Representative Kerry Benninghoff

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader

171st Legislative District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Jason Gottesman

717-512-0620

jgottesman@pahousegop.com

KerryBenninghoff.com / Facebook.com/RepBenninghoff

 

 

TO:                    Capitol Correspondents, News Editors, Assignment Editors

 

FROM:              Jason Gottesman

                           Press Secretary to the Majority Leader

 

SUBJ:                House Action for the Week of Sept. 14, 2020

 

DATE:                Sept. 14, 2020

 

The House Will Work on Advancing Proposals to Ensure Our Children Have the Best Educational Opportunities and Provide for Responsible Government Management

 

The state House returns to session on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, to vote on issues of importance.

Ensuring Our Children Have the Best Educational Opportunities

In the five-month stabilizing budget we passed, and the governor signed earlier this year, public education was fully funded for the entire year with the intention of providing schools the necessary tools to reopen to in-person education. While the administration has refused to work with the people’s representatives in crafting any plan in response to the pandemic, school leaders have decried the lack of clear guidance to help them safely reopen schools. Instead, they have received conflicting and inconsistent guidance, mandates, recommendations and orders.

 

With Pennsylvania’s students back to schools is various models of learning, it is imperative the General Assembly take steps to ensure they have the certainty of attaining the best educational opportunities. Weeks ago, it was unclear if traditional public schools in Pennsylvania would follow the law and provide required busing to non-public school students. Recent administration guidance, as has been typical of their education response, has been less than clear.

 

Next week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take up measures to ensure these students have the transportation they are entitled to and teachers can recertify their licenses during the pandemic.

Providing Responsible Government Management

Pennsylvania has made great strides in paying off its pension unfunded liability, but more can be done to bring about responsible management of the state’s two major pension systems, particularly in a time of pandemic.

 

Next week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take up bills to provide for more responsible management of the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System and the State Employees Retirement System.

 

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.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • COMMECE, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
    • Public hearing on: "What comes next...the impacts of COVID crisis.”
  • JUDICIARY, 9:30 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
    • Public hearing on police training and department accreditation.
  • PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 11 a.m., Room 60 East Wing
    • HB 100 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford): Amends the Professional Nursing Law to provide for the modernization of the Professional Nursing Law – Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners
    • HB 862 (Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Delaware): An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact.
    • HB 2561 (Rep. Linda Schlegel Culver, R-Northampton): Amends the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act to provide for modernization.
    • HB 2584 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford): Amend the Medical Practice Act to provide for interstate licensure.
    • HB 2636 (Rep. Torren Ecker, R-York/Cumberland/Adams): Act prohibiting enforcement of covenants not to compete in health care practitioner employment agreements.
    • HR 827 (Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny): Resolution designating October 24, 2020, as "Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the more than 700 licensed acupuncturists in this Commonwealth.
    • HR 936 (Rep. Tom Murt, R-Philadelphia/Montgomery): Resolution designating June 12, 2020, as "Behavior Analyst Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania.

 

Session

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

  • HB 564 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Amends the Insurance Company Law to direct insurance companies to pay a dentist directly for services rendered to a patient.
  • HB 2022 (Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne): Amends Title 51 to establish the Veterans' Outreach and Support Network Program.
  • HB 2100 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Wyoming): An Act designating Sept. 11 of each year as "September 11th Remembrance Day."

 

Votes on Third Consideration

  • HB 1961 (Rep. Louis Schmitt, R-Blair): Amends Title 71 to provide for a common reporting period for the two pension systems.
  • HB 1962 (Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York): Amends Title 24 and Title 71 to require each pension system to submit its stress test to the Independent Fiscal Office.
  • HB 1963 (Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming): Amends Title 24 and Title 71 to establish that the contribution collars are no longer in effect and ensure that the Commonwealth pay the ARC each year.
  • HB 1996 (Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon): Amends Title 24 and Title 71 to establish a number of pension committees, establish term limits and provide for continuing education of board members.
  • HB 2530 (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter): Amends the Religious Freedom Protection Act to ensure government cannot infringe on religious worship in times of emergency.
  • HB 2548 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton): Amends the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act, to clarify that all plans are covered by the plan extension provisions of the Fiscal Code.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREAPREDNESS, 9:15 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
    • HB 980 (Rep. Dave Hickernell, R-Lancaster): Amends Title 51 to provide for the composition of the State Veterans Commission.
    • SB 952 (Sen. Mike Regan, R-York/Cumberland): Amends Title 51 to update the Veterans Preference law.
  • FINANCE, 9:15 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • Informational meeting on Department of Revenue to discuss the state’s current and projected tax revenue collections.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
    • Informational meeting on recycling efforts in Pennsylvania as they apply to solar panels and HB 2197.
  • STATE GOVERNMENT, Call of the Chair, Room 60, East Wing
    • HB 2673 (Rep. Louis Schmitt, R-Blair): Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate in Allegheny Township, Blair County.
    • HB 2674 (Rep. Louis Schmitt, R-Blair): Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate in Allegheny Township, Blair County.
    • SB 178 (Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh): Amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to require the electronic filing of campaign finance reports.
    • SB 1214 (Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill): Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Department of Corrections and the Governor, to grant and convey to the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority an easement from lands of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the State Correctional Institution Mahanoy situate in Mahanoy Township, County of Schuylkill, for the purpose of establishing, utilizing, and maintaining water wells and appurtenances thereto related to potable water production and distribution for the benefit of customers within the authority's service territory.
    • SB 1235 (Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia): Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the concurrence of the Department of Environmental Protection, to lease to L-A Battery, QOZ, LLC land within the bed of the Delaware River within the City of Philadelphia.

 

Session

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration

  • HB 1292 (Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset): Amends Act 69 of 1967 to extend the date for validation of certain conveyances and other instruments.
  • HB 1756 (Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-York): Amends the Self-Service Storage Facility Act to make updates to newspaper advertising, late fees and access time to the storage unit.
  • HB 2598 (Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe): Repeals Act 9 of 1868.
  • HB 2599 (Rep. Jack Rader, R-Monroe): Repeals Act 38 of 1870.
  • HB 2724 (Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion): Amends Act 586 of 1966 to clarify that only public entities can pursue prescriptive easements for the benefit of the public.
  • SB 1216 (Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria): Amends the Public School Code to provide for temporary teacher certification flexibility.
  • HR 625 (Rep. Paul Schemel, R-Franklin): Provides for a Joint State Government Commission study on medical student choice in primary care and issue a report.

 

Votes on Third Consideration

  • HB 564 (Saylor) 
  • HB 1348 (Gleim)
  • HB 2022 (Kaufer)

  • HB 2100 (Boback)

 

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings

  • COMMERCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
    • HB 1887 (Rep. Mike Driscoll, D-Philadelphia): Amends "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers," further providing for title of act; and providing for indemnification agreements relative to construction contracts.
    • HB 2615 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery): Act providing for community assistance grants for restaurants; establishing the Community Cornerstone Grant Program; providing for fines; and making an appropriation.
    • HB 2832 (Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Fayette): Amends the Administrative Code providing for event venue indoor space operation.
    • HR 967 (Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny): Resolution designating the month of September 2020 as "Business Month" in Pennsylvania to celebrate the history of this Commonwealth's businesses and industries and acknowledge the need to adapt to the ever-changing needs of our business community.
  • LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
    • Public hearing on UC Benefit Modernization Project Update.
  • URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, 9:30 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol
    • SB 940 (Sen. John DiSanto, R-Dauphin/Perry): Amends the Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act to define a condemnation order and specify it shall be filed against a property and filed with the county tax claim bureau and recorder of deeds.
  • TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
    • HB 2068 (Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-Chester/Montgomery): Amends Title 75 to provide for local mass transit funding.
    • HB 2478 (Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny): Amends Title 75 to provide a civil penalty in place of license suspension for driving without a license.
    • HB 2601 (Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Allegheny): Amends Title 75 to reduce vehicle registration fees for retirees.
    • HB 2646 (Rep. Parke Wentling, R-Mercer): Amends Title 75 to update language relative to “Pedalcycles with Electric Assist.”
    • HB 2733 (Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria): Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8391, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 53 over Laurel Run, also known as Lost Creek, in Dean Township, Cambria County, as the Seaman 2nd Class Louis J. Benzie WWII Memorial Bridge.
    • HB 2825 (Rep. Jim Rigby, R-Cambria): Act designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8680, carrying State Route 3055 over Stonycreek River in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the City of Johnstown Firefighters Memorial Bridge.
    • SB 995 (Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie): Amends Title 75 to provide for the width of multipurpose agricultural vehicles.
    • SB 1199 (Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster): Amends Title 75 further providing for Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee and providing for personal delivery devices.

Session

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

 

Votes on Second Consideration:

  • HB 100 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford): Amends the Professional Nursing Law to provide for the modernization of the Professional Nursing Law – Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners.
  • HB 862 (Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Delaware): An act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact.
  • HB 2561 (Rep. Linda Schlegel Culver, R-Northampton): Amends the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act to provide for modernization.
  • HB 2584 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford): Amend the Medical Practice Act to provide for interstate licensure.

 

Votes on Third Consideration:

  • HB 1292 (Metzgar)
  • HB 1756 (Gillespie)
  • HB 2598 (Rader)
  • HB 2599 (Rader)
  • HB 2724 (Oberlander)
  • SB 1216 (Langerholc)

 

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