What’s Happening in the PA House – Week of Oct. 17, 2011

The state House returns to session on Monday, Oct. 17, to debate and vote on various issues of importance. Various House committees will meet to discuss and vote on legislation. All of House session and most committee meetings will be streamed live on http://PAHouseGOP.com. If you’d like to get more information on any specific bills, research by bill number on http://legis.state.pa.us.

Crafted in response to a grand jury presentment regarding atrocities alleged to have taken place at the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia, where the clinic head, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, faces eight counts of murder including seven newborns and one woman, Senate Bill 732 defines what an abortion facility is and holds such facilities to the same high standards as other health care facilities to ensure that patients who use these clinics are treated by trained personnel in a safe and sanitary manner. The bill also holds abortion clinics to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical centers if they provide surgical abortions.  Further, this measure will provide the Department of Health with a range of remedies for those facilities that are not in compliance with the regulations.

The House is expected to take up, if amended and passed by the Senate, Senate Bill 1151 dealing with municipal financial recoveries. The legislation would allow the governor to declare a state of fiscal emergency in a city, and direct the secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development to develop an emergency action plan to provide for vital and necessary services, including police and emergency services, water and sewer services, trash pickup and other services. Furthermore, the legislation gives the governor the ability to petition Commonwealth Court to appoint a receiver for the city in the event city council fails within a month of the declaration to adopt a plan to bring the city on the path to recovery. Once appointed, the receiver would have the ability to create a final long-term recovery plan for the city and would have the ability to implement the plan as needed.

In committee action on Monday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will vote on a series of bills aimed at more openness and transparency. On Tuesday, the House State Government Committee will be voting on a number of bills aimed at reducing the size of the General Assembly, including House Bill 153, sponsored by Speaker of the House, Rep. Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County).

The Weekly Schedule

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.

Monday, October 17

Committee Meetings/Hearings

• FINANCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • Public hearing on:
    • HB 1614 (Rep. Gordon Denlinger, R-Lancaster):  Establishes a phase-out schedule to eliminate Pennsylvania’s inheritance and estate tax by 2015.
    • HB 86 (Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Allegheny):  Repeals Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax for the estates of individuals dying on or after January 1, 2012.
    • HB 358 (Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon):  Establishes a phase-out schedule in order to eliminate Pennsylvania’s inheritance and estate tax by 2015.
    • HB 406 (Rep. Anthony DeLuca):  Decreases the inheritance tax rate for property passing to or for the use of a sibling from 12 percent to 6 percent.
    • HB 443 (Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks):  Establishes a phase-out schedule to eliminate Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax by 2015.
    • HB 697 (Rep. Anthony DeLuca):  Establishes an inheritance tax rate of 2.25 percent for estates of a decedent dying on or after January 1, 2012 where the property is passed to or for the use of a parent, child, or grandchild and establishes a rate of 7.5 percent to all other transferees.
    • HB 1103 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin):  Restricts Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax to transfers that exceed $250,000.
    • HB 1292 (Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland/York):  Establishes a phase-out schedule in order to eliminate Pennsylvania’s inheritance and estate tax by 2017.
    • HB 1464 (Rep. Neal Goodman, D-Schuylkill):  Repeals Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax, effective for the estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2012.
    • HB 1466 (Rep. Neal Goodman):  Establishes that Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax will not be imposed on the first $100,000 of value of any property being transferred.
    • HB 1687 (Rep. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer):  Decreases Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax rates on the transfer of property by half.
    • HB 1780 (Rep. Carl Metzgar, R-Bedford/Somerset):  Eliminates Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax rate for property transfers from a natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent to or for the use of their child, if the child is under the age of 21.
    • HB 1828 (Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia):  Defines “domestic partnership,” enumerates the documents proving a domestic partnership, and establishes that Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax rate for the transfer of property to or for the use of an individual in a domestic partnership shall be zero percent.
    • HB 1864 (Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Cumberland):  Exempts the transfer of an agricultural commodity, agricultural conservation easement, agricultural reserve, agricultural use property, or forest reserve to a child or sibling from Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax.
    • HB 1879 (Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin):  Allows for the transfer of property passing between a decedent and one designated individual with an inheritance tax rate of zero percent if certain conditions are met.
• GAMING OVERSIGHT, 11 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
  • HB 2007 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming):  Requires the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to include a listing of its executive sessions, with corresponding agendas, in its annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly.
  • HB 2009 (Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester):  Requires the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to list on its website a description, with enumerated details, of all Right-to-Know requests.
  • HB 2014 (Rep. George Dunbar, R-Westmoreland):  Requires the PGCB to make the budgetary guidelines for all board members and employees, including a salary matrix, available to the public and requires that the guidelines be posted on the PGCB website.
  • HB 65 (Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester):  Provides for the relocation of a revoked Category 2 slot machine license and establishes the procedures for the auction of any revoked slot machine license.
  • HB 1893 (Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny):  Prohibits the use of an electronic gaming machine to conduct or promote sweepstakes.
• JOINT LEGISLATIVE CONSERVATION, Noon, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
  • Environmental Issues Forum – Data security experts from Reclamere will provide a presentation on electronic recycling and data security.

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 1324 (Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-Butler/Mercer):  Increases the limit for small estates that can be settled without formal accounting from $25,000 to $50,000.
• HB 1417 (Rep. Edward Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne): Provides technical corrections regarding penalties for consistency purposes and adds Wildlife Conservation Officers and Waterway Conservation Officers to the list of officials protected against aggravated assault, making assault causing bodily injury a second-degree felony, assault causing serious bodily injury a first-degree felony, and the discharge of firearm during assault a first-degree felony.
• HB 1792 (Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland/Snyder):  Road designation: the United States Army Specialist Zachariah W. Long Highway.
• HB 1794 (Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Allegheny):  Provides a statutory mechanism for victims of certain sex crimes to request that a court order the defendant to submit to HIV testing and clarifies that the mechanism is supplementary and does not replace existing law.
• HB 1825 (Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga/Bradford): Authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of General Services to remove and release the restrictive use covenants imposed on former Commonwealth-owned land located in the Borough of Blossburg, Tioga County.
• SB 732 (Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland/York):  Amends the Health Care Facilities Act to include abortion facilities in the definition of health care facilities and to provide licensure provisions for abortion facilities.

Votes on Third Consideration

• SB 631 (Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-Chester/Montgomery):  Road designation: Medal of Honor Grove Highway.

Tuesday, October 18

Committee Meetings/Hearings

• TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 9 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building
  • Public hearing on HB 63 (Rep. Michael Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre):  Defines ‘vintage snowmobile’ and establishes a permit through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for vintage snowmobiles that are used only while participating in an exhibition, or other event of interest that is open to the public.
• VETERANS AFFAIRS & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 9:15 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • HB 955 (Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Chester/Delaware):  Extends the authority for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to award grants to volunteer fire companies and volunteer ambulance services until June 30, 2017.
  • 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.
• INSURANCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
  • Public hearing on the UPMC/Highmark impasse.
• EDUCATION, 10 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol Building
  • HB 1343 (Rep. Matt Baker):  Establishes the guidelines to allow state-owned universities and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) employees to enter into agreements for economic development transactions and allows all PASSHE universities to offer doctorate degrees.
• STATE GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
  • HB 858 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler):  Prohibits all businesses or business entities from employing or permitting the employment of unauthorized aliens, requires all employers in the Commonwealth to enroll and actively participate in the federal E-Verify program, and sets forth enforcement, penalty, and local ordinance provisions.
  • HB 474 (Rep. Jim Cox, R-Berks):  Authorizes the governor to execute an Interstate Compact on Birth Certificates Issued to Aliens Not Subject to United States Jurisdiction with one or more states. The compact would require a distinction on birth records between children born who are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and therefore are natural-born U.S. citizens, and those who are not.
  • HB 857 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe):  Defines a citizen of the Commonwealth as an individual who is born in the United States and is subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or is a naturalized citizen of the United States and is subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and is a resident of the Commonwealth.  This bill includes a construction of terms for “subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” which states that the person is a child of at least one parent who owes no allegiance to any foreign sovereignty or a child without citizenship or nationality in any foreign country.
  • HB 798 (Rep. Tom Creighton, R-Lancaster):  Requires arresting authorities to inquire into the citizenship or immigration status of every person arrested for a felony, misdemeanor, or summary offense regardless of the person’s national origin, ethnicity or race, and allows state agencies or employers to consider the unlawful immigration status of an individual when determining eligibility for licensure or employment.
  • HB 799 (Rep. Tom Creighton):  Authorizes the Pennsylvania State Police to negotiate the terms of a memorandum of understanding between the Commonwealth and the United States Department of Justice or Department of Homeland Security concerning the enforcement of federal immigration and customs laws, detentions, removals, and investigations within the Commonwealth.
  • HB 809 (Rep. Scott Perry):  Requires government entities to verify the citizenship status of every person over the age of 18 that applies for public benefits and sets forth the procedures for verification, reimbursement, and the creation of a benefits database.
  • HB 355 (Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny):  Prohibits the assistance of illegal immigrants in various, specified ways and identifies the violation of this provision as a third-degree misdemeanor, requires government entities to verify the citizenship of any individual over the age of 14 that applies for state or local public benefits, and requires the verification of a person’s citizenship status when charged with a felony or with driving under the influence.
  • HB 865 (Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Berks/Schuylkill):  Holds sanctuary municipalities financially liable for injuries to a person and damages to property if the damages or injuries were caused by the criminal activity of unauthorized aliens so long as the unauthorized alien has been a resident of the sanctuary municipality for at least six months, the unauthorized alien is convicted of the crime that resulted in the damage or injury, and the criminal activity is the direct cause of the damage or injury.
  • HB 810 (Rep. Scott Perry):  Requires Commonwealth appropriations for municipalities that are either under investigation for being a sanctuary municipality, or are designated to be a sanctuary municipality, to be held in escrow until at least 30 days after the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth has certified that the municipality has taken corrective action.
  • HB 738 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe):  Requires the verification of the lawful presence of any individual 18 years or older that applies for public benefits; identifies failure to apply for or carry an alien registration document as a misdemeanor of the third degree, or a first-degree misdemeanor if the violator is in possession of a controlled substance, a deadly weapon, or property used for the purpose of committing a terroristic act; and establishes that an unauthorized alien that knowingly applies for work, solicits work in a public place, or performs work in the Commonwealth commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.
  • HB 856 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin):  Establishes the smuggling of human beings as a third-degree felony and allows law enforcement officers engaged in the enforcement of this provision to stop a person who is operating a motor vehicle if the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the person is violating any provision of the motor vehicle code.
  • HB 801 (Rep. Tom Creighton):  Prohibits any Commonwealth official, agency, or other political subdivision from adopting a policy that limits or restricts enforcement of federal immigration laws and allows residents to challenge in court the agencies or political subdivisions that limit or restrict enforcement and requires unauthorized aliens convicted of violating state or local law to be transported to federal custody upon discharge from imprisonment or assessment of any fine that is imposed.
  • HB 41 (Rep. Ron Marsico):  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 their legal presence in the U.S.; and requires agencies that supply public benefits to verify the legal presence of all noncitizen applicants through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement program.
  • 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 their 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 637 (Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland):  Requires contractors and subcontractors on public works projects to verify employee eligibility using E-Verify.
• JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • HB 1126 (Rep. Dan Moul):  Establishes that a person convicted of a crime related to tampering with evidence or public records or information can be required by the court to make restitution for all reasonable expenses incurred by the victim or on the victim’s behalf.
  • HB 1156 (Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland):  Defines “phishing,” establishes the offense of phishing as a third-degree felony, and establishes the distribution or sale of indentifying information obtained via phishing as a second-degree felony.
  • HB 1531 (Rep. Jeffrey Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana):  Defines and establishes the offense of ‘criminal surveillance’, punishable as a summary offense for a single violation and as a misdemeanor of the third degree for multiple violations.
  • HB 1552 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster):  Restricts the filing of personal civil injury lawsuits to the county where the death or injury occurred.
• TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building
  • HB 98 (Rep. John Evans, R-Crawford/Erie):  Allows special registration plates to be used on motorcycles and motor homes.
  • HB 149 (Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin):  Establishes an “In God We Trust” special registration plate.
  • HB 1847 (Rep. Ken Smith, D-Lackawanna):  Bridge designation: the Andrew and Durando Pompey Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 1862 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/Potter/McKean):  Bridge designations: the Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge and the Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 1875 (Rep. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster):  Bridge designation: Mountville Veterans Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 1886 (Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny/Washington):  Bridge designation:  the General Carl E. Vuono Bridge.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

• HB 700 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York):  Includes compliance with Federal Selective Service requirements as part of the application for learners’ permits or drivers’ licenses for any male U.S. citizen or immigrant who is at least 18 years old, but less than 26.
• HB 1344 (Rep. Bernie O’Neill, R-Bucks): Requires health insurance companies to send payment for services rendered directly to the emergency medical services agency, whether or not the agency participates in the insurance company’s network, when presented with an “assignment of benefits” form signed by the insured patient and prohibits EMS agencies from balance billing patients when an assignment of benefits has been executed.
• HB 1716 (Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe/Pike):  Maintains the current standard that no Category 3 license shall be located by the board within 15 linear miles of another licensed facility by removing the exception that extended the distance to 30 linear miles for all Category 3 licenses established on or after July 20, 2017.
• HB 1399 (Rep. Scott Perry):  Expands the definition of “motorcycle” to include vehicles designed to travel on two wheels in contact with the ground that have been modified to include two stabilizing wheels on the rear of the motor vehicle.

Votes on Third Consideration

• HB 1271 (Rep. Ron Marsico)
• HB 1324 (Rep. Dick Stevenson)
• HB 1417 (Rep. Edward Staback)
• HB 1792 (Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver)
• HB 1794 (Rep. Mark Mustio)
• HB 1825 (Rep. Matt Baker)
• SB 732 (Sen. Patricia Vance)

Wednesday, October 19

Committee Meetings/Hearings

• STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • Informational meeting on:
    • HB 153 (Rep. Sam Smith, R-Jefferson/Armstrong/Indiana):  Constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the state House of Representatives from 203 members to 153.
    • HB 55 (Rep. Mark Mustio):  Constitutional amendments to reduce the size of the General Assembly from 50 to 37 senators and 203 to 185 representatives; extend the terms for representatives from two to four years and for senators from four to six years; and nest the House and Senate districts so that each Senate district will contain five intact House districts within its boundaries.
    • HB 56 (Rep. Mark Mustio):  Constitutional amendments to reduce the size of the state House of Representatives from 203 representatives to 185 and extend the terms for representatives from two to four years and for senators from four to six years.
    • HB 57 (Rep. Mark Mustio):  Constitutional amendments to establish a mechanism for reducing the number of state legislative districts based on the decennial census and extend the terms for representatives from two to four years and for senators from four to six years.
    • HB 183 (Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery):  Constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the General Assembly from 50 to 30 senators and 203 to 121 representatives and, upon the effective date of the amendment, requires the chambers of the General Assembly to reduce their respective budgets by 40 percent as compared to the budgets of the previous year.
    • HB 876 (Rep. Rob Kauffman):  Constitutional amendment that reduces the size of the state House of Representatives in the graduated manner of 10 districts every 10 years, beginning with the reduction to 193 members in January 2013 and ending with 153 members in January 2053.
    • HB 936 (Rep. Mike Reese, R-Fayette/Westmoreland):  Constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the General Assembly from 50 to 40 senators and from 203 to 151 representatives and requires, upon adoption of the amendment, that the chambers of the General Assembly reduce their respective budgets from which staff salaries are paid by 20 percent as compared to the previous year.
• AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
  • HB 1720 (Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-Chester):  Sets forth prioritizing guidelines on which court has jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or conservator for an incapacitated adult when there are multiple states that might claim jurisdiction and outlines the procedure for transferring guardianship or conservatorship either to or from the Commonwealth.
  • HB 1052 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon):  Directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health to establish an informal review process for long-term care nursing facilities to dispute Department of Health survey findings using an independent agent.
• INSURANCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
  • Public hearing on the UPMC/Highmark impasse.
• EDUCATION, 10 a.m., Room 39, East Wing
  • HB 244 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York):  Allows schools to be reimbursed for the costs associated with hiring construction management services to oversee the construction or expansion of school buildings.
  • HB 1759 (Rep. Matthew Smith, D-Allegheny):  Allows high school graduates to wear a military dress uniform at their graduation ceremony so long as enumerated conditions are met.
  • SB 159 (Sen. Robert Robbins, R-Crawford/Mercer/Butler/Lawrence):  Authorizes Pennsylvania to enter into an interstate compact in order to make education more accessible to children of military families and to make school transfers more uniform, provides for the form and procedure of the compact, and establishes the State Council on Interstate Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
• FINANCE, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • HB 592 (Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Blair/Huntingdon/Mifflin):  Allows a step-parent to transfer real property to a step-child, or the spouse of a step-child, without being subject to the realty transfer tax.
  • HB 761 (Rep. Bryan Cutler):  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 1100 (Rep. Peter Daley, D-Fayette/Washington):  Excludes the sale at retail or use of aircraft parts exclusively in repair, maintenance or rebuilding of aircraft and the sale at retail or use of fixed-wing aircraft from the Commonwealth’s 6 percent Sales and Use Tax.
• JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND FINANCE, 10 a.m., Hearing Room 3, North Office Building
  • Meeting on real property and subsurface mineral rights, volunteer fire company and ambulatory service grant programs, and Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

• HB 1603 (Rep. Thomas Quigley, R-Montgomery):  Defines first offense, in cases of retail theft, as any conviction, acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or any other form of preliminary disposition that occurs prior to the sentencing of the present violation.
• SB 282 (Sen. Robert Robbins):  Increases the monetary threshold in the Third Class City Code for contracts requiring full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500 and establishes the annual indexing and adjusting of the threshold for inflation.
• SB 285 (Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon/Berks/Chester/Dauphin/Lancaster):  Increases the monetary threshold in the Borough Code for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500, increases the minimum for contracts requiring written or telephonic quotes from $4,000 to $10,000, and establishes the annual indexing and adjusting of these figures for inflation.
• SB 286 (Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder/Dauphin/Luzerne):  Increases the monetary threshold, in an act regulating the contracts of incorporated towns, for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500, increases the minimum for contracts requiring written or telephonic quotes from $4,000 to $10,000, and establishes the annual indexing and adjusting of these figures for inflation.
• SB 290 (Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Chester/Lancaster):  Amends the Political Subdivision Joint Purchases Law to increase the monetary threshold for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500, increase the minimum for contracts requiring written or telephonic quotes from $4,000 to $10,000, and establish the annual indexing and adjusting of these figures for inflation.
• SB 292 (Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Bedford/Blair/Fulton/Huntingdon/Mifflin):  Amends the Flood Control Law to increase the monetary threshold for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $4,000 to $18,500 and establish the annual indexing and adjusting of the threshold for inflation.
• SB 295 (Sen. Michael Waugh, R-York):  Amends the Housing Authorities Law to increase the monetary threshold for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500, increase the minimum for purchases requiring written or telephonic quotes from $4,000 to $10,000, and establish the annual indexing and adjusting of these figures for inflation.
• SB 296 (Sen. John Eichelberger):  Amends the Public School Code to increase the monetary threshold for contracts that require full advertising and bidding from $10,000 to $18,500, increase the minimum for purchases requiring written or telephonic quotes from $4,000 to $10,000, increase the cost under which school district maintenance personnel may perform construction or repairs from $5,000 to $10,000, and establish the annual indexing and adjusting of these figures for inflation.

Votes on Third Consideration

• HB 700 (Rep. Stan Saylor)
• HB 1716 (Rep. Rosemary Brown)
• HB 1399 (Rep. Scott Perry)

Thursday, October 20

Committee Meetings/Hearings

• HEALTH, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
  • Public hearing on HB 1570 (Rep. Doug Reichley):  Prohibits a person from presenting themselves as a health care facility or provider of specialized health services without a license from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and sets forth the requirements for licensure and the criteria for determining which practices require licensure.
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT and URBAN AFFAIRS, 9:30 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol Building
• Joint public hearing with the Senate Community, Economic, & Recreational Development Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee on Act 47 of 1987, Municipalities Planning Code.