Weekly Wrap

The House of Representatives and Senate held session on two days this week, beginning on Monday when three new members of the House of Representatives were sworn into office. These members won their respective special elections on March 17, 2020 and will serve for the remaining of the 2019-2020 legislative session.

  • HD-8 (Butler/Mercer): Tim Bonner (R) will replace Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R), who was elected as a Mercer County Court of Common Pleas Judge;
  • HD-18 (Bucks): Kathleen Tomlinson (R) will replace Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R), who was elected Bucks County Commissioner; and
  • HD-58 (Westmoreland): Eric Davanzo (R) will to replace Rep. Justin Walsh (R), who was elected as a Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas Judge.

The House State Government Committee reported out a handful of bills, most notably H.B. 2400 (Turzai, R-Allegheny), which issue a waiver to the Governor’s COVID-19 business closure order to all public and private construction activities that can adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures. The other bills reported from the committee include:

  • H.B. 995 (Lewis, R-Dauphin), which would establish pilot programs within the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs and the Board of Probation and Parole to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses seeking to employ ex-offenders;
  • H.B. 1874 (Grove, R-York), which would give the Independent Regulatory Review Commission the authority to determine whether a regulatory action exceeds a state agency’s approved regulatory authority; and
  • H.B. 2376 (Roae, R-Crawford), which would prohibit the Governor from closing retail stores during a declaration of disaster emergency.

In the upper chamber, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out budget-related bills to position them for a floor vote, including S.B. 1050 (Browne, R-Lehigh), the General Appropriation Act of 2020. This comes as the Independent Fiscal Office released a report projecting the revenue impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the first scenario (a six-week closure ending April 27), revenues fall by $2.7 billion. The second scenario (a ten-week closure ending mid-May) could see revenues decrease by $3.9 billion.

Also, the Senate State Government Committee reported out S.B. 1097 (Mastriano, R-Adams), which would establish procedures for remote notarization. Lastly, the Senate unanimously passed H.B. 775 (Diamond, R-Lebanon), which would require the Department of Aging to cross-reference beneficiaries with death records maintained by the Department of Health on a monthly basis. The bill is now on the Governor’s desk.

Tuesday was highlighted by COVID-19-related legislation. In the House Appropriations Committee, S.B. 613 (Mensch, R-Montgomery) was reported out along party lines with the Democrats voting in the negative. The bill would amend the Administrative Code to require the Governor to develop and implement a plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and allow businesses to operate if they comply. In addition, the bill would require criminal history background checks of employees and contractors with access to federal tax information.

In the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, members reported out two bills:

  • S.B. 1106 (Regan, R-Cumberland), which would extend Heart & Lung Act benefits for law enforcement and firefighters if they contract COVID-19 or are ordered to quarantine and are unable to work; and
  • H.B. 1869 (Owlett, R-Tioga), which would allow an EMS agency to file for a waiver or exception from the staffing requirements for extraordinary reasons.

The House also passed an amended version of S.B. 327 (Argall, R-Schuylkill), with the Democrats voting in the negative. The bill, which will return to the Senate for a concurrence vote, would require the Treasury Department to identify and review all outstanding debt obligations and identify options for refinancing to reduce costs. It would also create the COVID-19 Cost and Recovery Task Force, which would:

  • Monitor and track the response by the Commonwealth to COVID-19;
  • Identify immediate and urgent issues relating COVID-19 that require executive, legislative or judicial action;
  • Develop a recovery plan that includes a documented, structured approach that describes how the Commonwealth and its subdivisions can expeditiously resume mission-critical functions; and
  • Make a final report no later than six months after the declaration of disaster emergency related to COVID-19 is terminated.

On the Senate floor, S.B. 841 (Martin, R-Lancaster) passed unanimously and returned to the House for a concurrence vote. The bill amends the Administrative Code and includes measures for the efficient administration of government in light of the pandemic. Highlights of the bill include:

  • Reauthorization of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), providing for the council to report on the COVID-19 disaster emergency;
  • A taxing district may, by majority vote of the taxing district’s governing body, (1) collect taxes at the prescribed discount rate, if any, no later than August 31, 2020, and/or (2) waive any penalties associated with late payment if paid in full by December 31, 2020;
  • Extends deadlines for business firms under the EITC/OSTC educational tax credit programs;
  • Authorizes remote notarization; and
  • An agency, department, authority, commission, board, council, governing body or other entity of a political subdivision may conduct hearings, meetings, proceedings or other business through the use of an authorized telecommunications device until the expiration or termination of the COVID-19 disaster emergency.

The Week Ahead

The House stands in recess until the call of the Chair, but is scheduled for three session days next week (Tuesday through Thursday). The Senate, currently in recess until the call of the President Pro Tempore, doesn’t have a session day on the calendar until May 4.

In Other News

  • Governor Wolf signed an order to provide critical aid to hospitals with targeted PPE and supplies distribution.
  • Governor announced that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.
  • The Secretary of the Department of Health signed an order providing direction for maintaining and cleaning buildings for businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations.