result of a sexual offense for which that parent was convicted is not entitled to custody, partial custody or supervised physical custody unless the child is of suitable age and consents to the order.
• HB 1590 (Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe): Requires a criminal history check for anyone running for the office of tax collector and expands the current tax collector education program by making it mandatory to become certified by the Department of Community and Economic Development before taking the oath of office.
• HB 2133 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon): Requires that a property disclosure statement to a residential real estate purchaser include notification of any sinkholes, the location and condition of defined storm water facilities, and whether the purchaser is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the storm water facilities.
• HB 2166 (Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny/Washington): Requires a 30-day time limit for outgoing tax collectors to turn over their records to the newly elected or appointed tax collector or taxing district.
• HB 2199 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Game and Wildlife Code as it relates to an individual’s right to remain silent during questioning in the investigation of a potential violation of the Game Code.
• SB 193 (Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland/York): Requires all school nurses to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• SB 1205 (Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Dauphin/Lebanon/York): Simplifies the process that a college must follow in order to become a university.

Votes on Third Consideration

• HB 1159 (Bizzarro)
• HB 1989 (Hanna)
• HB 2007 (Bizzarro)
• HB 2128 (Helm)
• HB 2204 (Simmons)
• SB 601 (Scarnati)

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

COMMERCE, 9 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

• HB 1550 (Rep. Duane Milne, R-Chester): Consolidates several of the Commonwealth’s business loan programs into the newly created Pennsylvania Business Development Authority.

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

• HB 2275 (Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Chester/Delaware): Extends the $1 wireless 911 surcharge from June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
• SB 771 (Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder): Establishes the State Geospatial Coordinating Council.

GAME AND FISHERIES, 9:15 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

• Informational meeting for presentation and discussion about the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s study of the feasibility of merging the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

EDUCATION, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• HB 1013 (Rep. Mark Gillen, R-Berks): Amends the Public School Code regarding diplomas awarded by home education supervisors, home education supervisor responsibilities, superintendent oversight of home education programs and hearing proceedings.
• HB 1722 (Rep. Timothy Krieger, R-Westmoreland): Amends the Public School Code regarding teacher tenure and furlough decisions.
• HB 2037 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Increases the compulsory school age range to include 18-year-old students and requires students that withdraw from school to actively pursue a Commonwealth secondary school diploma.
• HB 2082 (Rep. James Clay, D-Philadelphia): Requires public school students to receive mandatory instruction in compulsive and problem gambling awareness.
• HB 2221 (Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford/Tioga): Allows students who are capable of self-managing their diabetes to be permitted to do so and allows for trained staff, in addition to a school nurse, to assist with diabetes management.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

• HB 1822 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin): Requires pharmacies located outside of Pennsylvania to register with the State Board of Pharmacy if they fill prescription orders for residents of the Commonwealth.

• SB 807 (Sen. Charles McIlhinney, R-Bucks): Creates an optional license for individuals who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• SB 814 (Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder): Defines out-of-state recreational vehicle dealers and clarifies requirements for such an entity to exhibit in the Commonwealth.

HUMAN SERVICES, Call of Chair, Room 60, East Wing

• HB 1492 (Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks): Allows Pennsylvania to participate in the Federal Medicaid Expansion program, expanding medical assistance for people whose incomes are below 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
• SB 177 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Directs the Department of Health to establish a task force that will investigate and make recommendations to the department regarding the education, prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases.

Session

On Wednesday the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.

Votes on Third Consideration

• HB 945 (Cruz)
• HB1590 (Scavello)
• HB 2133 (Gingrich)
• HB 2166 (Saccone)
• HB 2199 (Keller)
• SB 193 (Vance)
• SB1205 (Folmer)

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

• Public hearing on HB 1507 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster): Eliminates the ability of unions to negotiate provisions in collective bargaining agreements that require Commonwealth or municipalities to collect any form of union dues for representative unions.

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

• Public hearing on HB 2271 (Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Fayette/Green/Washington): Prohibits employers, employment agencies and labor organizations from discriminating against workers based on marital or familial status.