SB 1311 PN 2061 (Vance): This bill amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) and Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to address grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights, definitions pertinent to child protective services, and definitions pertinent to juvenile matters. The Senate concurred the House amendments 48-0.
HB 192 PN 1189 (Gillen): This bill amends the Civil Service Act to require the Civil Service Commission to advertise Pennsylvania law regarding veterans’ preference. Senator Corman offered Amendment A10815, which would provide for one uniform method of applying for both civil service and non-civil service positions with an updated online application and platform. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 245 PN 4110 (Dunbar): This bill amends the Local Tax Enabling Act (Act 511 of 1965) to clarify certain provisions related to the consolidated collection of local income taxes and delinquent taxes. The bill was approved 36-12.
HB 263 PN 2535 (Gabler): This bill amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to allow hunting with air, chemical or gas powered firearms. Senator Hutchinson offered Amendment A10305, which would authorize the use of semiautomatic rifles to hunt game in accordance with commission regulations. The amendment was adopted, 37-11.
HB 319 PN 2657 (Knowles): This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to require testimony during an Unemployment Compensation appeals hearing be recorded and made available upon request. The bill also makes a fix to Act 60 of 2012 by increasing the number of seasonal workers that may be eligible for unemployment compensation. Senator Baker offered Amendment A10915, which would reduce the percentage an employee must earn outsie his/her high quarter from 49.5 to 37 percent, increases the reserve ratio for certain employers, adds anti-fraud measures, institutes benefit reductions, provides for an amnesty period, and implements other cost saving measures. The amendment was adopted, 39-9 and the bill went over as amended.
HB 516 PN 4043 (Mustio): The bill creates the Naturopathic Doctor Registration Act which would make it unlawful for anyone to use the title of “naturopathic doctor” unless they are registered as a naturopathic doctor. The bill was approved 48-0.
SB 805 PN 2188 (Boscola): The bill amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) to allow large commercial and industrial class customers to opt-out of participation in an electric distribution company’s (EDC) energy efficiency and conservation program. The bill was approved 35-13.
HB 850 PN 3932 (Mackenzie): This bill amends the Money Transmission Licensing Law to amend definitions, provide for license requirements, exemptions, licensure and penalties. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1087 PN 1493 (Vereb): This bill amends Act 200 of 1931 providing veto power to the Governor of Pennsylvania over the actions of Pennsylvania’s Commissioners on the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Board. The bill was approved 50-0.
SB 1331 PN 2166 (Reschenthaler): This bill provides for the licensure of limited lines travel insurance producers, for requirements for sale of travel insurance, for authority of limited lines travel insurance producers, for registration and training of travel retailers and for renewal of license. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1403 PN 3934 (M. Quinn): This bill amends Title 40 (Insurance) to provide for unclaimed life insurance benefits. Senator White offered Amendment A10439, which would clarify when unclaimed life insurance benefits are due and reportable to the Commonwealth. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 1538 PN 4029 (White): The bill provides for limitations for when a law enforcement officer’s name and identifying information may be released after an event involving the discharge of a weapon or use of force that results in death or serious bodily injury. Senator Rafferty offered Amendment A10850, which would make technical amendments and add definitions. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 1600 PN 4107 (Mackenzie): This legislation amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) by providing business fee exemptions for veteran-owned/reservist-owned small businesses in the Commonwealth. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1864 PN 3305 (Harhart): The bill amends the Cosmetology Law, clarifying that cosmetology schools are permitted to charge the public a reasonable fee for student clinical work. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1959 PN 3107 (Kampf): This bill authorizes the Department of General Services to convey land to Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1968 PN 4113 (Christiana): This is a land conveyance bill authorizing four separate conveyances: two in Washington County, one in Monroe County and one in Westmoreland County. The bill was approved 48-0.
HB 1998 PN 3515 (Petri): This bill would amend Title 53 to change the composition of the board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) to require that only four of PPA’s six board members be residents of the City of Philadelphia. The bill was approved 36-12.
HB 2107 PN 4109 (Baker): This bill amends Title 62 (Procurement) to prohibit the Department of General Services (DGS) from contracting with certain companies and to provide for public access to procurement records. Senator White offered Amendment A10890, which would amend definitions and provide for contracts to require contracts to include budgetary sources for all energy-related cost savings and operating costs. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended. Senator Corman motioned to suspend Senate rule 12 to proceed to a vote on the bill. The motion was agreed to and the bill as amended was approved 47-1.
HB 1348 PN 4076 (Cutler): This bill amends Title 65 (Public Officers) to increase penalties under the Lobbyist Disclosure Law, and to require lobbyists to register and file reports with the state electronically. The Department of State is to post all lobbying disclosure forms on its website within seven days of receipt of filing. Senator Scarnati offered Amendment A10758, which would make technical amendments to the bill. The amendment was agreed to. The bill as amended was agreed to and then referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 1219 PN 2187 (Mensch): This bill designates several highways across Pennsylvania in honor of various individuals. The Senate concurred the House amendments 48-0.
HB 1351 PN 3604 (Baker): This bill creates the Epinephrine Auto-Injector Entity Act which would permit authorized entities and organizations to keep epinephrine auto-injectors on site and have them available if an individual experiences anaphylaxis. Senator Costa offered Amendment A10797, which would make technical amendments to the bill. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 1683 PN 4078 (Warner): This bill allows municipalities to provide volunteer firefighters and EMTs with a waiver from the local Earned Income Tax. Senator Vulakovich offered Amendment A10736, which would authorize municipalities to provide first responders a tax credit based on Property Tax limited to 20 percent of the volunteer’s real property tax liability. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 1838 PN 3695 (White): The bill amends Title 75 (Vehicles) by allowing PennDOT flexibility on how the name of an organization is displayed on an organization registration plate. Senator Wozniak offered Amendment A10913, which would provide for counterfeit airbag production and for penalties associated with their production. The amendment was agreed to. Senator Rafferty offered Amendment A10898, which would provide for annual hauling permits, specifically natural gas transport vehicles. The amendment was agreed to. Senator Rafferty offered Amendment A10902, which would provide for exemptions for vehicle processing fees, responsibilities of drivers in emergency response areas, for the suspension of driving privileges with respect to driving violations and provide for parking authority to enter into agreements with cities of the second class A and cities of the third class. The amendment was agreed to. The bill was agreed to and then referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
HB 1698 PN 3532 (Heffley): This bill creates the Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Analgesic Drug Products Coverage Act which would require health insurance plans to provide coverage for abuse deterrent opioids (ADOs) and prohibiting health plans from implementing “step therapy or fail first” policies. Senator White offered Amendment A10912, which would require the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt evidence-based guidelines for prescribing opioids, place additional guidelines on the DOH, and require the DOH to produce education material explaining the risks associated with opioids. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
HB 1887 PN 2514 (Boback): This bill amends Title 4 (Amusements) to provide for the compulsive and problem gambling program through the Department of Drug and Alcohol (DDAP), to require that they maintain a problem gambling telephone number and create guidelines for the prevention of problem and compulsive gambling. Senator Corman offered Amendment A10942, which would provide for the local revenue sharing of gaming money as a result of the recent court ruling. The amendment was adopted, 47-1 and the bill went over as amended.
Executive Nominations
The following nominees were approved, 47-0:
Daniel A. Trace, State Board of Auctioneer Examiners
Edward G. Edwards, Trustee, Bloomsburg University
Brian D. O’Donnell, Trustee, Bloomsburg University
James T. Davis, Trustee, California University of Pennsylvania
Larry Maggi, Trustee, California University of Pennsylvania
Gina M. Burritt, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
John J. Pekarovsky, III, Trustee, East Stroudsburg University
Mario Scaveilo, Trustee, East Stroudsburg University
Gary F. Wills, Trustee, Ebensburg Center
Patricia J. Kennedy, Trustee, Edinboro University
Robert J. Lowther, Jr. Trustee, Edinboro University
Anthony J. Pirrello, Trustee, Edinboro University
Harold C. Sheilds, Trustee, Edinboro University
Nathan C. Barrett, State Board of Education
Donald E. Houser, Jr. Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education
Thomas S. Muller, Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education
Barbara Mcllvaine Smith, Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education
Curtis J. Jones, Jr. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Mayur N. Patel, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Jonathan B. Mack, Trustee, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
David Osikowicz, Trustee, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Nathan T. Spade, Trustee, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Charles T. Blocksidge, Trustee, Kutztown University
Robert P. Grim, Trustee, Kutztown University
Jolynn L. Haney, Trustee, Kutztown University
Dianne M. Lutz, Trustee, Kutztown University
John P. Wabby, Trustee, Kutztown University
Mary A Coploff, Trustee, Lock Haven University
Deborah M. Suder, Trustee, Lock Haven University
Ralph H.Meyer, Trustee, Mansfield University
Robert D. Strohecker, Trustee, Mansfield University
Bruce L. Vickery, Trustee, Mansfield University
Jordan A. Harris, Trustee, Millersville University
Michael G. Warfel, Trustee, Millersville University
RobinL. Wiessmann, Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Jake Wheatley, Jr. Trustee, University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Charles R. Black, Trustee, Shippensburg University
Jeffrey W. Coy, Trustee, Shippensburg University
Michael Ross, Trustee, Shippensburg University
Alfonso Angelucci, Trustee, Slippery Rock University
Suzanna A. Vessella, Trustee, Slippery Rock University
Richard M. Wukich, Trustee, Slippery Rock University
Barry C. Dozor, Trustee, West Chester University
Stephen Kinsey, Trustee, West Chester University