Labor and Industry Committee 11/10/04

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 and unanimously reported out the following bills as committed:

House Bill 1238 (Marsico) - This bill amends the Combustible and Flammable Liquids Act to allow explicitly diesel fuel to be dispensed using hold-open nozzles at self-service stations and states that containers for diesel fuel shall be color-coded yellow.  The bill also requires that persons using hold-open nozzles must remain within ten feet and within plain sight of the refueling point.  A sign must be posted explaining this requirement and that it is Pennsylvania law.  When this sign is posted as mandated, a non-compliant person may be liable for environmental clean-up costs resulting from a fuel spill. 

House Bill 2749 (Major) - This bill amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to require the Department of Labor and Industry to utilize the latest national standards applicable to the operation of ski lifts.  This legislation eliminates the requirement that a ski lift be shut down when there is a non-fatal injury.

Labor and Industry Committee 9/29/04

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met today 9-29-04 and reported out the following bills:

SR 211  This resolution directs the Joint State Government Committee to study the impact of overseas job outsourcing and report its findings to the General Assembly by Sept. 30, 2004.  This resolution was reported out unanimously 10-0.

SB 2285  This bill adds heart attacks and strokes to the list of covered deaths to the state death benefit program for emergency personnel.  This bill was reported out unanimously 10-0.

SB 2341 This bill amends the Public Employee Relations Act by providing that a law enforcement officer of limited ju8risdiction shall be prohibited from being included in any collective bargaining unit with other public employees.  Sen. Scarnatti offered A 3568 that would also include, liquor control officers, narcotics officers and probation and parole officers to the act.  The amendment and bill were reported out unanimously 10-0.

Labor and Industry Committee 6/16/04

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 and took the following actions:

1. Reported, by a unanimous vote, from Committee as amended Senate Bill #1139, which the Pennsylvania Construction Code (P.L. 491, No. 45), also referred to as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), to further provide for both application and regulation of the Act, and for project definitions.

2. Unanimously confirmed the Governor's nomination of Daniel Fleck to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

Labor and Industry Committee 3/30/04

The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 and took the following actions:

1. Unanimously reported to the floor for a vote the executive nominations of Robert Krebs and Alfonso Frioni Jr. to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

2. Unanimously reported out of the Committee House Bill #652, which would provide health/dental and pension benefits to crew leaders who are employed under the Department of Labor and Industry in the Pennsylvania Conservation Corp (PCC) 

Labor and Industry Committee 2/10/04

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, February 10, 2004, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

SB 930 pn 1210 (Pileggi)   The bill amends the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law, extending the payment of the salary, medical and hospital expenses to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs under certain circumstances.

SB 953 pn 1259 (Kasunic)  The bill amends the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law, extending benefits to certain employees of the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, waterways conservation officers of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, wildlife conservation officers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Labor and Industry Committee 12/19/03

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Friday, December 19, 2003 and unanimously reported out the nomination of Richard Bloomingdale to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review with a favorable recommendation.
 

Labor and Industry Committee 10/22/03

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 to consider the following bill:

As Amended:

HB 88 pn 2839 (Turzai) (Vote 7-4 on party lines) This legislation amends the Workers Compensation Act to change the requirement that "earning power" assessments be conducted by an expert approved by the Department of Labor and Industry, to a new requirement that such assessments be conducted by a vocational expert who meets minimum qualifications established by the department through regulation.

Amendment 3850 (Vote 7-4 on party lines) This amendment removes language added in the House that would prohibit and insurer from referring an employee for an earning power assessment to an entity/ person whom the insurer has a financial interest.

Labor and Industry Committee 6/17/03

The Senate Labor and Industry committee met today and took action on the following:

SB 131 (Orie)  This bill amends the Pa Human Relations Act by defining marital status and includes it in the list of unlawful discriminatory practices.  This bill was reported unanimously.

HB 674 (Steil)  This bill repeals the Child Labor Law and rplaces it with the Child Labor Act.  The new act will make Pennsylvania law more consistent with federal law.  An amendment was offered that would allow minor newspaper carriers to begin work at 5:00 am.  A minor may begin to deliver papers at age 11. The amendment passed by a vote of 9-2.  The bill was reported out unanimously.

Labor and Industry Committee 3/5/03

The Labor and Industry Committee met today to consider the nomination of Stephen Schmerin as Secretary of the Dept. of Labor and Industry. The nominee was unanimously voted out committee with.