An update of recent legislative activity by
Pennsylvania House Democrats

March 23, 2007

 

Evans' Philadelphia campaign finance bill passes House

 

Legislation to overhaul campaign finance rules in Philadelphia passed the state House this week.

 

The measure (H.B. 116), introduced by Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Phila., would give Philadelphia the authority to enact its own campaign finance rules to govern municipal races within the city. In 2003, Philadelphia adopted a campaign finance reform ordinance restricting individuals from donating more than $5,000 annually to a candidate and restricting political action committees from donating more than $20,000 annually. The ordinance was challenged in Common Pleas Court and in December a judge rule that only the state could regulate campaign spending. Pennsylvania election law currently places no limits on campaign donation amounts.

   

"We have a campaign finance ordinance in Philadelphia, but the situation is so murky even the courts have been unable to sort it out," Evans said. "This legislation is an appropriate measure to provide an equitable and transparent campaign finance system in Philadelphia."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Evans to read more.

 

 

Preston security panel legislation sent to full House

 

The state House has adopted a resolution (H.R. 70) introduced by Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny, that re-establishes the Select Committee on Information Security. The commission previously operated during the 2005-06 legislative session.

 

The select committee's mission will be to continue reviewing the policies, procedures and practices of state agencies in securing people's personal and business information, including sensitive health and financial records.

 

"There are many Internet scam artists and members of fraudulent organizations out there who are just waiting to swindle personal information from our citizens," Preston said. "We have to be proactive and stay on top of securing the personal and business information that is in the possession of state government."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Preston to read more.

 

 

McGeehan, Belfanti detail sprinkler bills

 

Reps. Robert E. Belfanti, D-Northumberland/Montour/Columbia, and Mike McGeehan, D-Phila., have introduced bills (H.B.s 203, 862) that would require all state-regulated care facilities, as well as assisted living and personal care homes, to have automatic sprinkler systems and other fire suppression and safety systems installed.

 

The legislation would provide a low-interest loan program to help facility owners pay for retrofitting their facilities with the sprinkler and safety systems. The systems would save lives, reduce property loss and lower the cost of insurance for facility owners. The bills are modeled after the state's dormitory sprinkler law, which requires automatic sprinkler systems in all State System on-campus housing.

 

"Just as we have a responsibility for the safety of our students, the state must ensure the safety of all citizens under our care," McGeehan said. "This legislation will undoubtedly save lives, prevent grievous injuries and protect costly facilities."

 

"We need to ensure the personal safety of these residents, who in many instances are in wheelchairs or cannot get out of bed," Belfanti said. "In many cases, residents of personal care homes and their families do not even realize that these types of fire protection and safety devices are not present."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/McGeehan to read more.

 

 

Dermody legislation would expand
criminal definition of neglect

 

Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, has introduced legislation to more thoroughly protect nursing home residents and senior citizens.

 

Under the bill (H.B. 439), knowingly endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person by violating a duty of care, protection or support would be added to the definition of neglect. If the victim is 60 or older, the mandatory minimum sentence would be two years in jail. The bill also would impose the same minimum penalty for burglary, robbery and theft of victims 60 or older.

 

"Senior citizens in Pennsylvania have earned the right to expect quality care, respect and safety at our nursing homes and assisted living homes," Dermody said. "And we trust that their caregivers provide all three to the best of their ability. So, when a caregiver violates that trust, this legislation would allow the proper authorities to take action."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Dermody to read more.

 

 

McGeehan introduces housing bills

 

Rep. Michael McGeehan, D-Phila., has reintroduced a bill (H.B. 782) that would tackle the illegal conversion of single-family houses into multi-unit dwellings by ensuring that property owners are in compliance with local occupancy requirements before allowing electric meters to be installed in homes. 

 

McGeehan is also reintroducing legislation (H.B. 736) that would declare a mortgage to be violated if the property buyer claims to be purchasing it for personal occupancy, but intends to rent the property to others, and a bill (H.B. 764) that would prevent Section 8 housing landlords or property owners who are in violation of applicable state or municipal property maintenance code requirements from receiving licensing or certification from any real estate professional licensing board or commission under the Department of State.

 

"This is a three-pronged effort stemming from the housing reconversion program," McGeehan said. "If enacted, my suite of housing legislation will put absentee and deadbeat landlords on notice that they must comply with the state and municipal laws."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/McGeehan to read more.

 

 

Cruz introduces bill to ban sale of
expired food, other outdated goods

 

Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would ban the sale of outdated and expired food, nonprescription drugs and cosmetics in Pennsylvania. Violation of the proposed law (H.B. 762) could result in fines and other sanctions.

 

"Expiration dates are on products for a reason," Cruz said. "Selling outdated goods, especially with regard to food, medicine and make-up, could harm consumers who are entrusting store owners to sell them quality and fresh products."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Cruz to read more.

 

 

Grucela resumes initiative for
school police training standards

 

As more school districts turn to using school police officers, Rep. Richard T. Grucela, D-Northampton, has introduced of a pair of bills that would set standards for training school police officers and providing reimbursement to school districts for the cost of that training.

 

The first measure (H.B. 769) would define "school police officer" in Pennsylvania law and specify duties and training requirements for these officers. The second measure (H.B. 768) would require school police officers to complete the same training as municipal police officers in Pennsylvania and make school districts eligible for reimbursement of training costs through the Municipal Police Officer's Education and Training Commission.

  

"Unfortunately, in these times it is a sad fact of life that we really need to have police officers in our schools to provide us a safety net against a tragedy such as was visited on a peaceful Amish school in our state last year," Grucela said. "Districts should have the ability to have the school police officer option in order to reduce the risk of one of their schools joining the list of those that have experienced a criminal catastrophe."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Grucela to read more.

 

 

Walko offers 'sound' school bus safety bill

 

Many school districts across Pennsylvania have already installed video cameras in their school buses to allow them to keep a better eye on the activities of students being transported to and from school. Rep. Don Walko, D-Allegheny, has introduced legislation (H.B. 797) that would allow for audio taping on school buses in Pennsylvania, as well.

 

Under the bill, school districts would be allowed to intercept audio communications for disciplinary or security purposes on a school bus or school vehicle if the school board adopts a policy authorizing audio interception on buses or school vehicles, notifies students and parents by mail each year of the policy, and posts a clearly visible notice in each vehicle equipped with audio taping equipment that students may be audio taped.

 

"Right now, school districts can use only video monitors on school buses, and there have been questions raised as to whether adding audio taping would violate the state's Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act," Walko said. "This common-sense legislation would clear up that confusion."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Walko to read more.

 

 

Cohen introduces plan to generate
competition for state contracts

 

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to guarantee state contracts are awarded though a competitive bidding process.

 

Cohen's bill (H.B. 831) would restrict the state from relying on settlement agreements to award work and supply contracts.

 

"State purchasing should be made through a competitive bidding process in most circumstances," Cohen said. "Settlement agreements should only be used on rare occasions where there is an urgent need: when there is a threat to public health, welfare or safety."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Cohen to read more.

 

 

Surra reintroduces bill to ban
mandatory overtime in hospitals

 

Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, has introduced legislation that would prohibit hospitals and other health-care facilities from forcing nurses and other employees who provide direct patient care to work beyond their regularly scheduled shifts.

 

The bill (H.B. 834) would prohibit hospitals and other health-care facilities from routinely requiring nurses and other employees, besides doctors, who provide direct patient care to work beyond a regular shift that has already been agreed upon. While nurses and other employees could volunteer for extra shifts or overtime, it could not be required by the hospital, and nurses and other employees who refuse overtime could not be disciplined, discharged or discriminated against for that reason.

 

"Hospitals cannot continue to use mandatory overtime as a routine way to staff their facilities," Surra said. "Mandatory overtime not only puts patients at risk, but has led to many nurses and other health-care employees leaving their jobs due to fatigue, frustration and the very real fear that they may someday make a mistake and harm a patient. Far from providing a solution for the state's chronic nursing shortage, mandatory overtime actually contributes to the problem."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Surra to read more.

 

 

Solobay: Pa. wines should be available
at Pa. farmers' markets

 

Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, has introduced a bill (H.B. 896) that would allow Pennsylvania wineries to sell their wines at farmers' markets in the state.

 

Currently, Pennsylvania wine makers are only allowed to sell their product at their wineries, at up to five off-site retail outlets and at festivals. Currently, farmers' markets are not included on the list of off-site retail sites approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

 

"Our wineries continue to grow and are becoming an important part of the state's agriculture picture," Solobay said. "Farmers' markets offer a major opportunity for those involved in agriculture to display their wares. This bill would allow wineries to apply for special off-site permits to sell their products at Pennsylvania farmers' markets."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Solobay to read more.

 

 

Shapiro bill would keep Pa. dollars from flowing to terrorists

 

Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, will introduce legislation this month that would keep Pennsylvania dollars out of the hands of terrorists by prohibiting the Public School Employees' Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System and the Pennsylvania Office of the Treasurer from investing in companies that do business in nations listed by the U.S. State Department as sponsors of terrorism.

 

The bill would allow for investment in companies and organizations that are providing humanitarian aid. New Jersey and Illinois passed similar divestment measures in 2006.

 

"We must win the war on terror, but, unfortunately, we are not using all of the economic tools at our disposal on the state level to support our military and our diplomatic efforts," Shapiro said. "These three agencies invest $100 billion collectively each year. By limiting where they could invest those dollars, we could have a positive impact on the war on terror."

 

-- Please visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro to read more.