Protecting Student Athletes from Sexual Assault and Lobbyist Disclosure on the House Agenda Next Week

A live web stream of House session and the majority of committee meetings is 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 was re-drafted from a bill which passed the House unanimously last session (House Bill 1397). The need for the new law can be illustrated by the case of William “Billy” Gordon, a private volleyball coach and personal trainer from Montgomery County who was arrested and convicted for having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl he had coached and mentored. According to court records, the victim would frequently visit the coach’s home for physical condition training. The assaults took place in the coach’s home and a nearby park; the victim had known the assailant for about four years.

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.

Strengthening lobbyist disclosure

Enhancing the penalties found in the Lobbyist Disclosure Law is the point of House Bill 744 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County). The legislation would stiffen penalties for the failure to comply with a law designed to inform the public of who is influencing their government and how they are influencing state policymakers.

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.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol

Public hearing on SB 150 (Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester/Delaware): Amends the Law and Justice Code regarding the collection, analysis and use of DNA samples and storage of DNA profiles in the Pennsylvania State DNA Database.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH, 10:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

Public hearing on HB 642 (Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Philadelphia): Provides standing for siblings to seek partial custody or visitation of another sibling.

FINANCE, 10:30 a.m., Room 418, Main Capitol

Public hearing on HB 762 (Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Armstrong/Westmoreland) and HB 1630 (Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford): Requires revenues received from the Sales and Use Tax on vehicles be transferred to the Motor License Fund.

EDUCATION, 11 a.m., Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Room 1454 Auditorium, 326 Market Street, Harrisburg

Public hearing on adult literacy.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 11:30 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Informational meeting on HB 1409 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester): Codifies and updates the delinquent real estate tax collection systems.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, Noon, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

HB 263 (Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny): Requires all licensees under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to report felony, misdemeanor or drug violation convictions within 30 days.
HB 1603 (Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver): Amends the Medical Practice Act to specify which health care professionals are authorized to administer anesthesia in hospitals.

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Call of Chair, Room 60, East Wing

HB 611 (Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Allegheny): Clarifies the worker’s compensation coverage of paid emergency medical services personnel acting as volunteers for another emergency medical service organization.
HB 1754 (Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Allegheny): Amends the Workers Compensation Act to permit an indefinite look-back period for the retroactive correction of an employer’s experience rating factor.
HB 1807 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York): Provides state preemption for local mandated leave ordinances.

Session

On Tuesday the House will meet at 1 p.m. for legislative business.

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 112 (Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery): Establishes the offense of sexual assault by a sports official.
HB 710 (Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford/Tioga): Allows the Department of Health to promptly add chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs to the list of “precursor substances” under the Drug Act.
HB 744 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster): Enhances penalties that may be imposed on lobbyists or principals for violations of the Lobbyist Disclosure Law.
HB 1154 (Rep. Ron Miller, R-York): Amends the Crimes Code to repeal an exception to the crimes of harassment, stalking and threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction when the person is involved in a labor dispute.
HB 1420 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming): Requires a pulse oximetry screening for each newborn baby born in a hospital or freestanding birthing center.
HB 1431 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York): Bridge designation: Cpl. Luke S. Runyan Memorial Bridge.
HB 1734 (Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Armstrong/Clarion): Limits the current interscholastic athletics disclosure requirements imposed on public schools.
SB 731 (Sen. John Rafferty, R-Berks/Chester/Montgomery): Amends the Crimes Code by adding a definition of “first offense” relating to retail theft.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 397 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Provides limited immunity from civil liability for owners and operators of farm-related tourism activities.
HB 982 (Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland): Prohibits a subcontractor from a filing a mechanics lien against an owner-occupied home if a contractor is paid in full, and clarifies lien priority for open-ended mortgages.
HB 1341 (Rep. Thomas Murt, R-Montgomery/Philadelphia): Bridge designation: SP4 Robert Preston Ruttle Jr. Memorial Bridge.
HR 503 (Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks): Expresses displeasure at the closing of the WWII Memorial during the recent federal government shutdown.

SB 546 (Sen. Timothy Solobay, D-Allegheny/Beaver/Greene/Washington/Westmoreland): Bridge designation: Lieutenant General William M. Keys Bridge.

SB 851 (Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster/York): Bridge designation: Thaddeus Stevens Bridge.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 9 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol

Public hearing on HB 1395 (Rep. Julie Harhart, R-Lehigh/Northampton): Prohibits employers from deducting credit card transaction fees from the tips earned by their employees.

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

HB 490 (Rep. Mark Gillen, R-Berks): Requires notification of the Veterans Preference law on the Civil Service Commission website and on all Civil Service Commission announcements, advertisements and exam materials.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 9:15 a.m., Room 148, Main Capitol

HR 111 (Rep. Michael Hanna, D-Centre/Clinton): Urges the Commonwealth to upgrade its broadband communications network for use by the private and public sectors in the state’s Northern Tier.

SB 607 (Sen. Patrick Browne, R-Lehigh/Monroe/Northampton): Establishes the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 9:15 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

Informational meeting on HB 1651 (Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland): Creates a statewide pension system for police officers.

GAME AND FISHERIES, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

HB 1534 (Rep. Michael Peifer, R-Monroe/Pike/Wayne): Creates a coyote control incentive program.
HB 1576 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana): Establishes a process for evaluating, designating and protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats in the Commonwealth.
SB 763 (Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Fayette/Somerset/Washington/Westmoreland): Removes the required keeping and inspection of rosters of big game hunting parties by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
SB 895 (Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Adams/Franklin/York): Reduces the length of each term for members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board of Commissioners from eight years to four years, while allowing for multiple terms of continued service.

SELECT COMMITTEE FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Presentation and approval of recommendations in final report concerning safety and security in public schools and nonpublic schools and institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 408 (Rep. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia): Amends the Assessors Certification Act to remove the exemption for counties of the first class (Philadelphia) from requirements regarding assessor certification.
HB 1053 (Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland): Enhances the capacity of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners to check the backgrounds of individuals applying for admittance to the Pennsylvania Bar.
HB 1138 (Rep. Matt Gabler, R-Clearfield/Elk): Applies sales and use tax exclusions to the timber and logging industries.
HB 1218 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Prohibits the estate of a deceased tenant from being held liable for any rent accruing from one month after the tenant’s death, or upon surrender of the rental unit and removal of all personal property, whichever is later.
HB 1338 (Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin): Requires the Department of Labor and Industry to establish a certification program for chimney re-liners, similar to those currently required for asbestos and lead paint workers.
HB 1596 (Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware): Road designation: Judge Robert A. Wright Memorial Road.
HB 1599 (Rep. Maria Donatucci, D-Delaware/Philadelphia): Bridge designation: Honorable Robert C. Donatucci Memorial Bridge.
HB 1750 (Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny/Washington): Establishes the offense of slaughtering or selling dogs and cats for human consumption and sets penalties.
SB 802 (Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre/Juniata/Mifflin/Perry/Union): Updates the Boiler and Unfired Pressure Vessel Law.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 112 (Vereb)
HB 710 (Baker, M.)
HB 744 (Cutler)
HB 1154 (Miller, R.)
HB 1420 (Boback)
HB 1431 (Grove)
HB 1665 (Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana): Highway designation: James Nance Memorial Highway.
HB 1734 (Oberlander)
HR 108 (Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe/Pike): Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of the status of character education in the Commonwealth’s public schools.
HR 168 (Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks): Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study concerning the consolidation or merger of Pennsylvania’s municipal police departments.
SB 731 (Rafferty)

Votes on Concurrence

HB 290 (Rep. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer): Revises the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to clarify definitions, permit new games and address other concerns raised by affected organizations and clubs.
HB 1098 (Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin): Amends the Small Games of Chance Act to allow 50/50 drawings at minor league home games; clarifies the distribution of proceeds to charity; and provides for small games of chance in taverns, restaurants and liquor-licensed clubs.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Committee Meetings/Hearings

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 1 p.m., East Goshen Township Building, 1580 Paoli Pike, West Chester

Public hearing on HB 298 (Rep. Dan Truitt, R-Chester): Extends family medical leave benefits to siblings, grandparents and grandchildren.

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