June 10, 2016

Weekly Wrap:

While there was a lot of activity in Harrisburg this week, the most toast-worthy event was the final passage of H.B. 1690 (Turzai, R-Allegheny), which would reform and modernize the sale of wine and spirits in the Commonwealth. The consumer-friendly bill, which allows for the direct shipment of wine and its sale in licensed grocery stores, was signed by the Governor on Wednesday and will take effect in 60 days.

To read H.B. 1690, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1690

For a summary of the bill, check out our blog from earlier this week: https://www.buchanangovernmentrelations.com/worth-another-look-liquor-reform/

This isn’t to say that wine was the only item on the menu this week. There was plenty of action in the standing committees and on the House and Senate floor. On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee reported out H.B. 2069 (Farry, R-Bucks), modernizing the Pennsylvania PACE program, which was later considered by the full House of Representatives and sent to the Senate for consideration. Also on Monday, the House Education Committee reported out H.B. 2087 (Day, R-Berks), requiring annual school security drills.

Tuesday brought the flurry of activity we can expect throughout the month of June. To start, the House Appropriations Committee reported out – and the House later passed – H.B. 1785 (Corbin, R-Chester), which would require assisted living and personal care homes to post information about the flu shot. The House Commerce Committee reported out H.B 850 (Mackenzie, R-Berks), modernizing the state’s money transmitter laws, but passed over H.B. 1731 (Turzai, R-Allegheny), establishing the Keystone Energy Authority.

The House Judiciary Committee also met to consider bills on Tuesday and sent S.B. 594 (Dinniman, D-Chester), providing for additional penalties for offenses against animals, S.B. 1077 (Vogel, R-Beaver), allowing the electronic disclosure of notification of audio taping on school buses  and S.B. 1104 (Greenleaf, R-Bucks), modernizing the Probate Code to the whole House for consideration. The committee also accepted a motion to reconsider H.B. 1428 (Kampf, R-Chester), establishing the Fairness in Claims and Transparency (FaCT) Act. The bill, which provides for  certain disclosures in asbestos-related litigation, failed to garner enough votes to make it out of committee last month; however, the motion to reconsider that vote could resurrect the issue before the end of the session.

On the Senate side, the Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider several bills; among them was S.B. 805 (Boscola, D-Lehigh), which would allow large commercial and industrial energy users to opt out of utility-administered Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans under Act 129. Also, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee reported out bills that would recognize “certified registered nurse anesthetists” under Pennsylvania Law (S.B. 481, Vance, R-Cumberland), require continuing medical education for medical professionals prescribing opioids (S.B. 1202, Yaw, R-Bradford) and update and extend the sunset for the Underground Utility Line Protection Act (PA One Call) (S.B. 1235, Baker, R-Luzerne). The Senate also finally passed H.B. 57 (Payne, R-Dauphin) which would allow gas distribution companies to recover some of the costs associated with implementing consumer choice programs, and H.B. 1241 (Brown, R., R-Monroe), excepting resorts offering water or sewer services to private homes who take service within the resorts boundaries from the definition of public utility. Both bills will soon be on the Governor’s desk for signature.

While legislative activity sometimes wanes by Wednesday, Hump Day was a busy one this week. The House Appropriations Committee reported out S.B. 1156 (Sabatina, D-Philadelphia), clarifying the Child Protective Services Law provisions requiring background checks for health care personnel. The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee also met to consider S.B. 279 (Hutchinson, R-Butler), which, as introduced, would provide for the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory Council, but as amended, includes language to abrogate recent “Chapter 78” regulations relating to conventional oil and gas wells, and the House Health Committee reported out legislation to allow Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate finally passed S.B. 1195 (White, R-Indiana), extending the amount of time Pennsylvania has to comply with the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

And finally, there was some interesting floor action in the House on Wednesday. Riding the wave of bipartisan surprise that resulted in Tuesday’s passage of a liquor modernization bill, the Speaker brought a comprehensive pension reform bill up for consideration. S.B. 1071 (Browne, R-Lehigh) failed on final passage in December, but a motion to reconsider was made, leaving the bill open for yet another vote.  The motion was considered and passed on Wednesday, meaning that S.B. 1071 is now a viable vehicle for any agreement that may be reached on pension reform in the coming months.

A Look Ahead:

Monday beings week two of what we hope is the four-week budget season, and it looks like another busy one. On Monday, the House Education Committee will meet to consider bills that can move education in Pennsylvania into the future: H. B 1915 (Ortitay, R- Allegheny) would increase online learning opportunities, and H.B. 1578 (Fee, R-Lancaster) would establish the E-chievement online learning fund.

Read H.B. 1915 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1915

Read H.B.1578 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1578

Also on Monday, the House Human Services Committee will meet to consider two bills related to the Commonwealth’s opioid epidemic: H.B. 2128 (Heffley, R-Carbon) would require that recovery houses have the opioid antidote naloxone on site, and H.R. 893 (Readshaw, D-Allegheny), would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on treatment for opioid addiction.

Read H.B. 2128 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2128

Read H.R. 893 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0893

On Tuesday, the House Finance Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1888 (Quinn, R-Bucks), providing for tax amnesty, and H.B. 1871 (Taylor, R-Philadelphia), a proposed constitutional amendment to address Uniformity Clause issues so the City of Philadelphia can alter its tax structure.

Read H.B. 1888 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1888

Read H.B. 1871 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1871

The House Urban Affairs Committee will also meet on Tuesday; bills on the agenda include H.B. 1774 (Brown, R., R-Monroe), which would charge the Office of Consumer Protection in the Attorney General’s Office with investigating complaints regarding planned communities, cooperatives and condominiums, as well as H.B. 2008 (Sonney, R-Erie) and H.B. 2009 (Sonney, R-Erie), requiring disclosures to prospective home buyers and tenants regarding meth labs.

Read H.B. 1774 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1774

Read H.B. 2008 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2008

Read H.B. 2009 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2009

Finally on Tuesday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing on the use of prepaid debit cards at casinos.

On Wednesday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will meet again, this time to consider H.B. 2150 (Dunbar, R-Westmoreland), which would require the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to regulate fantasy sports.

Read H.B. 2150 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2150

Also, on Wednesday, the House Health Committee will consider more bills aimed at addressing the state’s opioid epidemic. H.B. 1698 (Heffley, R-Carbon) would address insurance coverage parity for opioid deterrent medications; H.B. 1699 (Brown, R.-Monroe) would codify guidelines regarding the prescription of opioids; and H.B. 1805 (Masser, R-Columbia) would require continuing medical education credits in addiction and addiction treatment. Meanwhile, the House Human Services Committee will hold a hearing with Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Gary Tennis regarding the opioid epidemic.

Read H.B. 1698 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1698

Read H.B. 1699 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1699

Read H.B. 1805 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1805

On the Senate side on Wednesday the Senate Finance Committee will meet to consider S.B. 1127 (Stefano, R-Fayette), which would exclude protective equipment and accessories from the sales tax when purchased for use by firefighters, and  the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will meet to consider the nomination of BIR alum David Sweet to the Public Utility Commission.

Read S.B. 1127 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=1127

Read more about David Sweet: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016050489.HTM

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

For anticipated House Floor action, check out The Week Ahead: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016061094.PDF

For information from the Senate, read the Senate Calendar: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/SessionCalendars/index.cfm?Chamber=S

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