Protecting Student Athletes from Sexual Assault and Budget Preparation on the House Agenda Next Week

A live web stream of House session and the majority of committee meetings are available at PAHouseGOP.com. Important information and events may also be viewed by visiting Facebook.com/PAHouseGOP.

Protecting kids from sexual predators

The House will consider a bill to create a new offense of “sexual assault by a sports official.” House Bill 112 (Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery County) targets sports officials, such as coaches, athletic trainers, team attendants and managers by providing that it is unlawful for these individuals to engage in sexual intercourse, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse or indecent contact with a child under 18 years of age who is participating in the sports program.

This legislation passed the House unanimously last November. It was amended and passed the Senate 45-1 last week. The House will take up the amended version this week.

Parents entrust their children to the care of coaches and other athletic personnel serving sports teams which are part of recreational leagues and other organizations outside of the school environment. These organizations operate a variety of sports programs for children and include activities such as youth soccer, Little League baseball and volleyball.

Budget Bill Introduced

House Bill 2328 (Rep. Bill Adolph, R- Delaware County) has been introduced and is identical to the current fiscal year’s budget and will serve as the vehicle for the 2014-15 general appropriations bill.

House Bill 2328 does not contain any additional initiatives as the entire budget is being negotiated. It is acknowledged that the line items in the bill do not account for mandatory cost increases in the General Fund budget related to pension obligations, debt service and other requirements. These issues will be addressed in an amendment offered in the near future.

This process ensures budget negotiations can continue, and we can prepare an amendment to House Bill 2328 that will represent the product of negotiations between the House, Senate and the administration.

The Weekly Schedule

Identified by bill number, the sponsors and summaries for bills scheduled to be considered in committee or on the House floor are posted below. More information regarding

Monday, June 9, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

INSURANCE, 11:30 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

HB 2299 (Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna): Streamlines the eligibility, enrollment and renewal process for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Noon, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 2177 (Rep. Lee James, R-Butler/Venango): Creates the Heritage Areas Program Act.
HR 815 (Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Fayette/Greene/Washington): Urges the United States Environmental Protection Agency to develop guidelines for the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.

GAME AND FISHERIES, Noon, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

HB 2230 (Rep. Greg Lucas, R-Crawford/Erie): Allows the use of semiautomatic rifles with a caliber of .223 or less and a cartridge capacity of not more than six for the hunting of coyotes, foxes and woodchucks (groundhogs).
SB 1090 (Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming): Allows any military veteran who is eligible for federal military disability compensation to receive a resident hunting license for $1 plus issuing agent fees.
SB 1102 (Rep. Joseph Scarnati, R-Cameron/Clearfield/Clinton/Elk/Jefferson/McKean): Allows any military veteran who is eligible for federal military disability compensation to receive a resident fishing license for $1 plus issuing agent fees.

STATE GOVERNMENT, Call of Chair, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

HB 2310 (Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie): Authorizes the conveyance of three properties in the Borough of Waterford, Erie County.

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 1340 (Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Bedford/Somerset): Bridge designation: Private John W. Mostoller Bridge.
HB 1477 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Allows limited winery licensees to obtain a restaurant, hotel or malt/brewed beverages license for offsite premises.
HB 1733 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Raises the grading of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence and increases the mandatory sentence if the defendant has been previously convicted of driving under the influence or a felony traffic offense.
HB 1747 (Rep. Thomas Killion, R-Chester/Delaware): Allows liquor licensees qualified for an off-premises catering permit to apply for the permit after the March 1 deadline if they are in good standing with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and they pay an increased permitting fee.
HB 2167 (Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon): Establishes specific time frames for state agencies and municipalities to provide notice of data breaches involving personal information.
HB 2242 (Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne): Allows persons currently selling/dispensing diabetic shoes and inserts to receive a prosthetic, orthotic, pedorthotic, or orthotic fitter license without examination.
SB 193 (Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland/York): Requires all school nurses to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
SB 1115 (Sen. Bob Robbins, R-Crawford/Erie/Mercer/Warren): Makes changes to the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Educational Assistance Program regarding distribution of federal and state financial aid.
SB 1225 (Sen. James Brewster, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland): Ramp designation: Officer Frank Miller Jr. Memorial Ramp.
SB 1312 (Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence): Extends the permissible length of school buses to 45 feet.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 573 (Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Blair/Huntingdon/Mifflin): Establishes regulations regarding the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles and electric assist pedacycles.
HB 1498 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Imposes a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for felons who illegally possess firearms and designates the offense as a “crime of violence.”
HB 1590 (Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe): Requires a criminal history check for anyone running for the office of tax collector and expands the current tax collector education program by making it mandatory to become certified by the Department of Community and Economic Development before taking the oath of office.
HB 2107 (Rep. Thomas Murt, R-Montgomery/Philadelphia): Establishes the offense of Unlawful Dissemination of Intimate Image and allows a victim to bring a civil cause of action in order to recover damages.
HB 2124 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York): Overhauls the Commonwealth’s public school construction reimbursement process.
HB 2133 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon): Requires that a property disclosure statement to a residential real estate purchaser include notification of any sinkholes, the location and condition of defined storm water facilities, and whether the purchaser is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the storm water facilities.
HB 2166 (Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny/Washington): Requires a 60-day time limit for outgoing tax collectors to turn over their records to the newly elected or appointed tax collector or taxing district.
HB 2199 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Game and Wildlife Code as it relates to an individual’s right to remain silent during questioning in the investigation of a potential violation of the Game Code.
SB 403 (Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango/Warren): Establishes the Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program to assist the Pennsylvania National Guard in its efforts to recruit and retain military resident physicians.
SB 601 (Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Cameron/Clearfield/Clinton/Elk/Jefferson/McKean): Establishes the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act.
SB 703 (Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe): Removes a three-year time limit within which members of the Scranton Police and Fire pension systems must begin working for the city in order to be eligible for purchasing credit for time spent in the armed forces.
SB 707 (Sen. Timothy Solobay, D-Beaver/Greene/Washington): Allows firefighters’ relief association funds to be used to pay for expenses incurred for emergency medical service training.
SB 923 (Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming): Preserves and expands the Military Family Relief Assistance Program.
SB 1205 (Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Dauphin/Lebanon/York): Simplifies the process that a college must follow in order to become a university.

Votes on Concurrence

HB 112 (Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery): Creates the offense of sexual assault by a sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association and provides for mandatory sentences for third-degree murder when the offense is committed against a child under the age of 13.
HB 1460 (Rep. Mark Gillen, R-Berks): Requires educational institutions to place an “M” on the grade transcript of military members or spouses for classes they were unable to complete due to military duty and requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide public access to a searchable database of Medal of Honor recipients.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Public hearing on HB 1872 (Rep. George Dunbar, R-Westmoreland): Reduces the threshold of reporting gifts on statements of financial interest from $250 to $50 and reduces the threshold for transportation and lodging reporting from $650 to $100.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 9:15 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

HB 2041 (Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Allegheny/Beaver): Prohibits state employees from using non-secured Internet connections while conducting state business and transmitting sensitive data.
HB 2295 (Rep. Thomas Killion, R-Chester/Delaware): Allows private operators to provide ridesharing arrangements to commuters and employers without being regulated as a public utility.
SB 799 (Sen. Bob Robbins, R-Crawford/Erie/Mercer/Warren): Amends the Self-Service Storage Facility Act regarding lien enforcement, default notices and limitation of value.

COMMERCE, 9:30 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

HB 2234 (Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny): Amends the entity law by removing certain requirements and procedures for business entities seeking to change their organizational form.

JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 1848 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster): Amends the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding the merit selection of justices and judges.
SB 75 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Comprehensive revision of the criminal and civil law relating to human trafficking and its victims.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 1822 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin): Requires pharmacies located outside of Pennsylvania to register with the State Board of Pharmacy if they fill prescription orders for residents of the Commonwealth.
HB 2178 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Allows Wildlife Conservation Officers and Waterways Conservation Officers to use body cameras in the performance of their duties.
HB 2264 (Rep. Ron Miller, R-York): Increases the annual fee charged to nuclear power plants.
HB 2275 (Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Chester/Delaware): Extends the $1 wireless 911 surcharge from June 30, 2014, to June 30, 2015.
SB 177 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Directs the Department of Health to establish a task force that will investigate and make recommendations to the department regarding the education, prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 1340 (Metzgar)
HB 1477 (Moul)
HB 1733 (Moul)
HB 1747 (Killion)
HB 2167 (Swanger)
HB 2242 (Toohil)
SB 193 (Vance)
SB 1115 (Robbins)
SB 1225 (Brewster)
SB 1312 (Vogel)

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 9:15 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

HB 1581 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York): Creates the Cash Balance Pension Plan Act applicable to certain full-time municipal police and fire personnel hired on or after January 1, 2013.
HB 1708 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Berks/Schuylkill): Amends the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act by authorizing a capped appropriation from the State Aid Fund to the Public Employee Retirement Commission and requiring only large pension plans to advertise and bid professional services contracts.
SB 1096 (Sen. Donald White, R-Armstrong/Butler/Indiana/Westmoreland): Clarifies language in the Eminent Domain Code which deals with the limited reimbursement of appraisal, attorney and engineering fees.

EDUCATION, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 2082 (Rep. James Clay, D-Philadelphia): Requires public school students to receive mandatory instruction in compulsive and problem gambling awareness.
SB 874 (Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland/York): Enables school districts that sponsor community colleges to negotiate more affordable funding levels.
SB 1194 (Sen. Donald White, R-Armstrong/Butler/Indiana/Westmoreland): Allows schools located in municipalities where no local police department exists to enter into cooperative police service agreements with adjacent municipalities.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

HB 2120 (Rep. Kurt Masser, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland): Amends the Blight Act to extend liability to cover all property owners as well as the individuals in control of property and removes certain procedural requirements regarding the prosecution of out-of-state property owners.
HB 2302 (Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Fayette/Westmoreland): Creates a grant program for municipalities to establish code enforcement programs and hire code enforcement personnel.

Session

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

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 1822 (Kauffman)
HB 2178 (Moul)
HB 2264 (R. Miller)
HB 2275 (Barrar)
SB 177 (Greenleaf)

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearings

LOCAL GOVERNMENT/SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Millersville University, The Ware Center, Steinman Hall, 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster

Joint House and Senate public hearing on HB 1845 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin) and SB 1111 (Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair/Cumberland/Franklin/Fulton/Huntingdon): Amends the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Committee Meetings/Hearing

TRANSPORTATION, 9:30 a.m., Point Park University, Lawrence Hall, 201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh

Public hearing on transportation revitalization investment districts and residential commercial river docks in the Pittsburgh region.

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