What’s Happening in the House – Week of Dec. 12

State House returns to session on Monday, Dec. 12. All of House session and most committee meetings will stream live on http://www.Facebook.com/PAHouseGOP and http://www.PAHouseGOP.com.  Bill numbers will be used to identify the legislation being considered either in committee or on the House floor.  The bills, sponsors and summaries are posted below.  To research a bill by bill number, visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us.

Monday, Dec. 12

Committee Meetings/Hearings

COMMERCE, 11 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

SB 1335 (Sen. Charles McIlhinney, R-Bucks/Montgomery):  Removes the restricted use of abbreviations in a bank’s corporate name.

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

Joint informational meeting with the Senate State Government Committee on Congressional redistricting, specifically SB 1249 (Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester/Delaware):  Divides the Commonwealth into 18 Congressional districts and provides for current officeholders, vacancies and missed political subdivisions.

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 11:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 1820 (Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland):  Exempts employees of an air carrier from receiving overtime pay for hours worked in excess of a 40-hour work week due to a voluntary agreement among employees to trade scheduled work hours.

SB 1310 (Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder/Dauphin/Luzerne):  Amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to permit the PA Economic Development Financing Authority to issue bonds for payment of federal loans to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fun, increase the statute of limitations for collection of benefit overpayments, and create an amnesty program for collection of unpaid contributions or compensation overpayment.

 

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 3 (Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair):  Authorizes the implementation of transportation-specific public-private partnerships.

HB 1329 (Rep. Fred Keller, R-Union/Snyder):  Raises the threshold for the Prevailing Wage Act from $25,000 to $185,000 and creates an annual inflation threshold.

HB 1685 (Rep. John Bear, R-Lancaster):  Requires the use of the federal occupational classifications to determine the scope of craft/classification of workmen under the Prevailing Wage Act.

HB 1702 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon):  Re-enacts and amends The Borough Code.

HB 1769 (Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks):  Allows counties that operate their own criminal laboratory to receive the money generated by the criminal laboratory user fee imposed on defendants within that county and directs that, in counties that do not operate their own criminal laboratory, the criminal laboratory user fees be deposited into the Criminal Laboratory User Fee Fund for use by the Pennsylvania State Police criminal laboratories.

HB 1960 (Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny):  Defines “child” as a person under 21 years of age in the Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers Act.

SB 9 (Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Cameron/Elk/Jefferson/McKean/Potter/Tioga/Clearfield/Warren):  Requires a person applying for public benefits, who is 18 years of age or older, to provide proof of citizenship and execute an affidavit confirming his/her legal presence in the U.S.; requires agencies that supply public benefits to verify the legal presence of all noncitizen applicants through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement program or a successor program designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and provides that these provisions will not apply to those benefits where compliance would result in loss of federal funding or would be in conflict with federal law.

SB 242 (Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Fayette/Somerset/Washington/Westmoreland):  Bridge designation: Trooper Stephen R. Gyurke Memorial Bridge.

SB 732 (Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland/York):  Includes abortion facilities in the definition of health care facilities and provides licensure provisions for abortion facilities.

SB 1183 (Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny/Butler):  Amends Pennsylvania law to comply with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, a comprehensive set of standards regarding sex offender registration and notification programs.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

 

HB 761 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster):  Allows family farm partnerships to convey their assets to a limited or limited liability partnership without being subject to the realty transfer tax so long as there is no substantial change to the ownership.

HB 1864 (Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Cumberland):  Exempts the transfer of an agricultural commodity, agricultural conservation easement, agricultural reserve, agricultural use property or a forest reserve to a child or sibling from Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax.

HB 1976 (Rep. Bryan Cutler):  Restricts, with enumerated exceptions, the venue for personal injury action suits to either the county where the plaintiff resides; the county where the cause of action arose; or the county where the registered office or principal place of business of the corporation or similar entity is located.

HB 1977 (Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion/Armstrong):  Prohibits coverage for abortions in qualified health plans offered through a health insurance exchange under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with enumerated exceptions.

HB 1983 (Rep. Nicholas Micozzie, R-Delaware):  Grants the Pennsylvania Insurance Department the authority to review rates for the small group market.

HB 2005 (Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks):  Requires the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to post all contracts and contract-related information on its website.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 13

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

 

LIQUOR CONTROL, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

HB 11 (Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny):  Charges the Department of General Services, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, to effect an orderly transition from the state-owned wine and spirits stores and wholesale system to a privately owned and operated system.

HUMAN SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building

Informational meeting on the funding and payment policies of the Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Developmental Programs.

STATE GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Building

Joint informational meeting with the Senate State Government Committee on Congressional redistricting, specifically SB 1249 (Sen. Dominic Pileggi).

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

HB 1015 (Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland/York):  Establishes possession of tobacco products by a minor as a summary offense punishable with any or all of the following: up to 75 hours of community service, completion of a tobacco use prevention/cessation program, a fine of up to $200, or a 30-day suspension of driving privileges.

HB 1029 (Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland/York):  Establishes the unauthorized use of a deceased soldier’s name, portrait or picture for advertising purposes as a misdemeanor of the first degree, with exceptions; provides for a soldier’s right to control the use of his or her name, portrait or picture for commercial purposes, with exceptions; establishes liability for unauthorized use of a soldier’s name, portrait or picture; and creates a limitation of action of five years after an unauthorized publication.

HB 1159 (Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland):  Comprehensive revision of the Uniform Arbitration Act.

HB 2032 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler):  Establishes the offense of theft of secondary metal, further providing for the grading of the offense and the penalties based on the value of the stolen secondary metal.

HB 2071 (Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin):  Amends the definition of “municipal police officer” to include those police officers who are required to receive training and certification under the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Act.

 

Session

 

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

 

HB 1232 (Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair):  Establishes a penalty for communities that adopt local ordinances that may conflict with provisions of the Vehicle Code.

SB 71 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Expands the current greyhound racing prohibition to include simulcasting, grades the offense as a misdemeanor of the first degree and provides for a civil penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

SB 560 (Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Bucks/Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton):  Establishes the State Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program, whereby each member of the General Assembly may select an eligible student from his/her legislative district for guaranteed initial enrollment in a state military college.

SB 743 (Sen. John Rafferty, R-Berks/Chester/Montgomery):  Allows private driver training school instructors to provide the classroom portion of driver education instruction without obtaining a Pennsylvania teacher certification.

SB 858 (Sen. Mike Waugh, R-York):  Allows school boards to elect or appoint individuals holding a graduate degree in business or finance as a superintendent or assistant superintendent and requires those individuals to successfully complete a leadership program that meets Pennsylvania school leadership standards.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

 

HB 3 (Rep. Rick Geist)

HB 1329 (Rep. Fred Keller)

HB 1685 (Rep. John Bear)

HB 1702 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich)

HB 1769 (Rep. Frank Farry)

HB 1960 (Rep. Randy Vulakovich)

SB 9 (Sen. Joseph Scarnati)

SB 242 (Sen. Richard Kasunic)

SB 732 (Sen. Patricia Vance)

SB 1183 (Sen. Jane Orie)

 

 Wednesday, Dec. 14

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

 

AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Informational meeting with the PA State Data Center and Secretary of Aging Brian Duke to discuss the importance of using the most current demographic resources in the state planning process.

FINANCE, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building

HR 223 (Rep. Dan Truitt, R-Chester):  Urges the U.S. Congress to reexamine the Federal Unemployment Tax Act as it relates to corporate officers.

HB 1662 (Rep. Douglas Reichley, R-Berks/Lehigh):  Excludes certain printed publications from the Sales and Use Tax.

HB 1761 (Rep. Matthew Smith, D-Allegheny):  Regarding employee retirement systems in the Second Class County Code, excludes overtime pay from the definition of compensation, authorizes the board to make technical changes to the plan in order to be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, and specifies eligibility and retirement allowance criteria for future employees.

HB 1981 (Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe):  Requires retailers that accept discounts to establish a new purchase price for the item(s) being discounted, for Sales and Use Tax purposes.

HUMAN SERVICES, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

HB 272 (Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford/Fulton/Huntingdon): Establishes a task force to increase public awareness about Lyme disease and other tick-related illnesses and requires health insurers to cover treatment of these diseases, excepting various limited insurance benefit plans.

 

Session

 

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

 

HB 1602 (Rep. Thomas Killion, R-Chester/Delaware):  Amends the Mechanics’ Lien Law to require a notice of commencement to be filed with the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in the judicial district in which the project is located within 15 days after work has physically started and reduces the time in which a claim may be filed after completion of work from six months to four months.

HB 1758 (Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Berks/Lehigh):  Increases the Pennsylvania National Guard minimum pay for state active duty for emergencies from $75 to $100.

HB 1813 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Berks/Schuylkill):  Establishes a program through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to provide land reclamation financial guarantees for qualified mine operators.

SB 995 (Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Pike/Wayne/Wyoming/Luzerne/Monroe/Susquehanna):  Requires the operators of permitted unconventional oil and gas wells to post specific 911 response information and to adopt a unique GPS coordinate address for each access road entrance and well site, which must be registered, along with an emergency response plan, with the Department of Environmental Protection and the county emergency management organization for the county where the well site is located.

SB 1276 (Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster/York):  Allows any third-class county that has, according to the federal decennial census, a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants to elect not to become a county of the second class A, via a resolution or ordinance, by Feb. 15 of the year following the release year of the certified census results.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

 

HB 1232 (Rep. Rick Geist)

SB 71 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf)

SB 560 (Sen. Bob Mensch)

SB 743 (Sen. John Rafferty)

SB 858 (Sen. Mike Waugh)

 

Thursday, Dec. 15

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

 

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

HB 5 (Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny):  Divides the Commonwealth into 18 Congressional districts and provides for current officeholders, vacancies and missed political subdivisions.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

SB 923 (Sen. John Pippy, R-Allegheny/Washington):  Expands the Housing Authorities Law to allow counties of the second class to hire police officers, specifies that the officers have the same powers given to the police of the municipality in which the authority is located, and enumerates certification requirements.

HB 1682 (Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia):  Enables municipalities to use land banks to facilitate the return of vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties to productive use.

 

Session

 

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

 

HB 2004 (Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny):  Prohibits any applicant for, or holder of, a Pennsylvania slot machine license from serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

HB 2011 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks/Lehigh):  Prohibits enumerated public officials from being appointed to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) for a period of two years following the termination of the official’s term of office and prohibits officers, directors, or key employees of a licensed gaming entity from being appointed to the PGCB for a period of four years following their association with the licensed gaming entity.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

 

HB 1602 (Rep. Thomas Killion)

HB 1758 (Rep. Doug Reichley)

HB 1813 (Rep. Mike Tobash)

SB 995 (Sen. Lisa Baker)

SB 1276 (Sen. Lloyd Smucker)