Saturday, March 13, 2021

The PA state House returns to session on Monday, March 15, 2021

The PA state House returns to session on Monday, March 15, 2021, to vote on issues of importance.

Next week the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will begin several weeks of preparing for Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 economic recovery by setting the stage for a number of bills to be voted on the floor this spring.

 

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, March 15, 2021

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
    • The House State Government Committee will hold a public hearing on government telework policies and data during COVID-19.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
    • Informational meeting on embracing Pennsylvania's energy potential: hydrogen power and carbon capture.
  • AGING & OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 10 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 464 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne/Wyoming): Amends the Family Caregiver Support Act to streamline requirements and update the act.
    • HB 649 (Rep. Kathy Rapp, R- Warren/Crawford/Forest): Act providing for access to long-term care facilities for essential caregivers, for additional safety requirements for residents of long-term care facilities, for suspension of access for essential caregivers and for personal protective equipment for essential caregivers.
  • PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 523, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 192 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton): Amends the Interstate Medical Licensure Act to provide for background check compliance.
    • HB 245 (Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne): Amends the Medical Practice Act to update international medical graduate requirements.
    • HB 325 (Rep. Keith Greiner, R-Lancaster): Amends Title 63 (Professionals and Occupations) to permit licensed professionals to receive advice from licensing boards concerning the meaning or interpretation of an act or regulation pertaining to the licensee.
  • TOURISM & RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • Informational meeting to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on tourism, lodging and attractions in Pennsylvania.
  • PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10:15 a.m., Room 523, Irvis Office Building
    • Informational meeting on the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) with updates on the PA Licensing System (PALS) and licensing processing times.
  • AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS, 11 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 183 (Rep. Mindy Fee, R-Lancaster): Amends "An act providing for the administration of certain Commonwealth farmland within the Department of Agriculture," to permit the use of certain unused money in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund for grants for succession planning to ensure that agricultural operations continue on land subject to agricultural conservation easements.
    • HB 755 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks/Lehigh): Amends Title 3 (Agriculture) to consolidate and strengthen inspection and regulatory oversight of the bottled water industry.
  • JUDICIARY, Call of the Chair, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 881 (Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair): Joint resolution proposing an emergency amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, further providing for courts to be open and suits against the Commonwealth.
    • SB 84 (Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster): Amends the County Code to provide for succession in the Office of District Attorney.
    • SB 85 (Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster): Amends the Second Class County Code to provide for succession in the Office of District Attorney.
    • SB 86 (Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster): Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to provide for succession in the Office of District Attorney.
    • SB 87 (Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne/Wayne/Pike/Wyoming): Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to provide for enhanced penalties for child pornography and establish a Task Force on Child Pornography.

 

Session

On Monday, the House will meet at noon for legislative business.

 

Votes on Second Consideration

  • HB 26 (Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton/Centre): Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 43976, on that portion of State Route 1010 over Chatham Run, Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, as the Tech. Cpl. Lee R. Phillips Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 103 (Rep. Lou Schmitt, R-Blair): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to provide that if a person intentionally or knowingly causes the officer to come into contact with saliva or other bodily fluid by throwing, tossing or spitting the bodily fluid, the person would commit a criminal offense.
  • HB 124 (Rep. Jim Rigby, R-Cambria/Somerset): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8680, carrying State Route 3055 over Stonycreek River in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the City of Johnstown Firefighters Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 146 (Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Lawrence): Amends Title 61 (Probation and Parole) to provide for Markie’s Law, which precludes the parole board from prematurely releasing an inmate at the expiration of his minimum sentence if the inmate was convicted of a violent offense while incarcerated.
  • HB 153 (Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8461, on that portion of U.S. Route 219 over Pennsylvania Route 53, also known as Railroad Street, in Croyle Township, Cambria County, as the Janice Keen-Livingston First Responders' Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 156 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga/Potter/Bradford): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to amend the Tender Years Hearsay Act to permit the introduction of hearsay statements, made by children 16 years of age or younger, concerning violent or sexual offenses.
  • HB 163 (Rep. Craig Staats, R-Bucks): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to further provide for the offense of invasion of privacy by criminalizing “upskirting.”
  • HB 184 (Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York/Cumberland): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), in criminal homicide, further providing for the offense of causing or aiding suicide.
  • HB 185 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to provide that any individual who intentionally causes bodily injury to a person with a physical or intellectual disability is guilty of aggravated assault, a felony of the second degree.
  • HB 230 (Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon): Amends the Administrative Code to require dynamic scoring of the fiscal impact of any proposed legislation that could have an impact in excess of $10 million upon request by a member of the General Assembly.
  • HB 273 (Rep. Mike Peifer, R-Wayne/Pike): Amends the Tax Reform Code to correct a scrivener’s error relating to the Realty Transfer Tax.

 

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • VETERANS AFFAIRS & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 9:15 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 491 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne/Wyoming): Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to provide for the exclusion of veterans' benefit payments from income for Commonwealth programs.
    • HB 803 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to establish the Keystone State Challenge Academy Fund.
  • CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 10 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
    • Public hearing on the Public Utility Commission and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania regarding the electric industry.
  • GAMING OVERSIGHT, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol
    • HB 290 (Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Fayette/Westmoreland): Amends the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to permit Small Games of Chance licensees to conduct games online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 37 (Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to prohibit the use of hand-held interactive wireless communications devices while operating a motor vehicle on the roadways of the Commonwealth.
    • HB 155 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Bradford/Tioga/Potter): Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 32773, on that portion of U.S. Route 6 over the Tioga River, Mansfield Borough, Tioga County, as the Mansfield Veterans Memorial Bridge.
    • HB 176 (Rep. Lou Schmitt, R-Blair): Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5840, on that portion of SR 4010 (17th Street) over Interstate 99 in Logan Township, Blair County, as the Honorable Richard A. Geist Memorial Bridge.
    • HB 334 (Rep. Barry Jozwiak, R-Berks): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to require PennDot to issue registration expiration stickers on Pennsylvania registration plates.
    • HB 523 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks/Lehigh): Amends the General Road Law to require homeowners who access their properties through a private road to contribute to the maintenance of the road. 
    • HB 606 (Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to fully authorize local police to use RADAR/LIDAR for speed enforcement.
    • SB 49 (Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria): Act designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8659, carrying State Route 3037, also known as William Penn Avenue, over the Norfolk Southern and Lehigh Valley Rail Management rail lines in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as The Rev. Andrew William Tilly, Jr., Bridge.
    • SB 55 (Sen. Wayne Langerhold, R-Cambria): Act designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8365, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Little Conemaugh River in Croyle Township, Cambria County, as the Pvt. Fredrick Kinley Memorial Bridge.
  • LIQUOR CONTROL, 10:30 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 425 (Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Fayette/Somerset): Amends the Liquor Code to allow a licensee that is either closed for a long period of time or closes permanently to sell their liquor to another licensee.
    • HB 427 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong): Amends the Liquor Code to increase the licensee discount from purchasing from a state store from 10 to 15%.
    • HB 452 (Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny): Amends the Liquor Code to provide for flexibility for outdoor dining.
    • HB 474 (Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny): Amends the Liquor Code to establish the Pennsylvania Distilled Spirits Industry Promotion Board.
  • APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
    • Agenda to be announced.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY, Call of the Chair, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 754 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks/Lehigh): Amends the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act to consolidate and strengthen inspection and regulatory oversight of the bottled water industry.

 

Session

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

  • HB 56 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8516, carrying State Route 271 over the West Branch Susquehanna River, in Northern Cambria Borough, Cambria County, as the Sgt. William Stock Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 57 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Designates a bridge on that portion of State Route 4001 over Crooked Creek, in Armstrong Township, Indiana County, as the Sgt. Carl Roof Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 125 (Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 1951, carrying State Route 4017 on Wetzel Road, Shaler Township, Allegheny County, as the Commander William J. Schofield, III, Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 140 (Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to require that vehicles parking along a curbside bike lane must park parallel with their right-hand or left-hand wheels within 12 inches of the outside line of the buffer area between the bike lane and parking in the direction of traffic flow.
  • HB 196 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks): Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to extend current employment protections to Pennsylvania citizens who are members of another state's National Guard.
  • HB 881 (Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair): Joint Resolution proposing an emergency amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, further providing for courts to be open and suits against the Commonwealth.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

·      HB 26 (Borowicz)

·      HB 103 (Schmitt)

·      HB 124 (Rigby)

·      HB 146 (Bernstine)

·      HB 153 (Burns)

·      HB 156 (Owlett)

·      HB 163 (Staats)

·      HB 184 (Keefer)

·      HB 185 (Struzzi)

·      HB 230 (Ryan)

·      HB 273 (Peifer)

 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • STATE GOVERNMENT, 8 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 335 (Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh/Berks): Amends "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," observing daylight saving time year-around if authorized by the Congress of the United States.
    • HB 453 (Rep. Torren Ecker, R-Adams/Cumberland): Amends the Health Club Act allowing health and fitness centers to remain open at 50% capacity.
    • HB 583 (Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon): Amends the Public Official Compensation Act to extend the COVID-19 COLA through 2022.
    • HB 648 (Rep. Bob Merski, D-Erie): Amends the Administrative Code to require DGS to create a program for selling used state police pursuit vehicles directly to Pennsylvania local and regional police departments at a fixed price prior to any public auction.
    • HB 746 (Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford): Act limiting assignment of state-owned vehicles.
  • CHILDREN & YOUTH, 9 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
    • Public hearing on The Family First Prevention Services Act: Implementation and Funding Implications.
  • HEALTH, 10:15 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 741 (Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon): Amends the Administrative Code to require recovery houses to contact the listed emergency contact of the recoverer should they leave under eviction/against medical advice.
    • HR 68 (Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren/Forest/Crawford): Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to review the availability of dental services in rural areas of this Commonwealth and to provide a report detailing the options for improving access to oral health care services.
  • APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
    • Agenda to be announced.

 

Session

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration:

  • HB 113 (Rep. Perry Stambaugh, R-Perry): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to afford organized motorcycle processions many of the same rights that funeral processions currently receive.
  • HB 232 (Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler): Amends the Public School Code to permit a school district to change its name.
  • HB 365 (Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie) Amends the Public School Code to update language and remove terms.
  • HB 412 (Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland): Amends the Public School Code to allow an individual with an inactive certification who is not an annuitant to be employed as a substitute teacher for up to 120 days during a school year instead of up to 90 days.
  • HB 416 (Rep. Chris Quinn, R-Delaware) Amends the Public School Code to enable all school personnel to be trained in seizure recognition and response by an approved Department of Health online course, and make the completion of such course creditable for professional continuing education credit.


Votes on Third Consideration:

·      HB 56 (Struzzi)

·      HB 57 (Struzzi)

·      HB 125 (Mizgorski)

·      HB 140 (Maloney)

·      HB 196 (Day)

·      HB 881 (Gregory)

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