An update of recent legislative activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats

 January 30, 2009

Speaker McCall appoints committee chairmen for 2009-10 session

State House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon, has formally appointed committee chairmen to serve during the 2009-10 legislative session.

McCall released the following list of chairman appointments:

-- Aging & Older Adult Services Committee - Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne

-- Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee - Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre

-- Appropriations Committee - Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Phila.

-- Children & Youth Committee - Rep. Louise Williams Bishop, D-Phila.

-- Commerce & Economic Development Committee - Rep. Peter Daley, D Fayette/Washington

-- Committee on Committees - Rep. Larry Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila.

-- Consumer Affairs Committee - Rep. Joseph Preston Jr., D-Allegheny

-- Education Committee - Rep. James Roebuck, D-Phila.

-- Ethics Committee - Rep. Kathy Manderino, D-Phila.

-- Environmental Resources & Energy Committee - Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-Clearfield

-- Finance Committee - Rep. David Levdansky, D-Allegheny/Washington

-- Game & Fisheries Committee - Rep. Edward Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne

-- Gaming Oversight Committee - Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks

-- Health & Human Services Committee - Rep. Frank Oliver, D-Phila.

-- Insurance Committee - Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny

-- Intergovernmental Affairs Committee - Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, D-Phila.

-- Judiciary Committee - Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks

-- Labor Relations Committee - Rep. Robert Belfanti, D-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland

-- Liquor Control Committee - Rep. Robert Donatucci, D-Phila.

-- Local Government Committee - Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton

-- Professional Licensure Committee - Rep. Mike McGeehan, D-Phila.

-- State Government Committee - Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila.

-- Tourism & Recreational Development Committee - Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware

-- Transportation Committee - Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny

-- Urban Affairs Committee - Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny

-- Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee - Rep. Tony Melio, D-Bucks

-- Visit www.pahouse.com for more information.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Judiciary Committee approves animal cruelty bill

State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the committee has approved his legislation to prevent animal cruelty. Caltagirone's bill (H.B. 39) would improve the state's animal cruelty law by prohibiting owners and breeders from performing surgical procedures, including debarking (cutting or destroying a dog's vocal cords) and caesarian. Under Caltagirone's proposal, those procedures would have to be performed by a veterinarian.

"While we made great strides last year in passing a law to improve conditions for dogs bred in commercial kennels, I believe more can and should be done to prevent these gruesome surgeries," Caltagirone said. "My bill implements zero tolerance for the many types of surgeries that, when performed incorrectly, cause dogs to suffer from serious pain and infection."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Caltagirone for more information.

Solobay's bill helping families cover funeral costs approved by committee

Legislation crafted by state Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, that would increase the amount banks and financial institutions return to the survivors of deceased account holders was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee this week. House Bill 68 would increase the amount returned to a surviving family member upon death of the depositor from the current maximum of $3,500 to $15,000.

"Funds in a deceased person's bank account are often necessary for family members to cover funeral costs," Solobay said. "By increasing the amount banks and financial institutions return to a surviving family member upon death of the depositor, we can help families feel more comfortable in making final arrangements for their loved ones."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Solobay for more information.

House panel approves Walko bill to regulate bounty hunters in Pa.

State Rep. Don Walko, D-Allegheny, won approval from the House Judiciary Committee this week for his bill that would regulate what he calls the "Wild West" practice of bounty hunting in Pennsylvania. The bill now goes to the full House of Representatives. Walko's bill (H.B. 65) would create a new state board to oversee three groups of professionals -- bounty hunters, private investigators and security professionals. It would be modeled on other licensing boards in Pennsylvania and would have the authority to license and monitor members of the three professions and discipline them when necessary.

"Bounty hunters are largely unregulated in Pennsylvania, even though they have the power to arrest and maintain custody of fugitives," Walko said. "They are not subject to licensing or training requirements. We can and must rein in this 'Wild West' situation." 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Walko for more information.

BILL INTRODUCTIONS

Conklin to introduce advance voting legislation

Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin plans to introduce legislation that would allow Pennsylvania voters to cast ballots in advance of Election Day. Conklin said advance voting presents many benefits to voters, including reducing lines on Election Day and reducing the impact of variables such as the weather or work schedules on voter participation. 

"As demonstrated during the recent election, advance voting has grown in nationwide popularity and value," Conklin said. "Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, while absentee ballots are permitted under a limited set of circumstances, advance voting is not an option."

Visit www.pahouse.com/Conklin for more information.

Yudichak introducing bill to provide grants for college students

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne, is introducing legislation that would help Pennsylvania college students afford the cost of tuition. The Endow Pennsylvania's Future legislation would transfer $100 million in General Assembly leadership accounts each year to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency for providing grants to students.

"The drastic increase in the average cost of tuition for both private and public universities is straining family budgets," Yudichak said. "We have to use creative ways to ensure students can get the education they need."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Yudichak for more information.

Casorio bill would collect child support fee from parents paying support

State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, said a $25 annual fee that the federal government requires states to collect to help cover the cost of child support enforcement efforts should not be paid by custodial parents - many of whom are single and already struggling financially - or the state's taxpayers. Casorio is preparing to reintroduce legislation that would require parents who are paying child support to pay the fee.

"Other proposals have been made to change this law so that the state covers this $25 fee in all cases," Casorio said. "While I certainly agree that the fee should not be the responsibility of the custodial parent - often single mothers who are trying to raise a family while working full time, already stretching their budgets about as far as they can be stretched - I don't think this fee should be the responsibility of the state's taxpayers, either."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Casorio for more information.

Mahoney to reintroduce bill to simplify service contracts for consumers

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, will again introduce legislation that would provide consumers who are buying service contracts a plain-language explanation of the contract they are signing. Mahoney said that under his proposal, all service contracts offered to consumers would have to include a simple explanation, or disclaimer, of what is in the contract directly above the signature line and in 14-point, boldface type. The legislation would cover service agreements with retailers and other businesses that sell, service, repair or replace consumer goods.

"When residents are making big-ticket purchases, they need to understand the details of any contracts they are signing," Mahoney said. "My proposed bill would give people a better understanding of these service contracts because the language in them can sometimes be confusing to try and figure out."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Mahoney for more information.

Cohen 'Clean and Green' bill dovetails with Obama vision

State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., is reintroducing legislation to establish a Clean and Green Energy Corps in Pennsylvania. The objective of the initiative is to create a body of young people to complete energy-efficiency and weatherization projects on low-income households in Pennsylvania. The goal of the program is two-fold: to make homes more energy efficient and provide job training for young adults, Cohen said.

"We have, at this time, not only a tremendous need, but a tremendous opportunity to harness the energy of young people to better their communities and their lives," Cohen said. "With growing energy costs, there has never been a more crucial time to make homes more energy efficient, and with recent job losses, quality job training is vital."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Cohen for more information.

Mahoney will reintroduce bill to consolidate school districts to save tax dollars

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, will again introduce legislation that would provide taxpayers with a savings by allowing residents to approve the consolidation of small school districts in the state into countywide school districts. The Fayette County lawmaker said the proposal would allow county commissioners to place a referendum on the ballot asking voters if they support consolidating small school districts into a single, countywide school district for purposes of administration and taxation. The consolidation process could begin if at least two-thirds of voters approved the referendum.

"My legislation would give citizens in small school districts the option of approving a plan, through ballot referendum, that would provide local real estate tax reform," Mahoney said.

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Mahoney for more information.

Houghton bill would protect residents from composting emissions

Rep. Tom Houghton, D-Chester, plans to propose legislation that would remove composting from the list of protected acts in the Right to Farm Law, thereby redefining composting as an industrial process. The lawmaker said his proposed "Mushroom Industry Protection Act" would preserve the heritage of mushroom farming in southern Chester County.

"The current law blocks townships from protecting the health, safety and welfare of their residents by preventing municipalities from requiring that a composter incorporate the industry's best practices to reduce gaseous emissions," Houghton said. "This change I'm proposing will give municipalities the ability to reasonably regulate the 'bad apples' in the composting industry. The mushroom industry plays an integral role in our economy in southern Chester County. If the composting industry doesn't change its operations, costly lawsuits by rightfully disgruntled citizens will lead to its demise."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Houghton for more information.

Smith reintroduces bill to protect patients at residential care facilities

State Rep. Ken Smith, D-Lackawanna, has reintroduced legislation that would protect patients in assisted living and long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. Smith's legislation (H.B. 56) would require employees and administrators at assisted living and long-term care facilities to report to protective service agencies, such as area agencies on aging, any patient neglect cases within 48 hours.

"My legislation would change the law by requiring employees and administrators at assisted living and long-term care facilities to report cases of serious neglect. Current law only requires the reporting of abuse, not neglect," Smith said.

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/KSmith for more information.

Longietti introduces legislation to provide economic education

State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, has introduced legislation that would provide practical education to all public and private school students in the area of personal finance and economics by establishing an Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Program in Pennsylvania. Under the bill, the Pennsylvania Department of Education would develop and maintain a clearinghouse for economic and personal financial literacy education resources, and disseminate curriculum materials to educators, public and private schools, and organizations across the state.

"It is imperative that high school students not only have a basic understanding of how the economy works, but also have the skills and knowledge of how to manage their personal finances successfully," Longietti said. "I am concerned that too many young people are facing a mountain of debt, which can have serious consequences for them individually and for our economy as a whole."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Longietti for more information.

DeWeese suggests county assessment of oil and gas 

In an effort to help counties, municipalities and school districts with their budgets, state Rep. Bill DeWeese is seeking co-sponsors for legislation that would allow counties to assess value to natural gas, oil and coal-bed methane. Before Dec. 19, 2002, these natural resources were being taxed at the local level, similar to the way coal and other mineral resources are taxed. However, on that date, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the General Assembly had not explicitly recognized gas and oil as a taxable interest.

"Gas operators have been drilling natural gas and methane gas wells throughout the western part of the Commonwealth and they do so virtually tax free," DeWeese said. "This issue is very important to the county commissioners, township supervisors and property owners throughout Greene, Fayette and Washington counties." 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/DeWeese for more information.

Energy legislation introduced in House, Senate

Energy legislation is being introduced in the House and Senate that would increase alternative energy requirements and provide for the capture and sequestration of carbon, which ultimately contributes to climate change. State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, will introduce the House version of the bill (H.B. 80), which would increase Tier I requirements; increase the amount of electricity from solar photovoltaic panels that electricity companies must purchase; require that 3 percent of energy purchased by electric companies come from coal-fired power plants that emissions reducing technology; and require Pennsylvania to develop and operate a carbon dioxide sequestration network.

"This legislation will put Pennsylvania at the forefront in the battle against climate change," Vitali said. "It will also create jobs."