Recent legislative activity by PA House Democrats

July 17, 2009

Pa. House passes responsible, balanced Democratic budget

The Pennsylvania House has passed a Democratic budget proposal that would provide a responsible, balanced state budget, while also continuing Pennsylvania's investments in education, health care, the environment and job creation. During two days of debate, House Democratic lawmakers defeated a Republican amendment to the bill (H.B. 1416) that would have made harmful cuts to essential state services and forced tax increases at the local level.

"The Republican amendment ignored basic needs for our most vulnerable citizens, slashing access to health care - including the Children's Health Insurance Program - and eliminating core services for seniors and individuals with disabilities," House Majority Leader Todd A. Eachus said. "We're talking about real people who rely on these services every day to survive and to live productive lives. In this difficult economy, it is more critical than ever that we pass a responsible budget that includes strategic cuts that show leadership, responsibility and compassion - while also making strategic investments in Pennsylvania's future."

-- More information on the House Democratic state budget plan is available at www.pahouse.com.

SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR

Governor signs Mann bill criminalizing the viewing of child pornography

State Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, said legislation she authored that will make intentionally viewing child pornography a criminal offense was signed into law by the governor today. Mann said Act 15 of 2009 ensures that people who deliberately exploit children by viewing these images can now be prosecuted, closing a loophole in former state law that said charges could be brought only if it could be proved that someone was in "possession or control" of the images.

"We need to protect children from the monsters who commit child abuse every time they view pornographic images depicting children. The change in the law will be an important tool to help law enforcement convict these people who prey on the innocent," Mann said.

-- Click here for more information.

Haluska prescribed burning bill signed by governor

The governor has signed legislation introduced by state Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, that will encourage the continued use of well-regulated, prescribed burning in Pennsylvania as a habitat and land-management tool. Haluska's law (Act 17 of 2009) requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to set regulatory standards regarding minimum qualifications for burn managers and burn workers, and requirements for the review and approval of burn plans. Contractors, managers and workers of controlled burns conducted under those standards will be freed of most liability.

"The state and other groups have been hampered in their efforts to use prescribed burning for land management and habitat revitalization because current state law exposes the people conducting these burns to criminal and civil liability," Haluska said. "My legislation places strict, state-level training, review and control standards on prescribed burning. In turn, the people ordering, supervising and conducting burns that meet those standards will be immune from most liability."

-- Click here for more information.

Costa bill to allow retired judges to preside over marriages becomes law

On Tuesday, the governor signed legislation introduced by state Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, which allows retired judges or former mayors to perform marriage ceremonies in Pennsylvania. The law, Act 18 of 2009, allows former or retired Pennsylvania justices, judges or magisterial district judges who are in good standing and not serving as senior judges or senior magisterial district judges to preside over marriage ceremonies. Former mayors in good standing will also be permitted to officiate at civil marriage ceremonies.

"Current law requires a judge to retire at the age of 70," Costa said. "But if he or she wishes to continue performing wedding ceremonies after retirement, it was not allowed. There's no real reason for such a prohibition. My measure removed that part of the law and allows former judges and mayors to officiate at marriage ceremonies if they are asked."

-- Click here for more information.

PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE

Burns' bill to strengthen landscape architect registration passes Senate

State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria/Somerset, said his legislation (H.B. 703) to strengthen registration requirements for landscape architects in Pennsylvania passed the state Senate this week. Burns' bill would require all landscape architects seeking registration in Pennsylvania to undergo examination, regardless of their years of active experience, and would expand requirements for the continuing education of licensees.

"The current Landscape Architects' Registration Law is outdated," Burns said. "My legislation would ensure that only the most qualified landscape architects receive a license to work in Pennsylvania."

-- Click here for more information.

PASSED THE HOUSE

House passes Smith's green buildings proposal

State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, announced that the House has passed his legislation (H.B. 444) that would require all buildings constructed or refurbished with state funds to be "green" -- environmentally responsible and energy efficient. The lawmaker said that by increasing the demand for environmentally friendly building materials and furnishings, the state would be investing in its own economy by making use of local, renewable energy sources rather than foreign energy.

"I believe this proposal would help guarantee that state funds are used in the most efficient and responsible way possible while providing immediate and future benefits to us all," Smith said. "Climate change and environmental issues must continue to drive our investments, and I believe that we can continue to grow our economy, save state tax dollars and protect the environment by embracing smart development strategies like green buildings."

-- Click here for more information.

House passes Solobay expungement bill

Rep. Tim Solobay's bill that would streamline the process to expunge certain misdemeanors from criminal records was passed by the House this week and sent to the state Senate for consideration. House Bill 264 would allow people who have been free of arrest or prosecution for seven years to petition their local court for expungement of third-degree misdemeanor records. Currently such petitions must be made to the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons where the wait for a ruling can be as long as four years. The bill builds on Solobay's Act 134, which took effect in January and allows local courts to handle the expungement of summary offense records.

"This bill would reduce the workload of the state board of pardons, which would allow it to spend more time on more serious cases, and reduce the demands on its already stretched budget," said Solobay, D-Washington.  

-- Click here for more information.

Waters removes Scotland School for Veterans Children from surplus property list

Continuing his efforts to prevent the closure of the Scotland School for Veterans Children, state Rep. Ronald G. Waters today dealt a blow to the plans for its closure by offering an amendment, which the House unanimously approved, removing the school property from the state's surplus property list. The school, with its 185 acres and 70 buildings, was listed in the Department of General Services' Real Property Disposition Plan. The disposition plan is a list of state properties for proposed sale. State law requires it to be developed once a year. SSVC was added to the disposition plan by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs because of the governor's plan to close the school to save the state money.

"We shouldn't have to vote against something that will be harmful to the school, its students and the veterans who serve this country," Waters said. "In fact, it's precisely because of the war that Pennsylvania could have a greater need for the Scotland School.

-- Click here for more information.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Gaming committee sends video lottery terminal bill to House

The House Gaming Oversight Committee has approved legislation that would legalize video lottery terminals at bars, restaurants and private social clubs licensed by the Liquor Control Board and use the state's share of the revenue to help Pennsylvanians pay for higher education, according to committee chairman, Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks. Video lottery includes video poker and other games that allow a person to wager on the outcome of a video game. Santoni introduced the bill (H.B. 1317) that would authorize the terminals and use the state's share of profits from them to help state-system and community college students pay their tuition. The bill also would provide some funding to students who attend state-related universities, like Temple and Penn State, if certain revenue thresholds are met.

"Illegal gaming devices are already active and people who stop in to their local bar or service club are using them," Santoni said. "Sixty-two percent of Pennsylvanians polled support having these games available, and it makes sense to replace this illegal business with a legal and regulated operation that ensures the honesty of the machine for the player and provides a needed resource for young people seeking a higher education."

-- Click here for more information.

Shapiro's terror-free investing bill approved by committee

State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, has secured unanimous committee approval of his legislation (H.B. 1821) to prohibit Pennsylvania's two pension funds, the Public School Employees' Retirement System and State Employees Retirement System and the state Treasurer's Office from investing in foreign companies with significant business activities in Iran and Sudan. The House State Government Committee reported out the measure without opposition this week. The bill is now pending before the full House.

"While it is a moral imperative that we divest from companies that do business with terror-sponsoring nations, during these tough economic times, we must do all we can to protect and strengthen our investments," Shapiro explained. "It makes practical sense that a company's association with terrorism and human rights abuses creates risk and could undermine the value of the Commonwealth's investment in such a company."

-- Click here for more information.