May 06, 2016

Weekly Wrap:

Though only the House of Representatives was in Harrisburg for voting session, and only for two days, we’ve still got a few noteworthy items to report from this week. On Monday, the House Rules Committee reported out H.B. 400 (Gingrich, R-Lebanon), the Work Experience for High School Students with Disabilities Act, and on Tuesday the House concurred in the bill as amended by the Senate. Once it is signed in the Senate (very likely next week), the bill will head to Gov. Wolf for his signature.

Also on Monday, the House Education Committee met to consider H.B. 1159 (Hickernell, R-Lancaster), which would provide payments to school districts by August 15th in the event a state budget is not enacted by then. The bill was given first consideration and placed on the House tabled calendar.

On Tuesday, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met to consider a response to IRRC’s approval of the Environmental Quality Board’s “Chapter 78 and Chapter 78a” regulations, which address performance standards at oil and gas wellsites. The committee adopted a concurrent resolution sponsored by Chairman John Maher (R-Allegheny) to disapprove the regulations, which was supported by all Republicans on the committee as well as Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Greene), Rep. Bryan Barbin (D-Cambria) and Rep. Brandon Neuman (D-Washington).

Read more here: http://www.timesonline.com/news/energy/house-committee-votes-to-block-new-rules-that-would-govern/article_b0ba63a8-1216-11e6-8159-5fa65bbcca4f.html

Wednesday brought more big news from the world of energy and utilities. The House Consumer Affairs Committee met to consider S.B. 984 (Bartolotta, R-Washington), which, would regulate the operation of transportation network companies (such as UBER) within the Commonwealth. After adopting a comprehensive amendment sponsored by Chairman Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) and Minority Chairman Pete Daley (D-Washington/Fayette) by a vote of 23-02, the committee reported the bill to the full House for consideration.

Finally on Wednesday, Gov. Wolf announced that he nominated David Sweet to serve as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Sweet, a former shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney, most recently served as the Governor’s senior advisor on energy and economic development and also served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for ten years. BIR wishes our notable alumnus the best of luck in his new post.

Read more about Sweet here: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016050489.HTM

A Look Ahead:

Expect the old switcheroo next week; the House of Representatives won’t convene for voting session, but the Senate is scheduled to be in Harrisburg for three days.

As of this writing, just a few committee meetings have been scheduled. On Tuesday, the Senate Labor and Industry Committee will meet to consider S.B.876 (Gordner, R-Columbia), which addresses the underfunding of the Uninsured Employers Guarantee Fund. And on Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on adult literacy issues

To read S.B. 876, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0876

For a full list of committee meetings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

The Senate will also swear in its newest member next week; Senator-elect Tom Killion (R-Delaware) will take his oath of office on Wednesday. Killion fills the seat vacated by Sen. Dominic Pileggi, who now serves on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.

For a full list of Senate Floor action, see the Senate Calendar: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/SessionCalendars/index.cfm?Chamber=S

Finally, though the House will not be in voting session, there are a few public hearings scheduled for next week. Among them-the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday on a number of gaming issues, including the recent increase on the assessment to the Commonwealth’s casinos.

In Other News: