Labor and Industry Committee 10/06/08

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Monday, October 6, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 2113 - The bill amends the Industrialized Housing Act by defining industrialized/commercial modular building as well as authorizing the department to enter into a multistate agreement for the purpose of regulating the construction of industrialized/commercial modular buildings.  Amendment A09567 was offered which adds the definition of an industrialized/commercial building module and changes the effective date to immediately.

Labor and Industry Committee 09/23/08

The Senate Labor and Industry met on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as amended:

SB 902:  The bill amends the Workforce Development Act by establishing the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers.  The center will provide a focused direction and purpose for the development of strategies to address the state’s short-term and long-term health care workforce challenges.  Senator Tartaglione offered amendment A03255 that requires the Leadership Council to submit a report to the Chief Clerk of the Senate and House, summarizing its activities and making recommendations as to prospective legislation.

HB 834:  The legislation establishes the Prohibition of Excessive Overtime in Health Care Act which states that a health care facility may not require an employee to work in excess of an agreed to, predetermined and regularly scheduled daily work shift.  Senator Gordner offered amendment A09231, which adds clarifying language to unforeseeable emergency circumstances.

Labor and Industry Committee 06/17/08

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

SB 1138 - This bill extends Workers Compensation benefits to sheriffs and sheriff deputies who contract certain occupational diseases.

The following was unanimously reported as amended:

SB 1112 - The bill amends the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act by changing when a death certificate must be submitted, and who and how much surviving family members will receive from the Commonwealth.  Amendment A07541 was offered which clarifies a minor child as under the age of eighteen, or if in college, under the age of twenty-three.

Labor and Industry Committee 04/08/08

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, and unanimously reported out the following bills as amended:

HB 1096: The bill amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act by establishing The Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Committee.  Amendment A06560 was offered which retains the ability of the Accessibility Advisory Board to review all Uniform Construction Code provisions that deal with accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities.  It also changes the Council’s quorum to 10 members and makes the effective date to immediately among other aspects.     

SR 263:  The resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study relating to the funds collected from the $4 fee from construction or building permits and to report its findings to the General Assembly by June 30, 2008. Amendment A06441 was offered which changes when the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee reports its findings to the General Assembly to September.

Labor and Industry Committee 11/13/07

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, and reported out the following nominees unanimously:

James Darby, Esq., Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board

Eileen Melvin, Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

Labor and Industry Committee 06/05/07

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 5, 2007, and reported out the following bills as amended:

Senate Bill 466 (Robbins) – This bill would amend the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to exempt temporary structures and pole barns at agricultural fairs. Sen. Gordner offered amendment A868, which changes the effective date of the act from 60 days to immediately, decreases the time limit for temporary structures from 180 to 30 days, and adds language that exempts pole barns from provisions of the International Fire Code. A vote of 11-0 was recorded on the amendment and bill.

Senate Bill 333 (Waugh) – This bill would amend the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act to expand the definition of “maintenance work,” which is exempt from provisions of this act. Sen. Gordner offered amendment A869, which increases the threshold for prevailing wage projects from the current level of $25,000 to $175,000 and institutes an annual inflation adjustment for the threshold beginning Dec. 1, 2007. A vote of 7-4 was recorded on the amendment and bill.

Labor and Industry Committee 04/24/07

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, and unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

Senate Bill 726 (Browne) – This bill would amend the Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963 to make a change to the residential construction exclusion. Sen. Gordner offered amendment A473, which was technical in nature. A vote of 10-0 was recorded on the amendment and the bill.

Labor and Industry Committee 04/17/07

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, and reported out the re-nomination of Stephen Schmerin as Secretary of Labor and Industry. A vote of 8-2 was recorded.

Labor and Industry Committee 03/13/07

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, and unanimously reported out the following bill as committed:

Senate Bill 263 (Gordner) – This bill would increase payments to claimants under the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act by $25 to $150 per month.

The committee unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

Senate Bill 437 (Regola) - This bill would amend the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to abrogate certain sections of the 2006 International Residential Code related to concrete and masonry foundation walls. Sen. Gordner offered amendment A0094, which makes the bill effective immediately and provides language that clarifies legislative intent.