Improving the PA Jobs Climate and Eliminating the Delaware Loophole on House Agenda Next Week

The House returns to session on Monday, May, 6. Live web streams 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.

Improving the Commonwealth Jobs Climate

Private-sector job creation and career-building is the absolute best social program.

While progress has been made, Pennsylvania is still considered a state with one of the highest costs of doing business (when state and local taxes, fees, regulatory requirements and health care are combined). Lowering those costs can help lead to higher employment and economic growth.

Improving the Commonwealth’s jobs climate and recreating an atmosphere where people can build careers and improve their quality of life is the top priority of the House Republican Caucus.

Next week, the full House will consider legislation to reform the state’s antiquated business tax structure to bring more equity and fairness to all job creators in Pennsylvania. House Bill 440 (Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana) would eliminate the so-called Delaware Loophole while implementing other necessary reforms.

Reforming the state’s tax structure will show the nation’s job creators the new Pennsylvania is open and ready for business.

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 these bills can be found at PAHouseGOP.com by clicking on the “Research Bills” tab.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 11 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

HB 1047 (Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery): Makes permanent a change to the state’s public utility law that has allowed utilities to reduce their collectable accounts and reduce the impact of uncollectable accounts on timely paying customers.
HB 1188 (Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin): Changes the current interest rate structure associated with recovery of purchased gas costs; eliminates the migration rider charged to customers who switch to a competitive supplier; and provides for recovery of costs incurred to implement customer choice.

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 25 (Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland): Updates Pennsylvania laws regarding notarizations, acknowledgements and unsworn foreign declarations to prevent fraud and facilitate electronic commerce.
HB 85 (Rep. Neal Goodman, R-Schuylkill): Bridge designation: Cornelius McElhenny Memorial Bridge.
HB 261 (Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny): Allows the boards and commissions under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to file judgments to collect unpaid fines and to suspend or revoke licenses, registrations or certifications for failure to pay fines.
HB 474 (Rep. Tom Killion, R-Chester/Delaware): Extends enhanced protections for private residential rehabilitative institution employees, teachers or staff, similar to protections already afforded to employees at other educational institutions.
HB 925 (Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny): Bridge designation: AMVETS Memorial Bridge.
HB 1217 (Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair): Clarifies the listing of banned substances in the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 440 (Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana): Closes the so-called “Delaware Loophole; provides a schedule to remove the cap on net operating loss deductions; and provides a schedule for decreasing the corporate net income tax rate from 9.99 percent to 6.99 percent over a period of six years beginning in the taxable year 2014.
HB 468 (Rep. Jim Cox, R-Berks): Amends the eligibility requirements associated with the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to allow a family member to apply for a rebate on behalf of an individual who passes away prior to the end of a given tax year.
HB 1190 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster): Grants “deemed status” licensure to hospitals accredited by an approved national accredited organization.
SB 5 (Sen. Edwin Erickson, R-Chester/Delaware): Establishes a program in the Department of Health to provide grants to community-based health care clinics which provide “medical homes” for the uninsured.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

GAMING OVERSIGHT, 9:15 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

HB 1098 (Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin): Amends the Small Games of Chance Act to change the definition of “Major League Sports Drawing” to “Professional Sports Drawing,” allows 50/50 raffles at minor league home games and clarifies the distribution of proceeds to charity.

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

HB 284 (Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland): Prohibits the use of both tobacco and nicotine based products in schools.
HB 714 (Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford/Tioga): Provides that the grading of the offense of identity theft is enhanced one degree if the victim is under 18 years of age.
HB 764 (Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks): Creates the offense of online impersonation and prescribes penalty.
HB 1163 (Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin): Establishes the offense of cyber harassment of a child and makes it a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 87 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester): Allows non-profit corporations to provide written notices to officers, directors and shareholders by electronic mail.
HB 451 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana): Allows the use of leashed tracking dogs to track and recover legally wounded or harvested white-tail deer and black bear.
HB 577 (Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria): Ensures that at least one resident of the Elk Management Area receives an opportunity to purchase an elk hunting license each year.
HB 1172 (Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver): Amends the Local Tax Enabling Act further providing for limitations on the mercantile tax and business privilege tax.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 25 (Grell)
HB 85 (Goodman)
HB 261 (Readshaw)
HB 474 (Killion)
HB 925 (Costa, P.)
HB 1217 (Stern)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

HUMAN SERVICES, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Public hearing on the Intellectual Disabilities Waiting List for Services

STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 747 (Rep. Mindy Fee, R-Lancaster): Amends the Sunshine Law to exempt agency discussions of security and emergency preparedness from open meetings requirements.
HB 1236 (Rep. Timothy Krieger, R-Westmoreland): Amends the Procurement Code by establishing various parameters applicable to contingency fee legal services contracts.

TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 9 a.m., Harrisburg Hilton, 1 North Second Street,

Lancaster/Gettysburg Room, 2^nd Floor, Harrisburg

Informational meeting on the tourism industry policy priorities.

AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

Informational meeting with a presentation by the Pennsylvania Alzheimer’s Association.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 1052 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton): Amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to provide for the manner in which recreational fees are utilized.
HB 1122 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon): Amends the Uniform Planned Community Act by extending the time limitation on withdrawal or conversion of real estate within flexible planned communities.
HB 1223 (Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery): Amends the First Class Township Code regarding removal of elected township officers.
HB 1225 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester): Provides that the Local Government Commission may publish, maintain and update electronic copies of municipal codes.
HB 1228 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton): Amends the Incorporated Towns law regarding removal of elected officers.
HB 1229 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton): Amends the Second Class Township Code regarding removal of elected township officers.

Session

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

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 87 (Ross)
HB 451 (Pyle)
HB 577 (Haluska)
HB 1172 (Christiana)

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Public hearing on HB 43 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery): Allows psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors the ability to obtain a volunteer licenses to provide free mental health services via “Give an Hour” to military personnel and their families.

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