June 3, 2016

Weekly Wrap:

It was a short and very quiet week in Harrisburg, thanks to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. Without much to wrap up for this week, we’ll move right into what to expect for next week.

A Look Ahead:

Next week is the first of (at least) four straight weeks of session, which will hopefully conclude with the passage of a 2016-2017 state budget at month’s end.

Expect a lot of committee meetings over the next month, some to be held at scheduled times and some called off the floor with minimum notice. As for next week, on Monday, the House Education Committee will meet to consider three items; among them is H.R. 910 (Vereb, R-Montgomery), which calls for a study on reducing the number of school districts in the Commonwealth. (We’re currently at 500). Also on Monday, expect a House Appropriations Committee meeting to be held off the floor, with an agenda to be announced closer to that time. (This is likely to be true for every session day from now until the end of the month.)

To read H.R. 910, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0910

On Tuesday, the Senate and House Education Committees will hold a joint hearing on the Every Student Succeeds Act, and the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing to receive the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s report on fantasy sports. Also on Tuesday, the House Commerce Committee will meet to consider H.B. 850 (Mackenzie, R-Berks), which would modernize the Money Transmission Business Licensing Law, and H.B. 1731 (Turzai, R-Allegheny), which would establish the Keystone Energy Authority and provide for the establishment of Keystone Energy Enhancement Zones (similar to Keystone Opportunity Zones). Finally, the House Judiciary Committee will meet to consider bills, among them is S.B. 1077 (Vogel, R-Beaver), which would allow school districts to notify parents of the use of audio on school buses by e-mail instead of by physical mailing.

To read H.B. 850, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0850

To read H.B. 1731, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1731

To read S.B. 1077, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1077

Finally, on Wednesday, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on senior community centers and the House Health Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1619 (Topper, R-Bradford), authorizing  Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

To read H.B. 1619, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1619

For a full list of committee meetings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

For expected floor action in the House, check out the Week Ahead: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016060278.PDF

For possible Senate action, check out the Senate Calendar: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/SessionCalendars/index.cfm?Chamber=S

In Other News: