Labor & Industry 2015-2016
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Monday, October 24, 2016 to consider the following:
HB 2375, PN 4065 (Gingrich) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to extend the funding deadline for the Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund through 2017, require an audit of the Fund by the Auditor General, and require the Department of Labor and Industry to formulate a plan to eliminate reliance on these funds. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Monday, September 26, 2016 to consider the following:
SB 1335, PN 1993 (Tartaglione) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to extend the funding deadline for the Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund through FY 2020. The bill was reported as committed.
SB 1360, PN 2050 (Baker) – This bill creates the Statutory Construction of Wage and Hour Laws Act to update Pennsylvania’s minimum wage laws by bringing them in line with federal laws. Going forward, the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act will be construed together with provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill was reported as committed.
SB 1363, PN 2060 (Yudichak) – This bill amends the Worker’s Compensation Act to make volunteer firefighters and rescue personnel eligible for worker’s comp if they are injured while providing assistance on state game lands. The bill was reported as committed.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Thursday, June 23, 2016 to consider the following:
HB 568, PN 638 (Evankovich) – This bill amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to give local code officials more options to issue certificates of occupancy to uncertified buildings. Senator Baker offered amendment A08562, which reforms the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council review and adoption process. The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
SB 1133, PN 1569 (Baker) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to clarify that a spouse’s move to follow his or her active duty husband or wife will not be considered “voluntarily leaving work” for unemployment compensation purposes. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
SB 199, PN 246 (Tartaglione) – This bill amends The Minimum Wage Act to eliminate credit card processing fee deductions from tipped wages. Senator Tartaglione stated that this bill would be the vehicle for any potential change in Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, but negotiations are ongoing. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 to consider the following:
SB 876, PN 1022 (Gordner) – The bill amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to make changes to the claims process under the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund (UEGF). Among the reforms, injured workers may only receive treatment from designated health care providers as identified by the Fund. The bill also transfers $4 million to the Fund to further address underfunding, further provides for proof of wages, establishes new penalties, and strengthens liability and compensation provisions with regard to out-of-state employers. Senator Baker offered amendment A07090, which makes changes in the way the Administration Fund is calculated and provides additional resources to UEGF. The amendment was unanimously approved and the bill was reported as amended (also unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 to consider the following:
SB 703, PN 694 (McGarrigle) – This bill creates the Plumbing Contractors Licensure Act. A nine-member board– the State Board of Plumbing Contractors– would be responsible for authorizing plumbers to perform services and supervise apprentices and journeyman plumbers. The Board will create a registry of licensed plumbers and provide access to the public. Senator Baker offered amendment A04089, which defines“plumbing services,” stipulates that a journeyman plumber must satisfy Federal standards of apprenticeship, and eliminates the requirement that an apprentice pay a fee. The amended was unanimously approved. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 10-1.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Thursday, December 10, 2015 to consider the following:
HB 319, PN 324 (Knowles) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to require testimony during an Unemployment Compensation appeals hearing be recorded and made available upon request. Senator Baker offered amendment A05004, which reduces the percentage of income that has to be earned outside of an employee’s high quarter from 49.5 percent to 42 percent. This change will restore unemployment compensation eligibility to approximately 31,000 of the 48,000 seasonal workers disqualified by Act 60 of 2012. The amendment was approved and the bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Monday, June 29, 2015 to consider the following:
SB 889, PN 1053 (Baker) – This bill amends the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law, also known as the Heart and Lung Act, to provide coverage to enforcement officers and investigators of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
HB 315, PN 322 (Ellis) – This bill amends the Child Labor Act to allow youth as young as 12 to be legally employed as an umpire or referee. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 to consider the following:
HB 400, PN 1182 (Gingrich) – This bill creates the Work Experience for High School Students with Disabilities Act with the aim of successfully transitioning high school students with disabilities into the workforce. Senator Baker offered amendment A01930, which references federal statue and eliminates the requirement that OVR attend at least one meeting per year of individual education plan meetings prior to graduation of a high school student. The amendment was approved and the bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met Tuesday, May 12, 2015 to consider the following:
SB 655, PN 650 (Browne) – This bill amends the Fiscal Code to extend the expiration date for the State Workers’ Insurance Fund. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
SB 404, PN 331 (Argall) – This bill creates the Correctional Officers Investigation Procedure Act to establish guidelines and procedures during investigations of correctional officers by the Department of Corrections. Senator Baker offered amendment A01589 to include Department of Corrections food service and maintenance employees under the act, make technical changes and define “interrogation.” Senator Wagner initially cast the only “no” vote for the amendment, but later changed his vote to “yes.” The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
Acting Secretary Kathy Manderino, Department of Labor & Industry, nominee. The committee approved the nomination unanimously.