House Democratic Caucus, 2009-2010 Policy Agenda

Better Governance

Encourage and incentivize better cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local governments to provide cost-effective delivery of essential services to Pennsylvania's residents.

  • H.B. 93 (Staback) would prevent municipal planning commission delays by allowing officials to appoint up to three residents to serve as alternates on local planning boards. Status: Passed House on 3/10/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 270 (P. Costa) would allow retired judges to perform marriage ceremonies. Status: Signed into law on 7/14/09 to become Act 18 of 2009. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 271 (White) would require all employers to notify their employees that they may qualify for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Status: Passed House on 6/16/09 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1330 (Hanna) would transfer the control and inspections of parking meters to local governments. Status: Passed House on 8/5/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1516 (Freeman) would amend Act 272 related to firefighter civil service provisions in third class cities to ensure compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Status: Signed into law on 10/19/10 to become Act 76 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1517 (Freeman) would amend the Third Class City Code related to municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to ensure compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Status: Signed into law on 10/19/10 to become Act 77 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1654 (Daley) would bring the state mortgage industry licensing law in compliance with the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act. Status: Signed into law on 8/5/09 to become Act 31 of 2009.  Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1754 (Grucela) would require school districts to be given advance notice of impending residential development. Status: Passed House on 7/07/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1831 (Houghton) would authorize municipalities to recoup the costs incurred when evaluating a conditional use application's impact on zoning ordinances. Status: Passed House on 3/8/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1942 (Murphy) would give homeowners more time to pay taxes. Status: Passed House on 4/27/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2178 (Galloway) would create a uniform code for the reinstallation of moved or used manufactured homes in Pennsylvania. Status: Passed House on 3/22/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2352 (Freeman) would allow a Third Class City to create the office of city administrator or manager. Status: Passed House on 9/21/2010 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2353 (Freeman) would amend the act of May 24, 1956 (Act 566 of 1956), regarding incorporated towns, to clarify the process by which a municipality may create and abolish the office of municipal manager and authorize a municipality to enter into an employment agreement with a municipal manager. Status: Passed House on 9/21/2010 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2354 (Freeman)) would amend The Second Class Township Code to clarify the process by which a municipality may create and abolish the office of municipal manager and provide for authorization for an employment agreement with a municipal manager. Status: Passed House on 9/21/2010 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2355 (Freeman) would amend The First Class Township Code to clarify the process by which a municipality may create and abolish the office of municipal manager and provide for authorization for an employment agreement with a municipal manager. Status: Passed House on 9/21/2010 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2356 (Freeman) would amend The Borough Code to clarify the process by which an incorporated town may create and abolish the office of municipal manager and provide for authorization for an employment agreement with a municipal manager. Status: Passed House on 9/21/2010 and sent to the Senate. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2445 (Caltagirone) would permit retired or senior appellate, magisterial district, common pleas and Philadelphia municipal judges to administer oaths and affirmations as long as they served by election or appointment for a period of time equaling a full term of office and reside in Pennsylvania. Status: Passed House on 6/15/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2493 (Eachus) would amend the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Law to make technical changes to meet federal Internal Revenue Code tax qualification requirements. Status: Signed into law on 7/9/10 to become Act 56 of 2010. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 2547 (Daley) would update the state’s Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act to comply with the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act. Status: Signed into law on 11/23/10 to become Act 122 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED

Evaluate the Commonwealth's tax policy with special emphasis on property tax reform.

  • H.B. 1481 (Pallone) would allow claimants to exclude money received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in calculating their eligibility for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program. Status: Passed House on 6/16/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1661 (Dermody) would impose a temporary moratorium on any court-ordered countywide property tax assessments. Status: Passed House on 8/5/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2066 (DeLuca) would establish a Pennsylvania Sales and Use Tax Commission to study and produce a comprehensive report on the state's sales and use tax. Status: Passed House on 3/9/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2020 (Seip) would reform the spot appeals process related to property taxes in fourth- through eight-class-population counties. Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2023 (Gergely) would reform the spot appeals process related to property taxes in Allegheny County. Status: Passed House on 5/25/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.R. 127 (Levdansky) directs the bipartisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the impact of the 18 Pennsylvania tax credit programs. In addition, the study will determine whether the state collects the necessary information to discern whether the programs' goals are being accomplished. Status: Adopted by House on 3/18/09. Latest News Release. Film Production Tax Credit Report (Highlights). Research and Development Tax Credit Report (Highlights). ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.R. 334 (Levdansky) directs the bipartisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the methodology, financing, taxpayer protections and constitutional provisions that impact property tax assessment in Pennsylvania compared to other states. Status: Adopted by House on 6/24/09. Latest News Release. Pennsylvania’s System for Property Valuation and Reassessment Report (Highlights). ACCOMPLISHED

Ensure social and economic justice for all Pennsylvanians.

  • H.R. 78 (Wheatley) established a select committee to investigate the degree to which minority-owned business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises have been utilized in contracts awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Status: Adopted by House on 3/25/09. Latest News Release. Committee's Report. ACCOMPLISHED

Support voter registration and Election Day policies that enable Pennsylvanians to exercise their right to vote.

  • H.B. 476 (Hanna) would require the transmittal of electronic death records for the purpose of updating county voter records. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/2/09 to become Act 11 of 2009. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1287 (Casorio) would amend Act 45 of 1941 to enable police officers to participate in election campaigns when they are not on duty or in uniform. Status: Passed House on 5/6/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1288 (Casorio) would amend the Borough Code to enable police officers and firefighters to participate in election campaigns when they are not on duty or in uniform. Status: Passed House on 5/11/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2504 (Murphy) would allow groups of schoolchildren to observe polling places on Election Day. Status: Passed House on 6/8/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1289 (Casorio) would amend the First Class Township Code to enable police officers and firefighters to participate in election campaigns when they are not on duty or in uniform. Status: Passed House on 5/11/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION

Prioritize spending in the face of economic crisis to preserve the public safety; help families that are the hardest hit; stimulate the economy; and support jobs through strategic, affordable investments.

  • H.B. 1770 (Gergely) would use federal stimulus money to extend unemployment compensation benefits for another seven weeks. Status: Signed into law on 8/4/09 to become Act 30 of 2009.  Latest News Release. Governor's Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1416 (Evans) would provide spending for the 2009-10 state budget. Status: Signed into law on 10/9/09 to become Act 10A of 2009. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 2279 (Evans) would provide spending for the 2010-11 state budget. Status: Signed into law on 7/6/10 to become Act 1A of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED

Maintain an open and transparent state government with responsible reform while protecting Pennsylvania's economic resources to the benefit of taxpayers and local communities.

  • H.B. 1182 (Casorio) would expand the list of crimes requiring public officials and employees to forfeit their pensions and prevent those convicted from continuing to collect pension benefits during their appeals. Status: Passed House on 6/1/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1324 (Josephs) would strengthen Pennsylvania's Sunshine Law. Status: Passed House on 3/16/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1821 (Shapiro) would prohibit Pennsylvania's public pension funds from investing in foreign companies with significant business ties to Iran and Sudan. Status: Senate version signed into law on 7/2/10 to become Act 44 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1828 (Williams) would provide pension relief to municipalities. Status: Signed into law on 9/18/09 to become Act 44 of 2009. Latest News Release. Governor's News Release. ACCOMPLISHED
  • H.B. 1876 (Hornaman) would require newspapers of general circulation to reduce the rates they charge to government entities for legal advertising. Status: Passed House on 11/17/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 1880 (Mirabito) would create the Pennsylvania Government Accountability Portal, or PennGAP, a searchable Web site that would give the public access to Commonwealth expenses, including those of the state legislature. Status: Passed House on 12/8/09 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2365 (Drucker) would provide protection for employees of the General Assembly who report a violation of local, state or federal law. Status: Passed House on 4/20/10 and sent to the Senate. Latest News Release. AWAITING SENATE ACTION
  • H.B. 2497 (Evans) would amend the Public School Employees' Retirement System and the State Employees' Retirement System by making cost-saving changes. Status: Signed into law on 11/23/10 to become Act 120 of 2010. Latest News Release. ACCOMPLISHED