Politics & Government

PA House Agenda for May 7 - 11

The state House returns to session on Monday, May 7, to debate and vote on various issues.

Here's this week's schedule for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Information has been supplied by Rep. Mike Turzai, Republican Majority Leader.

 Tax reform for residents and employers

Following up on last week’s business tax reform and property tax reform votes, the House will come back this week to consider the Inheritance Tax and Sales and Use Tax filing options.
 
House Bill 1780, (Rep. Carl Metzger, R-Somerset/Bedford Counties) would effectively eliminate the inheritance tax when property is transferred from a legal parent to or for the use by a child 21 years old or younger. Under current law, the Inheritance Tax would be at a rate of 4.5 percent.
 
Helping small employers by giving them a Sales and Use Tax (SUT) option to remit their taxes is the idea behind House Bill 2000 (Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R- Bucks County). The option will provide these businesses with a method of remitting the SUT they actually collect for the first portion of the month instead of an arbitrary prepayment that is not related to their current sales.

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.

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Monday, May 7

Committee Meetings/Hearings
GAME AND FISHERIES, Call of the Chair, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

  • SB 1049 (Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Fayette/Somerset/Washington/Westmoreland):  Allows the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) to make available licenses and permits that cover multiple years, licenses and permits that cover a group of individuals who meet certain criteria as established by the Commission, and allows for promotional discounts.
  • HB 881 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana):  Allows the use of leashed tracking dogs to track and recover legally wounded or harvested white-tail deer
  • HB 2234 (Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria):  Clarifies the definition of “bow” to include crossbows and other braced devices; removes outdated language providing for a disabled permit to hunt with a crossbow to reflect permanent regulatory changes made by the Commission.
  • HB 2293 (Rep. Mike Peifer, R-Monroe/Pike/Wayne):  Creates a new category of offenses for serious poaching incidents and taking or possessing by illegal methods, and provides for penalties and assessment of cost for related violations.

 
Session
On Monday, the House will convene at 1 p.m. for legislative business. The members will vote the uncontested calendar and Rule 35 resolutions.
 
Votes on Second Consideration

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  • HB 1289 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana):  Requires the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to create a sentencing enhancement if a person over 18 years of age is convicted of selling controlled substances in the presence of a minor and the person convicted is the minor’s parent, guardian, a person responsible for the child’s welfare, or a person involved in an intimate relationship with the child’s parent.
  • HB 1767 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton):  Enumerates, under the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act, the responsibilities of a community owner during the sale of a manufactured home community and sets forth the process for dealing with abandoned manufactured homes.
  • HB 2000 (Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-Bucks):  Allows businesses whose total tax reported or required to be reported for the third calendar quarter of the preceding calendar year is equal to or exceeds $25,000 with an option to remit the amount of tax collected for the period from the first day of the current calendar month through the 15th day of the current calendar month along with required report and remaining amount still owed to the Commonwealth for the previous calendar month.
  • HB 2199 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery):  Establishes driving past, around, or through a sign or traffic control device closing a road or highway due to either existing or potential hazardous conditions as a summary offense, punishable by not more than $500 if emergency response vehicles are utilized during the violation or the suspension of driving privileges if the vehicle becomes disabled.
  • HR 523 (Rep. Karen Boback):  Resolution asking Congress to seek the withdrawal of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation against prostate-specific antigen-based (PSA) screening for prostate cancer for men in all age groups.
  • HB 2215 (Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-Washington):  Interchange designation: the Officer John David Dryer Memorial Interchange.
  • HB 2271 (Rep. Mike Reese, R-Fayette/Westmoreland):  Bridge designation: the Pfc. Robert "Piney Decker" Nadolski Memorial Bridge.

 
Votes on Third Consideration

  • HB 1047 (Rep. Edward Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne):  Allows the governing body of a municipality to appoint up to three residents of the municipality to serve as alternate members of the planning commission.
  • HB 1484 (Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-Butler/Mercer):  Sets forth the process for municipality planning commissions to provide meeting notifications to individuals who have requested written notice.
  • HB 1780 (Rep. Carl Metzgar, R-Bedford/Somerset):  Eliminates Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax rate for property transfers from a natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent to or for the use of their child, if the child is under the age of 21.
  • SB 342 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery):  Increases the per diem allowance for members of the State Board of Occupational Therapy from $30 to $60; requires occupational therapists to maintain $1 million in professional liability insurance; and creates an impaired professionals program.

Tuesday, May 8

Committee Meetings/Hearings
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 9 a.m., Room 60, East Wing. Public hearing on:

  • HB 2186 (Rep. Mike Reese, R-Fayette/Westmoreland):  Adds government agencies to the list of entities able to receive direct meter access and electronic access to customer meter data.
  • HB 2188 (Rep. Mike Reese):  Allows customers to opt-out of receiving smart meter technology by submitting a written request to the electric distribution company.

LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

  • HB 2346 (Rep. Adam Harris, R-Juniata/Mifflin/Snyder):  Establishes that a person who quits or is laid off from a position in order to retain a pension or other similar benefits is ineligible for unemployment compensation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

  • HB 2043 (Rep. Marcia Hahn, R-Northampton):  Allows the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission to grant waivers of mandatory basic training to federal law enforcement officers who have successfully completed previous equivalent training
  • HB 2224 (Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster):  Establishes that public lands or buildings purchased by a political subdivision do not need Orphans’ Court approval prior to reconveyance if the lands or buildings are unencumbered by recorded restrictions or covenants requiring them to be used for public use; clarifies that if a political subdivision acquired the lands or buildings through condemnation, then the assets may be sold or disposed of pursuant to the Eminent Domain Code.
  • HB 2324 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Perry/Franklin):  Reenacts recent changes to the bidding limits in the Public Auditorium Authority Law so that the new bid limit of $18,500 will become effective immediately and the indexing of the amount can commence on Jan. 1, 2013, rather than delaying the bid limit to Jan. 1, 2013 and the indexing to Jan. 1, 2014.
  • HB 2325 (Rep. Mark Keller):  Reenacts recent changes to the bidding limits in the Public School Code so that the new bid limit of $18,500 will become effective immediately and the indexing of the amount can commence on Jan. 1, 2013, rather than delaying the new bid limit to Jan. 1, 2013, and the indexing to Jan. 1, 2014.
  • HB 2326 (Rep. Mark Keller):  Increases the minimum limit for requiring full advertising and bidding of contracts under the Economic Development Financing Law from $10,000 to $18,500 and establishes the annual indexing and adjusting for inflation.

JUDICIARY, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

  • HB 1521 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery):  Establishes the possession of a vehicle with false compartments with the intent to utilize the compartments for illegal purposes as a misdemeanor of the first degree; establishes the design and construction of such a vehicle compartment as a second-degree misdemeanor; and provides for license suspension upon conviction and forfeiture of the vehicle.
  • HB 2331 (Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery):  Imposes a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for felons who illegally possess firearms and includes felons who illegally possess firearms in the definition of “crime of violence.”

TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

  • HB 1232 (Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair):  Establishes a penalty for communities that adopt local ordinances that may conflict with provisions of the Vehicle Code.
  • HB 1803 (Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks):  Allows parking authorities of third-class cities to enforce and administer ordinances and resolutions enacted or adopted by the city and allows for the transfer of a portion of the fines, penalties, and costs collected by the parking authority to the city.
  • HB 2018 (Rep. Sid Kavulich, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming):  Bridge designation: the 109th Infantry Bridge.
  • HB 2119 (Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny):  Raises the maximum speed limit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where posted, to 70 mph; establishes a penalty for violation of the speed limit; and provides for a study of the effect of the increased speeds.
  • HB 2217 (Rep. Dan Truitt, R-Chester):  Reduces the fee for the Gold Star Family specialty license plate from $20 to $7.50 and increases the maximum eligible gross vehicle weight limit from 10,000 to 14,000 pounds.
  • HB 2254 (Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Blair/Huntingdon/Mifflin):  Bridge designation: the Sgt. 1st Class Sidney N. Hamer Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 2289 (Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair):  Bridge designation: the Williamsburg Memorial Bridge.
  • HB 2343 (Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie):  Bridge designation: the Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell Memorial Bridge.
  • SB 1372 (Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks/Montgomery):  Bridge designation: the Dr. Robert R. Kuhn Bridge.
  • SB 1395 (Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks/Carbon/Lehigh/Monroe/Northampton):  Road designation: the Capt. David Eric Pannabecker POW-MIA Memorial Highway.
  • SB 1429 (Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland/York):  Bridge designation: the Cpl. Paul Walters Memorial Bridge.

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

Votes on Second Consideration

  • HB 856 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin):  Establishes the intentional trafficking for financial gain of a non-U.S. citizen as a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $15,000; if the trafficked individual is a minor or sustains bodily injury, the crime is graded as a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
  • HB 1904 (Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Forest/McKean/Warren):  Clarifies that, under the agreement whereby Pennsylvania allowed the federal government to acquire land for the creation of the Allegheny National Forest, the federal government was not given the authority to pass laws or implement rules with respect to rights not included with the transfer of land, which include privately held and state-owned mineral and water rights.
  • HB 2016 (Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler):  Includes the trafficking for commercial sex purposes in the offense of human trafficking; establishes the trafficking of a minor as a felony of the first degree; establishes a parent selling or transferring custody of a minor for commercial sex purposes as a second-degree felony; and establishes a civil cause of action for coercion into prostitution.
  • HB 2071 (Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin):  Amends the definition of “municipal police officer” to include those police officers who are required to receive training and certification under the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Act.
  • HB 2321 (Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon):  Establishes that a veteran holding a professional or occupational license or certificate from a Commonwealth agency is not required to forfeit his or her license or registration when called to active duty for more than 30 days and will be exempt from any continuing educational requirements or in-service training requirements.

 
Votes on Third Consideration
HB 1289 (Rep. Jeff Pyle)
HB 1767 (Rep. Robert Freeman)
HB 2000 (Rep. Marguerite Quinn)
HB 2199 (Rep. Todd Stephens)
HB 2215 (Rep. Brandon Neuman)
HB 2271 (Rep. Mike Reese)

Wednesday, May 9

Committee Meetings/Hearings
LIQUOR CONTROL, 9 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

  • HB 533 (Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks):  Allows unlicensed bed and breakfasts to provide wine to their paying, overnight guests.
  • HB 845 (Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie):  Allows for the direct shipment of wine to residents of the Commonwealth and requires that the wine shipper charge a 6 percent sales tax for all shipments to the Commonwealth and remit the tax to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
  • HB 1310 (Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-Montgomery):  Allows privately owned ski resorts to obtain a restaurant liquor license directly from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regardless of whether that ski resort is located within a county that has reached its limit on restaurant liquor licenses.
  • HB 2267 (Rep. Matt Gabler, R-Elk/Clearfield):  Clarifies that the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard may sell alcohol through their package stores to active and retired members.
  • SB 790 (Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie):  Establishes a direct wine shipper license that enables an out-of-state winery to ship up to 18 liters of wine per month to a resident of the Commonwealth; requires the shipper to collect and remit to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue a 6 percent sales tax and an 18 percent Johnstown Flood Tax on all shipments into the Commonwealth.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

  • SB 1301 (Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Delaware/Philadelphia):  authorizes cities and counties of the first class to enact homestead property exclusions from their real estate taxes
  • SB 1302 (Sen. Anthony Williams):  Confirms legislation adopted by the Philadelphia city council and approved by the electorate in the May 18th, 2010 primary election regarding the making of real estate assessments and appeals.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

  • HB 646 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery):  Allows the state licensing boards and commissions under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to expunge licensees’ disciplinary records involving minor violations so long as they meet certain criteria.
  • HB 1868 (Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-York):  Allows a cosmetology license applicant to take the theoretical part of the license examination upon completion of at least 900 hours of instruction in a duly registered school of cosmetology.

STATE GOVERNMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

  • HB 876 (Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Cumberland/Franklin):  Constitutional amendment to gradually reduce the size of the state House of Representatives to a final number of 153 representatives in January 2053.
  • HR 16 (Rep. Will Tallman, R-Adams/York):  Resolution requesting Congress to address concerns regarding the Transportation Security Administration and newly implemented security procedures.

 
Session
On Wednesday the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
 
Votes on Third Consideration
HB 856 (Rep. Rob Kauffman)
HB 1904 (Rep. Kathy Rapp)
HB 2016 (Rep. Brian Ellis)
HB 2071 (Rep. Ron Marsico)
HB 2321 (Rep. Doyle Heffley)


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