Budget, Pennsylvania’s School Curriculum on House Schedule

The House returns to session on Monday, June 10. 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.

Budget: Setting Priorities, Spending with Sustainable Revenues

Budget season is in full swing at the Capitol with a vote scheduled this week on House Bill 1437 (Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware County), the General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2013-14.

Under the $28.3 billion pay-as-you-go budget, House Republicans prioritize funding for education, public safety, health and human services, and the environment. The plan represents a $578 million, or 2.1 percent, increase over this year’s budget.

The bill proposes to do the following:

· Increase funding for basic education by $100 million.

· Allocate funding for more than 300 new state troopers.

· Add $7.2 million to the Department of Health to restore funding health treatment and prevention disease line items such as epilepsy support, ALS support services, Tourette syndrome support, poison control centers and Lupus support.

· Allocate $4 million in funding for county conservation districts.

For the latest budget updates, visit PAHouseGOP.com.

Common Core… or common fear?

The fact is, as with many initiatives hatched under the previous Rendell Administration, the state’s move to the “Common Core” curriculum was done without much public notice or input. Tens of millions of tax dollars have been invested, and now that the Department of Education is starting to roll out these tests and curricula, parents are asking questions and sharing real concerns.

The House is responding. House Resolution 338 (Rep. Hal English, R- Allegheny County) urges the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to review policies relating to the adoption of state academic standards for K-12 education, and to respond to the recent wave of concerns by amending state regulations to affirm Pennsylvania’s commitment to its tradition of local control, rigorous standards and respect for the privacy of its citizens.

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, June 10, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

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

Public hearing on HB 1193 (Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny/Washington): Adds school board member to the list of elected offices that police officers in a first class township may hold.

STATE GOVERNMENT, Noon, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 1478 (Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Cumberland): Land conveyances in the counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Lackawanna and Lehigh.
HB 1482 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Land conveyances in the counties of Adams, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Philadelphia and Clinton.

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 920 (Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie): Allows the installation of wind power generation systems on preserved farmland, with limitations on the amount of preserved acreage that can be used for such a system.
HB 1141 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Allows a school district to reopen its annual budget for a period of 30 days after the state budget is enacted to reflect the appropriations enacted by the state budget.
HB 1247 (Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair): Releases certain Project 70 restrictions on land situate in Piney Creek Springs, Woodbury Township, Blair County, and imposes restrictions on land conveyed to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in Woodbury Township.
HB 1377 (Rep. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer): Clarifies licensing and inspection authority for restaurants in state office buildings.
HB 1414 (Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming): Requires natural gas operators to provide specific information regarding payment amount and deductions on interest owners’ royalty check stubs or payment form attachments.
HB 1437 (Rep. William Adolph, R-Delaware): General Appropriations bill.
SB 155 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Grants exemption from vaccination against rabies for dogs and cats with existing medical conditions.
SB 470 (Sen. Patrick Browne, R-Lehigh/Monroe/Northampton): Creates a legislative commission to recommend a formula to distribute state funding for special education.
SB 526 (Sen. Michael Waugh, R-York): Clarifies acceptable documentation required to exhibit animals at livestock shows.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 390 (Rep. Michael O’Brien, D-Philadelphia): Affords the City of Philadelphia the authority to use age and financial need when considering property tax relief for long-term owner-occupants.
HB 1075 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Requires counties to conduct a family-finding process for children who receive services from a county children and youth agency.
HB 1076 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Requires counties, within five years, to implement family conferencing for children and families receiving children and youth social services.

HB 1319 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Berks/Schuylkill): Restricts the use of employment contracts by public housing authorities.
HB 1325 (Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks): Requires onlot sewage systems approved by the Department of Environmental Protection meet anti-degradation requirements.
HB 1363 HB (Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia): Amends the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act and clarifies conservatorship provisions to encourage private investment in efforts to remediate blight.

Votes on Concurrence

HB 492 (Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery): Amends the Crime Victims Act to allow for petitions to deny parole upon expiration of minimum sentence. The bill would give crime victims or their families the right to speak directly to Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole members before a decision is made to grant parole.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

EDUCATION, 9 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

HB 1342 (Rep. Patrick Harkins, R-Erie): Includes grandchildren in the list of near relatives for whom school employees may take bereavement leave.
HB 1411 (Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver): Establishes a searchable database detailing the revenues and expenditures of school districts.
SB 34 (Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster/York): Makes changes to the Professional Educator Discipline Act.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 343 (Rep. Ron Miller, R-York): Establishes water well construction standards, including decommissioning of abandoned wells.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, 9:30 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

HB 1438 (Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny/Washington): Amends the General County Assessment Law by exempting certain agricultural structures from assessment as real estate.
HB 1439 (Rep. Marcia Hahn, R-Northampton): Amends the Municipalities Generally Code by exempting certain agricultural structures from assessment as real estate.
HB 1440 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming): Amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code by clarifying the definition of “agricultural building” to include structures used to grow agricultural and horticultural products.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

HB 430 (Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks): Eliminates chain-of-command reporting of child abuse within organizations and institutions, establishes procedures for secure and confidential internet and email reporting and institutes a cross-reporting requirement.
HB 433 (Rep. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster): Requires that the county Children and Youth Agency director and solicitor approve indicated reports of child abuse and provide a specific timeline for appeals of the outcome of a child abuse investigation.
HB 434 (Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks): Removes the separate standards and procedures for school employees with regard to child abuse investigations and background clearances.
HB 435 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams/Franklin): Expands and clarifies background clearance requirements and bars to employment for individuals who, in a paid or volunteer position, are responsible for the welfare of a child.
HB 436 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Expands the list of mandated reporters of suspected child abuse, clarifies a mandated reporter’s basis to report child abuse and enhances penalties for failure to report.
HB 726 (Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks): Amends the definitions of child abuse and related terms in the Child Protective Services Law.

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

HB 21 (Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland): Allows a licensed psychologist to perform an exam to determine whether a defendant is mentally competent to stand for trial.
HB 28 (Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin): Expands the definition of municipal police officer to include police officers that must receive training and be certified under the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Act.
HB 498 (Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia): Clarifies a deceased service member’s designation for the disposition of his/her remains by providing for the legal recognition of DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data, for military personnel.
HB 1090 (Rep. Rosita Youngblood, R-Philadelphia): Adds police stations to the Pennsylvania Safe Haven Law, allowing a police officer to accept a newborn from a parent who wishes to relinquish the newborn.
HB 1274 (Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks): Allows counties that operate their own criminal laboratory to receive the money generated by the criminal laboratory user fee imposed on defendants within that county and directs that, in counties that do not operate their own criminal laboratory, the criminal laboratory user fees be deposited into the Criminal Laboratory User Fee Fund for use by the Pennsylvania State Police criminal laboratories.
HB 1429 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Establishes civil immunity protection to third parties that accept, in good faith, a facially valid power of attorney, enumerates the process for a third party to request information proving the power of attorney, and sets forth the liability for refusal to accept an acknowledged power of attorney.
HB 1462 (Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland): Increases the dollar limit of a transfer that may be made from the custodial account of a minor without court approval from $25,000 to $50,000.
SB 579 (Sen. John Rafferty, R-Berks/Chester/Montgomery): Amends the Administrative Code to update terminology and clarify the size of the authorized complement of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 164 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Establishes the offense of “possession of animal fighting paraphernalia” as a third degree-misdemeanor.
HB 1060 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Allows motorcyclists the option of mounting and displaying the issued vehicle registration plates to their motorcycles in a vertical manner.
HB 1196 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Requires dog owners to provide rabies vaccination records when boarding their dogs in kennels.
HB 1202 (Rep. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York): Closes a loophole in state law by clarifying that a person ordered by police to pull his vehicle over must remain with or inside the vehicle.
HB 1356 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Extends Pennsylvania’s Wiretap Act to December 13, 2018.
HB 1480 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R-Berks/Schuylkill): Repeals mandatory deductibles for collision coverage in auto insurance policies and eliminates the requirement of a signed statement when selecting a deductible under $500.
SB 304 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery): Amends the Associations Code to complete the codification of the Nonprofit Corporation Law.
SB 371 (Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Chester/Lancaster): Repeals the entire savings association statute and requires the four existing savings associations to covert to savings banks.
SB 583 (Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Bedford/Blair/Fulton/Huntingdon/Mifflin): Amends the Economic Development Financing Law to increase non-bid contract maximums and to provide for the annual indexing and adjusting of the figures for inflation.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 920 (Sonney)
HB 1141 (Saylor)
HB 1247 (Stern)
HB 1377 (Brooks)
HB 1414 (Everett)
HB 1437 (Adolph)
SB 470 (Browne)
SB 526 (Waugh)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

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

Public hearing regarding enforcement of campaign finance laws related to independent expenditures by non-profits and other organizations.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 1490 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester): Preserves the enforcement of taxi and limousine regulations in Philadelphia.

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

HB 298 (Rep. Dan Truitt, R-Chester): Extends family medical leave benefits to siblings, grandparents and grandchildren.
HR 255 (Rep. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer): Directs the Joint State Government Commission to study issues relating to the Commonwealth’s delivery system of long-term care services and supports for care-dependent older adults.

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

HB 821 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery): Authorizes the creation of municipal authorities for storm water management, planning and projects.
HB 1253 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery): Makes a technical correction to the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to bring the requirements for municipal boards of appeals in line with regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor and Industry.
SB 351 (Sen. Edwin Erickson, R-Chester/Delaware): Authorizes the creation of municipal authorities for storm water management, planning and projects.

TRANSPORTATION, 10:45 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol

HB 1214 (Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford/Tioga): Bridge designation: SFC William Boyle Memorial Bridge.
HB 1263 (Rep. Sid Kavulich, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming): Requires sellers of mobile and manufactured homes to obtain a tax status certification as a condition of the sale.
HB 1416 (Rep. Stephen Bloom, R-Cumberland): Changes the annual release date of allocated liquid fuels funds to municipalities from April 1 to March 1.

Session

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

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 164 (Stephens)
HB 1060 (M. Keller)
HB 1196 (Stephens)
HB 1202 (Regan)
HB 1356 (Stephens)
HB 1480 (Tobash)
SB 304 (Greenleaf)
SB 371 (Brubaker)
SB 583 (Eichelberger)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

URBAN AFFAIRS/SENATE URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, 10 a.m., York College of Pennsylvania,

Alumni Hall-West Campus, Community Center, 441 Country Club Road, York

House and Senate joint public hearing on the future of Pennsylvania cities, large and small.

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