Weekly Wrap

Summer recess has come to an end in the state capitol, as the Senate returned to Harrisburg on Tuesday for voting session this week.   

It was a busy back-to-work day on Tuesday. On the Senate floor, S.B. 835 (Langerholc, R-Cambria) passed unanimously and heads to the House for consideration. The bill would establish the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Pilot Program.

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported out a number of bills, including:

  • S.B. 5 (DiSanto, R-Dauphin), which would require the General Assembly to approve regulations with an economic impact or cost exceeding $1 million;
  • S.B. 253 (Phillips-Hill, R-York), which would amend the Constitution by requiring any mandate establishing a new education program shall provide the necessary funding for the implementation of the program;
  • H.B. 1439 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would require insurers to attest to their efforts to comply with federal laws and regulations relating to mental health and substance use disorder parity; and
  • H.B. 1696 (Murt, R-Montgomery), which would require insurers to attest to their efforts to comply with federal and state laws concerning mental health parity and substance use disorder treatment benefits.

Also, the Senate State Government Committee reported out: S.B. 1241 (Argall, R-Schuylkill), which would require the Department of General Services to conduct an annual survey of state facility usage; and H.B. 2626 (Moul, R-Adams), which would make numerous changes to the Election Code. In addition, H.B. 2536 (James, R-Venango) was voted out of the Senate Local Government Committee. The bill would provide for emergency tax anticipation notes for local government units.

Three public hearings were held on Tuesday:

  • The Senate Communications and Technology Committee held a public hearing on the Department of Health’s COVID-19 contract tracing mobile app;
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing to review the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s report titled “A Study of the Impact of Venue for Medical Professional Liability Actions”; and
  • The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee held a public hearing on the status of the Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency mortgage and rental assistance.

Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out bills that would disperse a portion of the Commonwealth’s share of federal CARES Act dollars:  

  • S.B. 1226 (Tartaglione, D-Philadelphia), which would allocate $130 million in CARES Act funding to higher education institutions ($35 million to community colleges, $25 million to Temple University, $25 million to the University of Pittsburgh, $25 million to Penn State University, $10 million to Lincoln University, and $10 million to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology);
  • S.B. 1307 (Killion, R-Delaware), which would allocate $150 million in CARES Act funding for utility assistance programs ($100 million for Low-Income Energy Assistance Residential Utility Payment Program, $25 million for delinquent water and wastewater utility payments, and $25 million for small business utility assistance grants); and
  • S.B. 1314 (Ward, R-Blair), which would allocate $200 million in CARES Act funding for a grant program for eligible community-based nonprofit organizations.

The committee also reported out H.B. 2513 (Everett, R-Lycoming), which would allow restaurants to operate indoors under certain guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two bills were voted favorably from the Senate Communications and Technology Committee:

  • S.B. 487 (Laughlin, R-Erie), which would require agencies to report breaches involving personally identifiable information to those affected and designated authorities; and
  • H.B. 2348 (Causer, R-McKean), which would establish the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program.

The Senate State Government Committee reported out H.B. 2354 (Owlett, R-Tioga), which would establish the Do-Not-Pay Initiative to monitor improper payments across state agencies. Further, the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee reported out H.B. 777 (Klunk, R-York), which would allow clubs to use the 60 percent of small games of chance money to cover general operating expenses during an emergency disaster. Lastly for committee meetings, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a public hearing to discuss the proposed rulemaking: Water Quality Standards for Manganese and Implementation.

Two bills passed finally in the Senate and once signed will go to the Governor’s desk. Governor Wolf previously indicated he will veto both.

  • H.B. 2025 (Struzzi, R-Indiana) which would require legislative approval before the state can impose a carbon tax, including joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); and
  • H.B. 2787 (Reese, R-Westmoreland), which would give each school board the exclusive authority to determine whether to hold high school sports activities and other in-person extracurricular activities during the 2020-21 school year. Both chambers have indicated they will attempt to override Wolf’s veto of this bill. 

The Week Ahead

Next week the House is in session Tuesday-Thursday. However, on Monday the House Health Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss appropriate care models for transgender adolescents.

As of now there are no voting meetings scheduled for Tuesday, but expect that to change. The following meetings are on tap:

  • The House Commerce Committee will hold a public hearing on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • The House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on police training and department accreditation; and
  • The House Consumer Affairs Committee will hold an informational meeting on issues impacting the Chester Water Authority and the East Dunkard Water Authority.

Wednesday, the House Finance Committee will hold an informational meeting with the Department of Revenue to discuss the state’s current and projected tax revenue collections. The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold an informational meeting on recycling efforts as they apply to solar panels, including H.B. 2197 (Dush, R-Jefferson), which would place photo-voltaic modules of solar panels on the list of items covered under the Controlled Device Recycling Act.

The voting meetings start back up in earnest on Thursday, as the House Transportation Committee will consider:

  • S.B. 1199 (Aument, R-Lancaster), which would establish rules for personal delivery devices (drones);
  • H.B. 2068 (Hennessey, R-Chester), which would allow a county to levy and collect a local tax to assist funding local mass transportation and transportation organizations; and
  • H.B. 2646 (Wentling, R-Mercer), which would update the Vehicle Code regarding pedalcycles with electric assist (e-bikes).

The House Commerce Committee will consider two bills of note: H.B. 2615 (Stephens, R-Montgomery), which would dedicate $250 million for a small restaurant grant program; and H.B. 2832 (Dowling, R-Fayette), which would allow event venues to hold up to 50 percent of their indoor seating capacity.

Wrapping up the week, the House Labor and Industry Committee will hold a public hearing on the unemployment compensation benefit modernization project.

For a full list of committee meetings:

House

Senate

In Other News

  • Governor Wolf announced that restaurants may increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent starting September 21.
  • The Department of Human Services announced the distribution of $31.5 million in CARES Act dollars to direct care workers.
  • PennDOT is accepting applications for 2021-22 improvements under the Multimodal Transportation Fund.
  • The State Board of Education advanced an update to Pennsylvania’s science education standards.
  • The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is opening a competitive solicitation for grant applications designed to reduce or prevent community violence.
  • The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission awarded $2.6 million in Keystone Historic Preservation grants to help historical and heritage organizations, museums and local governments.
  • The Governor dedicated $15 million for schools to secure broadband, mobile hot spots, and other platforms that increase equitable access to remote learning.