House Democratic Caucus, 2009-2010 Policy Agenda

Economic Development To Retain And Create Jobs

Encourage business development and capital investment, especially in the creation of alternative energy and green jobs.

  • H.B. 588 (Markosek) would revamp the Pennsylvania Quality Improvement Act. Status: Passed House on 5/6/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2394 (Mirabito) would help entrepreneurs start their own businesses. Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2399 (Bradford) would expand Pennsylvania’s Business In Our Sites program. Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2401 (Taylor) would offer financing to more small businesses through a state program. Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2601 (Siptroth) would reduce the state's energy bills and its carbon footprint while creating green energy technology jobs.Status: Passed House on 7/2/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2631 (Santarsiero) would make more of the Commonwealth’s deposits available for community banks. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/6/10 to become Act 46 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.R. 765 (Johnson) encourages cooperation on the 2010 Subsidized Summer Youth Employment Program and the 2010 Subsidized Adult Employment Program. Status: Adopted by House on 5/4/10. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED

Maintain investments in Pennsylvania's core industries and support emerging industries.

  • H.B. 1126 (Seip) would create the Heritage Area Program to protect and enhance Pennsylvania tourism’s historic, recreational, natural, cultural and scenic resources. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/6/10 to become Act 46 of 2010. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 2273 (Haluska) would ensure state funding is available to help owners and operators of deer farms and other cervidae livestock operations to keep their animals disease free and to stay in business in Pennsylvania. Status: Signed into law on 11/23/10 to become Act 116 of 2010.. ACCOMPLISHED

Promote economic development initiatives in rural, urban and suburban Pennsylvania, especially those that utilize brownfields and target underserved communities.

  • H.B. 1055 (M. O'Brien) would provide for the extension of certain permits and approvals issued by the Commonwealth and municipalities that relate to the physical development of real property. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/6/10 to become Act 46 of 2010. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1597 (Mirabito) would help high-tech and manufacturing businesses grow. Status: Passed House on 6/23/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2290 (Evans) would enable more economic development projects in Pennsylvania. Status: Signed into law on 7/7/10 to become Act 48 of 2010. ACCOMPLISHED

Continue to position Pennsylvania as the forefront of the education, biotechnology and medical fields.

  • H.B. 926 (Seip) would establish the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers within the Department of Labor and Industry and the Health Careers Leadership Council to monitor and develop initiatives addressing the state's health care workforce. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/2/10 to become Act 41 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED

Protect workers by advancing a fair work environment.

  • H.B. 400 (Lentz) would penalize employers who misclassify their workers to avoid paying taxes and workers' compensation premiums. Status: Signed into law on 10/13/10 to become Act 72 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 985 (Kessler) would help to prevent fraud by protecting mortgage broker and mortgage company employees who report a violation of any law or take part in an investigation, hearing or inquiry. Status: Signed into law on 6/29/09 to become Act 7 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1472 (Solobay) would allow licensed vehicle salespeople to sell for up to three dealerships at the same time. Status: Passed House on 12/17/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1502 (Galloway) would require verification of employment eligibility for employees of public works contractors and subcontractors. Status: Passed House on 6/8/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1503 (Galloway) would require verification of employment eligibility in the construction industry. Status: Passed House on 6/8/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2160 (Bradford) would allow work-sharing programs for Pennsylvania employers and employees. Status: Passed House on 4/26/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2540 (Harkins) would give public, private and parochial school employees paid sick leave. Status: Passed House on 9/27/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION