Weekly Wrap

While the Senate was in session for two days this week, it was actions by the Governor and Secretary of Health that got the most attention in Harrisburg and throughout the state.

The Administration amended existing COVID-19 orders to allow for adjusted capacity to gathering limits. Previously, indoor gatherings were limited to 25 people while outdoor gatherings had a 250 person limit. Starting today, October 9, the amended orders will allow for venue occupancy limits to play a bigger role in determining the number of people permitted.

The maximum occupancy calculator for indoor events is as follows:

  • Maximum occupancy of 0-2,000 people = 20% maximum occupancy;
  • Maximum occupancy of 2,001-10,000 people = 15% of maximum occupancy; and
  • Maximum occupancy over 10,000 people = 10% of maximum occupancy up to 3,750 people.

The maximum occupancy calculator for outdoor events is as follows:

  • Maximum occupancy of 0-2,000 people = 25% maximum occupancy;  
  • Maximum occupancy of 2,001-10,000 people = 20% of maximum occupancy; and
  • Maximum occupancy over 10,000 people = 15% of maximum occupancy up to 7,500 people.

On Monday, the session week kicked off with a Senate Education Committee public hearing on S.B. 1230 (Ward, R-Blair), which would establish the Back on Track Education Scholarship Account Program. The program would provide a $1,000 grant to eligible students to offset educational costs such tutoring, online classes, curriculum, tuition, counseling, and services for students with special needs.

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported out three bills of note:

  • S.B. 1350 (Browne, R-Lehigh), which would appropriate nearly $1.2 billion in federal CARES Act dollars and $7.5 million from the Tobacco Settlement Fund;
  • H.B. 2370 (Keller, R-Perry), which would permit the electronic notarization of documents; and
  • H.B. 2438 (Owlett, R-Tioga), which would allow for broadband services on existing easements.

Then on the Senate floor, the following bills passed finally and will go to the House of Representatives for consideration: S.B. 890 (Mensch, R-Montgomery), which would provide for Workers with Job Success, a new category of Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities; and S.B. 1173 (Yaw, R-Lycoming), which would modify the composition of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee.

Tuesday was the last session day of the week. The Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee held a public hearing on S.B. 1256 (Corman, R-Centre), which would provide for the regulation of games of skill.

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee had a full agenda and reported the following bills out of committee:

  • S.B. 870 (Killion, R-Delaware), which would amend the Medical Practice Act to modernize the practice of physician assistants;
  • S.B. 871 (Killion, R-Delaware), which would amend the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to modernize the practice of physician assistants;
  • H.B. 862 (Barrar, R-Montgomery), which would authorize Pennsylvania to enter into the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact;
  • H.B. 2561 (Culver, R-Northumberland), which would update the definition of “practice of optometry” and revise the therapeutic drug approval process under the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act; and
  • H.B. 2584 (Topper, R-Bedford), which would require licensed physicians who wish to participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to submit to a national criminal background investigation.

Same goes for the Senate Finance Committee, with the following bills coming out of committee:

  • S.B. 463 (Argall, R-Schuylkill), which would extend the sales and use tax exemption of traffic signals to include all component parts of a traffic signal, foundation, pole and mast arms;
  • S.B. 628 (Scavello, R-Monroe), which would create the Airport Land Development Zone program to incentivize development on vacant land and buildings owned by airports and leased to private businesses;
  • S.B. 1326 (Blake, D-Lackawanna), which would provide fraud protections for the Research & Development and Keystone Innovation Zone tax credits
  • H.B. 296 (Toohil, R-Luzerne), which would establish an adoption and foster care tax credit;
  • H.B. 1961 (Schmitt, R-Blair), which would require the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Board to prepare an annual report of investment performance and allow for the redirection of funds to offset administrative costs of implementing defined contribution plans;
  • H.B. 1962 (Keefer, R-York), which would provide for an annual stress test of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and SERS; and
  • H.B 2497 (Dunbar, R-Westmoreland), which would provide that a forgiveness of indebtedness granted under the federal CARES Act shall not be considered taxable income for state personal income tax purposes.

Three bills of note were reported from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee:

  • S.B. 1210 (Ward, R-Blair), which would allow a pharmacy or pharmacist to order and perform laboratory examinations and procedures if they hold a valid certification of waiver issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • H.B. 81 (Kauffman, R-Franklin), which would provide for the certification of central service technicians and surgical technologists; and
  • H.B. 1363 (Murt, R-Montgomery), which would establish a bill of rights for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism.

Finally, on the Senate floor, there were three bills of note that passed finally and will now be considered by the House:

  • S.B. 810 (Phillips-Hill, R-York), which would establish the Office of Information Technology to consolidate IT functions of state agencies including planning, procurement, staffing, budgeting and compliance;
  • S.B. 983 (DiSanto, R-Dauphin), which would provide for screening of newborn children and follow-up services for certain intellectual and physical disabilities and diseases; and
  • S.B. 1268 (Ward, R-Blair), which would allow temporary nurse aides to transition to certified nurse aides.

The Week Ahead

Neither the House nor Senate has session scheduled for next week. Both chambers will be back in Harrisburg for three session days starting on October 19.

For a full list of committee meetings:

House

Senate

In Other News

  • An additional $96 million in grants for 5,373 small businesses were approved through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program.
  • The Governor issued an emergency order moving the deadline for the COVID Relief-Mortgage and Rental Assistance Grant Program from September 30 to November 4.
  • The Auditor General provided an update on the ongoing audit of the Department of Community and Economic Development’s waiver process for businesses that appealed Gov. Wolf’s COVID-19 closure order.
  • The Office of State Fire Commissioner will be awarding $50 million in grants to fire, rescue, and EMS to offset expenses related to COVID-19.
  • The Public Utility Commission adopted a series of enhanced consumer protections intended to safeguard families and small businesses who are struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic – and also established a framework for future discussions about utility assistance and economic recovery.