Recent legislative activity by PA House Democrats
 

 May 15, 2009

 

PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE

Bill extending parents' health coverage to older children to become law

State Rep. Mark Longietti announced today that a Senate version of legislation he introduced to extend parents' health insurance coverage to their uninsured children through age 29 is set to become law. Both Longietti's bill (H.B. 838) and the Senate bill (S.B. 189), which is on its way to the governor, would allow uninsured children up to age 29 to be added to a parent's or guardian's employer-paid health coverage.

"I am disappointed with some of the differences between the Senate proposal and my legislation," said Longietti, D-Mercer. "I believe those differences reduce the reach and effectiveness of the bill. However, the legislation we did pass will help thousands of young adults in Pennsylvania get coverage through their parent's health insurance policies while they are in school or working their first job."

-- Click here for more information.

PASSED THE HOUSE

Conklin bill to prevent parental child abduction passes House

Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin announced that a measure he sponsored aimed at preventing parental child abduction in Pennsylvania was passed unanimously by the state House this week. House Bill 90 would create guidelines based on the federal Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act for courts in Pennsylvania to follow in custody disputes that involve a parent or guardian deemed at risk of abducting a child. Courts could consider risk factors such as a previous attempt or threat to abduct a child; an attempt to obtain a child's birth certificate, school or medical records; sudden applications for passports or visas; and strong family, financial or cultural ties to a foreign country.

"This legislation will aid parents throughout the state for whom the issue of parental child abduction is a tragic reality and for too long were without resources," Conklin said.

-- Click here for more information.

House passes bills removing unfair speech restrictions on police, firefighters

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has voted to restore the right of police officers and paid firefighters in several types of municipalities in the state to take part in campaign and political activities when they are not in uniform and not on duty. The House passed the three bills, all sponsored by state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, by an overwhelming margin. The bills (H.B.s 1287, 1288 and 1289) would overturn a current prohibition on police officers and paid firefighters in towns, boroughs and first-class townships from participating in political or election campaigns.

"These bills would make Pennsylvania's laws on political activity for police and firefighters uniform and fair in all communities," Casorio said. "The current laws are outdated in the 21st century. Police officers and firefighters are now held to exacting standards of professionalism, education and training; there is nowhere in Pennsylvania where these jobs are awarded as political favors."

-- Click here for more information.

Bradford bill to keep sign language interpreters in Pa. passes House

The state House this week passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, that would help retain sign language interpreters in Pennsylvania. Bradford said he thinks the state needs to do a better job of helping new graduates of sign language interpreter programs get on-the-job experience after graduating. Bradford's legislation (H.B. 916) would provide a one-year provisional state registration to recent graduates of interpreter education programs with an associate's degree or higher who pass a written exam and meet applicable qualifications.

"We have made it too difficult for new graduates to become state-registered," Bradford said. "We should be doing a better job of helping graduates of sign language interpreter programs, who have the skills but not the work experience, get the work experience necessary to then become state-registered. Otherwise, these people will continue leaving Pennsylvania for interpreter jobs in other states that have more reasonable registration expectations."

-- Click here for more information.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Committee approves Freeman campaign finance reform bill

The House State Government Committee has unanimously approved legislation introduced by Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, that would require candidates for the state legislature to file campaign expense reports at more frequent intervals in order to create a more transparent record-keeping process during an election year. The legislation (H.B. 1169) would require candidates for state House and state Senate seats to file campaign expense reports on or before the sixth Tuesday prior to the election, in addition to the second Friday before the election. They are currently required to file on the second Friday before the election. However, only candidates for statewide office are required to file by the sixth Tuesday prior to the election. 

"If this bill is enacted, it would provide earlier disclosure and greater transparency on who's contributing to General Assembly candidates because that information would be provided in a more timely fashion than currently exists," Freeman said.

-- Click here for more information.

Josephs Sunshine Law bill moves out of committee

The House State Government Committee has approved a bill introduced by Rep. Babette Josephs that would strengthen the state's Sunshine Law. Josephs' bill (H.B. 1324) would increase the penalty for intentional violations of the law from $100 to $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution for a first offense. A second or subsequent offense would incur a fine of up to $2,000 plus the cost of prosecution under the bill. Agencies would be prohibited from paying the fine on behalf of or reimbursing a member of their agency, so violators would be held financially responsible rather than the taxpayers, Josephs noted.

"This is one way we, as state legislators, can help keep government accessible, open and accountable to the public," said Josephs, chairwoman of the committee. "The increased penalties would put more teeth into the law and discourage its violation," she said.

-- Click here for more information.

Gibbons' public hearing initiative approved by committee

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Lawrence/Beaver/Butler, announced that legislation he sponsored that would require the Department of Corrections to hold a public hearing prior to entering into any contracts with private vendors for community corrections services for inmates with prerelease status or who are on parole has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee. Gibbons said his legislation, H.B. 1281, also would require the department to notify the public when a hearing is to be held, including the topic, location and time of the public hearing, and a contact number for people to call for additional information.

"This issue has been close to my heart since last year, when the department accepted a proposal from a private contractor to open a privately operated community corrections center in my district in Wayne Township, Lawrence County," Gibbons said. "Local officials weren't notified, and had it not been for vigilance by members of the local planning commission, the facility would have been built and running without any input from the community."

-- Click here for more information.

Lentz school safety legislation advances out of committee

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, said his legislation to increase safety for school children was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee this week. House Bill 1304 would require the state Education Department to set up telephone hotlines through which students, parents and others could safely and anonymously report school threats and potential violent situations involving schools to the appropriate authorities.

"My bill would provide a simple, low-cost way to allow individuals to report threats and event attacks on our schools," Lentz said. "I am pleased the Education Committee recognized the importance of this legislation, and I look forward to its passage in the House."