Recent legislative activity by PA House Democrats
 

 July 10, 2009

 

PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE

Mann bill prohibiting the viewing of child pornography heads to governor  

State Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, said legislation she authored that would make it a crime to view child pornography unanimously passed the House on concurrence this week and is now heading to the governor for his signature. Mann said H.B. 89 closes a loophole that allows people to legally exploit children by knowingly viewing child pornography.  

"Exploiting children by creating and viewing child pornography is one of the most despicable acts imaginable," Mann said. "It is imperative to criminalize its intentional viewing in order to protect our children."

-- Click here for more information.

PASSED THE HOUSE

House passes Gergely's bill to extend unemployment compensation benefits by seven weeks

In a move to help 57,000 out-of-work Pennsylvanians about to lose unemployment compensation benefits, the House of Representatives has passed a bill introduced by state Rep. Marc Gergely that would use federal dollars to extend the payments for another seven weeks. Gergely said his bill, H.B. 1770, would make a temporary change to the Unemployment Compensation Expanded Benefits law to allow the state to tap nearly $145 million in federal stimulus funding.

"About 21,000 Pennsylvanians looking for work would lose their unemployment comp payments on July 18 if we don't take this action," Gergely said. "In the weeks ahead, nearly 57,000 people could lose this safety net. That is why the House has acted swiftly to make this temporary change to the law so we can use entirely federal dollars to give out-of-work residents a few more weeks to find a new job. Using entirely federal dollars, we can help thousands of families who could not pay their mortgage and would struggle to buy groceries without this seven-week benefit extension. This temporary change would have no effect on the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund."

-- Click here for more information.

House passes Boyle insurance law modernization proposal

The state House has passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, D-Phila./Montgomery, that would modernize part of the state's insurance company licensing law. House Bill 1415 would amend the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to update requirements imposed upon insurance companies that are licensed to provide surplus lines. Surplus lines provide highly specialized insurance coverage for unique risks, such as traveling carnivals and Ferris wheels.

"This legislation was designed to bring the surplus lines market up to date with current insurance law and regulation, and to increase monetary penalties for violations of the insurance law to further protect consumers," Boyle said. "I am pleased to have received the overwhelming support today from my fellow House members, and urge the state Senate to pass the bill next."

-- Click here for more information.

House passes Grucela bill to give schools heads-up on development in district

The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, that would require school districts to be given advance notice of impending residential development. The bill (H.B. 1754) would require municipalities to notify the superintendent of a school district within a month of when a residential development or planned residential development has been finally approved by the municipality's governing body.

"The Lehigh Valley has expanded dramatically over the past decade, yet school districts were not able to plan for that substantial growth," Grucela said. "School districts should have advance notice of construction and development that could add significantly to student enrollment, so officials can effectively budget for additional facilities, staff and instructional materials. I believe it will ultimately help schools become more cost-efficient and save taxpayer dollars."

-- Click here for more information.   

House unanimously passes Pallone's county park police certification bill

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation sponsored by state Rep. John Pallone that would enable county park officers to receive certification for training they receive through the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training program. House Bill 580, which has been sent to the state Senate for consideration, would add county park police to the list of officers under the Municipal Police Officers Training and Education Commission standards, which would allow them to be certified for attending the MPOET program and enable them to receive MPOET numbers and receive updated training and recertification.

"This bill is about public safety, and I want to thank the House for its bipartisan support," said Pallone, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong. "The MPOET program certifies and trains police officers on how to recognize and deal with suspected gang activity and how to identify explosives. It also brings them up to date on the latest trends in homeland security and law enforcement techniques, and provides education and training on recent law changes."

-- Click here for more information.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Siptroth bill to help aircraft industry clears Transportation Committee

State Rep. John Siptroth's bill that would exclude aircraft repair and replacement parts from the state's sales tax was approved by the House Transportation Committee this week. Siptroth, who chairs the Subcommittee on Aviation, said the legislation (H.B. 785) would save the industry $1.35 million per year. However, Siptroth said industry officials have told him the state would more than offset that loss as the industry expands and more income tax is collected.

"The aircraft industry creates high-paying jobs and provides economic benefit to the state," Siptroth said. "This legislation would provide financial incentives and relief to the aircraft industry and help to make Pennsylvania more competitive. This is only part of the pie and I hope to persuade my colleagues to make the sales and leases of aircraft exempt from the sales tax."