Providing for an Economic Recovery, Protecting Families and Reforming Government for the Benefit of Pennsylvanians

The state House returns to session on Monday, April 19, to vote on legislation to advance our goals of providing for an economic recovery, protecting families and providing government reform for Pennsylvania taxpayers.

Providing for an Economic Recovery

Businesses have asked government for one thing to help them jumpstart our economy: To get out of the way. This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will advance a number of regulatory reform bills that help get government out of the way of small business job creators, make it more attractive to bring jobs to Pennsylvania, and will aid in our post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

Protecting Families

This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will continue standing up for our most vulnerable by beginning movement on a package of bills to combat human trafficking, give more tools to those suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse disorders—as well as their families—and provide more tools to those engaged in child abuse investigations.

Reforming Government for the Benefit of Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvanians deserve a state government of which they can be proud. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will allow minors to operate lemonade stands without government intrusion, enhance the legislature’s oversight role and provide for greater government transparency.

The Weekly Schedule

Bill numbers will be used to identify the legislation being considered either in committee or on the House floor. The bills, sponsors and summaries are posted below.

Monday, April 19, 2021

Committee Meetings/Hearings

EDUCATION, 10 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
- HB 358 (Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Beaver/Butler): Amends the Public School Code to allow charter schools, regional charter schools and cyber charter schools to offer dual enrollment programs to their students.
- HB 602 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Bradford/Tioga/Potter): Amends the Public School Code to establish the Career and Technical Education Investment Incentive Program.
- HB 1013 (Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland): Amends the Public School Code to require the inclusion of Career Technical Education (CTE) certifications on a student’s High School transcript, if that student took a National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (“NOCTI”) or Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) test and obtained a certification through a state-qualified vocational technical school.
- HB 1041 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton): Amends the Public School Code to permit students in home education programs to participate in public school academic classes.
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol
- Informational meeting to closely examine and highlight the environmental, economic and health impacts of harmful algal blooms that are located in water bodies throughout Pennsylvania. During the briefing, members of the Pennsylvania HABs Task Force will discuss their efforts to combat this growing issue and educate others about the risks these bacteria pose.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 523, Irvis Office Building
- HB 609 (Rep. Joseph Emrick , R-Northampton): Amends the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law to change exemptions and clarify language.
- HB 855 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Bradford/Tioga/Potter): Amends Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) to provide individuals seeking to become licensed in Pennsylvania the option of applying by paper application under certain circumstances.
- HR 88 (Rep. Todd Polinchock, R-Bucks): Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the regulatory waivers and suspensions issued by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Call of the Chair, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
- HB 69 (Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene): Amends the Automobile Lemon Law to add coverage for motorcycles.
- HB 376 (Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny): Amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) to include condominiums, cooperatives and planned communities within the definition of “Landlord Ratepayer.”
- HB 1161 (Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Act providing for local solar program, for renewable energy credits and for powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Session

On Monday, the House will meet at noon for legislative business.

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 220 (Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe): Amends the Administrative Code to specify that a person does not need to test positive for drugs in order to begin addiction treatment.
HB 581 (Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia): Authorizes local taxing authorities to provide tax exemptions for improvements to deteriorated areas and dwellings to incentivize the creation and improvement of affordable housing units.
HB 741 (Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon): Amends the Administrative Code to require recovery houses to contact emergency contacts should the resident leave due to eviction or against medical advice.

HB 832 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne/Wyoming/Lackawanna): Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 37135, located on Pennsylvania Route 92 over the Susquehanna River, Falls Township, Wyoming County, as the Falls Veterans Memorial Bridge.
HB 944 (Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland): Amends the Administrative Code to require the notification of a designated person if a patient leaves an addiction treatment center against medical advice.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 48 (Grove)
HB 423 (Rowe)
HB 607 (Emrick)
HB 664 (Hershey)

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Committee Meetings/Hearings

STATE GOVERNMENT, 8 a.m.,
- HB 939 (Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York): Amends the Regulatory Review Act to establish the Independent Office of the Repealer.
- HB 950 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler): Amends the Regulatory Review Act to ensure greater checks and balances in our regulatory process, by giving the General Assembly the authority to initiate the repeal of any regulation currently in effect by concurrent resolution.
- HB 1050 (Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny): Amends Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) to provide tax equity to planned communities.
FINANCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
- HB 951 (Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest): Amends the Tax Reform Code to create a Sales and Use Tax exemption for data centers.
- HB 1151 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Amends the Tax Reform Code to update and repeal obsolete provisions relating to the Department of Revenue.
LABOR & INDUSTRY, 9:30 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
- HB 129 (Rep. Jim Cox, R-Berks): Amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to make telephone hearings the default procedure for UC appeals.
- HB 723 (Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Amends the Workforce Development Act to provide for modernization of the act.
- HB 938 (Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York): To create the Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act.
JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 523, Irvis Office Building
- HB 231 (Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to combat human trafficking by adding certain prohibited activities that, if committed, constitute the crime of unlawful contact with a minor.
- HB 246 (Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny/Washington): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to combat human trafficking by prohibiting defendants from introducing evidence of a human trafficking victim’s past sexual victimization and allegations of past sexual victimization in any prosecution arising under Chapter 30 (relating to human trafficking).
- HB 580 (Rep. Meghan Schroeder, R-Bucks): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to combat human trafficking by expanding the list of offenses where an expert may testify about the dynamics of sexual and domestic violence.
- HB 753 (Rep. Barry Jozwiak, R-Berks): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) by increasing the grading for the offense of trafficking of infants.
- HB 843 (Rep. David Rowe, R-Snyder/Union): Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to combat human trafficking by amending Pennsylvania’s child custody statute to require that a court consider whether a party or member of that party’s household has been convicted of human trafficking prior to awarding child custody to that party.
- HB 1096 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to combat human trafficking by changing venue requirements to make it easier for victims of human trafficking to bring suit against the perpetrator.
- HB 1130 (Rep. Craig Williams, R-Delaware): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to ensure that human traffickers who subject their victims to sexual servitude are required to register under the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act.
- HB 1147 (Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to protect victims of human trafficking by expanding the list of sexual offenses that require offenders to attend and participate in a Department of Corrections program of counseling and therapy designed for incarcerated sex offenders.
COMMERCE, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol
- HB 336 (Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh): Amends the Administrative Code to provide updates relative to the Department of Banking and Securities.
- HB 537 (Rep. Joe Ciersi, D-Montgomery): Amends the Fiscal Code to develop a COVID-19 grant program for ultra-small businesses.
- HB 859 (Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland): Amends the Department of Banking and Securities Code to strengthen the Banking Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
- HB 72 (Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York/Cumberland): Amends the Regulatory Review Act by establishing an enhanced review process for major regulations that impose a substantial cost burden on the Commonwealth.
- HB 139 (Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland): Act providing for the administration of permits by state agencies, for a tracking system for permit applications, for the establishment of permit programs and for annual reports.
- HB 288 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Creating the State Agency Regulatory Compliance Officer Act.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
- HB 221 (Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe): Amends "An act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the local government units thereof to preserve, acquire or hold land for open space uses," to allow municipalities to use the 25% of funds currently earmarked for maintenance and development under the “open space tax,” regardless of the method of acquisition or purchase of land serving an “open space benefit.”
- HB 367 (Rep. Lee James, R-Venango): Amends Title 11 (Cities) to lower the signature requirement for nomination petitions and the amount of filing fees for candidates running for office in third-class cities.
- HB 403 (Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks): Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to explicitly allow a homeowner located on boundary lines to choose the county or municipality in which they are assessed.

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration

HB 331 (Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe/Pike): Act authorizing certain financial institutions to conduct savings promotion programs.
HB 430 (Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Northampton): Amends the Local Tax Collection Law to waive the 10% penalty during the first year of ownership if the new owners did not receive their tax bill.
HB 747 (Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford/Erie): Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) to provide a mechanism by which small businesses can remain open during states of emergency.
HB 954 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to provide for better coordination of investigations of child abuse.

Votes on Third Consideration

HB 220 (Rader)
HB 741 (Heffley)
HB 832 (Boback)
HB 944 (Nelson)

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Committee Meetings/Hearings

HOUSE GAME AND FISHERIES, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
- HB 121 (Rep. Torren Ecker, R-Cumberland/Adams): Act authorizing the transfer of Project 70 restrictions from 0.043 acres of State Game Land 249 that will be purchased by the Department of Transportation for highway right-of-way to 0.043 acres of replacement game land that will be deeded over to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by the Department of Transportation.
- HB 490 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne/Wyoming/Lackawanna): Amends Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) to provide for reciprocal agreements with other states allowing certain veteran and military fishing and hunting licenses or permits to be recognized as resident licenses in any state participating in such an agreement.
- HB 1108 (Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia): Amends Title 30 (Fish) to create a specific license exemption for participants in organized therapeutic fishing activities.
- HB 1122 (Rep. Ed Gillespie, R-York): Amends Title 34 (Game) to provide for a discounted general hunting license for Hunter Trapper Education (HTE) instructors by creating a “Volunteer Instructor License.”

Session

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

Votes on Second Consideration:

HR 88 (Rep. Todd Polinchock, R-Bucks): Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the regulatory waivers and suspensions issued by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
HB 609 (Rep. Joseph Emrick , R-Northampton): Amends the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law to change exemptions and clarify language.
HB 855 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Bradford/Tioga/Potter): Amends Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) to provide individuals seeking to become licensed in Pennsylvania the option of applying by paper application under certain circumstances.

Votes on Third Consideration:

HB 331 (R. Brown)
HB 430 (Emrick)
HB 747 (Roae)
HB 954 (Stephens)

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