Weekly Wrap

The Senate returned to Harrisburg this week after their winter break, and the first order of business was welcoming a new member; Dave Arnold (R-Lebanon) was sworn in as Senator for the 48th District. Sen. Arnold won a special election that took place on January 14, 2020. The Senate composition is now 28 Republicans, 21 Democrats and one Independent.

As for legislative business, on Monday, the Senate concurred in House amendments to S.B. 906 (Yudichak, I-Luzerne). The bill would place a moratorium on the closure of the Polk and White Haven state centers until a task force completes an evaluation and provides recommendations to the Department of Human Services. It will now head to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out:

  • B. 64 (Readshaw, D-Allegheny), which would allow licensing boards under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to permit carryover continuing education credits;
  • B. 775 (Diamond, R-Lebanon), which would require the Department of Aging to cross-reference beneficiaries with death records maintained by the Department of Health on a monthly basis to better prevent cases of fraud and abuse;
  • B. 1001 (Oberlander, R-Clarion), which would establish the Keystone Mothers’ Milk Bank Act to license and regulate milk banks in the state; and
  • B. 1100 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would establish an energy and fertilizer manufacturing tax credit for qualified products purchased and used in the manufacturing of petrochemicals or fertilizers.

In addition, the Senate Labor and Industry Committee disapproved the regulation of Department of Labor and Industry No. 12-106, Minimum Wage, which would, by 2022, increase the earnings threshold for when the state’s overtime requirements are applied to executive, administrative and professional salaried workers to $45,500 annually, or $875 per week, and then automatically adjust it every three years. The committee also held a public hearing on S.B. 580 (Laughlin, R-Erie), which would establish a statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program.

On the Senate floor, the Senate concurred in House amendments to S.B. 133 (Argall, R-Schuylkill), which would change our Lieutenant Governor from a separately elected position to one chosen by the Gubernatorial candidate. Since the bill amends the Constitution, the legislation must be passed by the General Assembly in two consecutive legislative sessions before being presented to the voters as a ballot question.

Two other bills were passed by the Senate and will head to the House for consideration: S.B. 30 (Killion, R-Delaware), which would establish a tax credit program designed to encourage private sector investment in the new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing; and S.B. 773 (Killion, R-Delaware), which would increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders.

Wednesday, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Senate Transportation Committee held a joint public hearing on the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI).

Finally, the following bills received a final vote in the Senate and will be sent to the House for consideration:

  • B. 427 (Benninghoff, R-Centre), which would prohibit health insurance plans that cover treatments for stage IV, advanced metastatic cancers from limiting or excluding innovative drugs for patients if the drugs have been approved by the FDA, are consistent with best clinical practices and supported by peer-reviewed medical literature;
  • B. 595 (Mensch, R-Montgomery), which would extend health insurance coverage for mammographic examinations; and
  • B. 779 (Gordner, R-Columbia), which would change the date of the Pennsylvania presidential primary election to the third Tuesday of March.

The Week Ahead

Of course, the Governor’s Budget Address will be next week’s main event. The House and Senate will convene on Tuesday in a joint session at 11:30 a.m. to hear what Governor Wolf proposes for his sixth state spending plan. Wolf has already given a preview as to what to expect for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, including: further protection for vulnerable populations; investments in innovation; another attempt to Restore Pennsylvania; and support for remediation of toxins in schools. More details to follow once the big speech has been delivered.

A little legislative business first, though. On Monday, the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss the status of Pennsylvania’s electric cogeneration industry. Also, the Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee will hold a meeting to release a report entitled: A Study of the Impact of Venue for Medical Professional Liability Actions.

The House Transportation Committee will consider S.B. 114 (Boscola, R-Lehigh), which would require a driver to make a reasonable effort to remove snow or ice from the vehicle within 24 hours of the cessation of the falling snow or ice. Further, the House Professional Licensure Committee will consider:

  • B. 1566 (Kortz, D-Allegheny), which would allow licensing boards to answer inquires through the form of an advisory opinion;
  • B. 1947 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would modernize the process by which graduates of international medical schools become licensed; and
  • B. 67 (Ward, R-Blair), which would authorize Pennsylvania to enter into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Licensure Compact (PSYPACT) in order to regulate the practice of telepsychology.

Beyond the budget buzz, on Tuesday the House Human Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on mental health funding. Two voting meetings are scheduled as well: the House Urban Affairs Committee will consider S.B. 352 (Ward R-Blair), which would authorize local taxing authorities to provide tax exemption incentives for new construction in deteriorated areas and improvements to certain industrial, commercial business, and residential property; and the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will consider S.B. 915 (Yaw, R-Lycoming), which would provide omnibus amendments to the law regulating the fertilizer industry.

Three nonvoting committee meetings will round out week on Wednesday:

  • The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI);
  • The Senate Communications and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing on data privacy and potential updates to the Breach of Personal Information Act; and
  • The House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee will hold an informational meeting on the state’s tourism marketing and promotion activities.

A full list of committee meetings can be found here:

Along with the House Week Ahead and Senate Calendar.

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