An update of recent legislative activity by
Pennsylvania House Democrats

April 27, 2007

 

House Democrats blaze road to energy independence

 

House Democrats, led by Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Camille "Bud" George, this week introduced legislation designed to move Pennsylvania toward energy independence while creating 35,000 jobs and saving $10 billion in energy costs over the next 10 years.

 

Flanked by Gov. Edward G. Rendell, four members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee - George, D-Clearfield; Eugene DePasquale, D-York; John Hornaman, D-Erie; and Mike Gerber, D-Montgomery -- outlined the Energy Independence Strategy during an afternoon news conference at the Capitol. The multifaceted legislation unveiled by the lawmakers would:

 

-- Save Pennsylvania $10 billion in energy costs over the next 10 years.

-- Reduce reliance on foreign fuels and increase the state's clean-energy capacity.

-- Expand Pennsylvania's energy and technology sectors to create more than 35,000 jobs and attract $3.5 billion in investments over the next 10 years.

-- Produce enough homegrown fuel to replace what the state now imports from the Persian Gulf.

"Today, we say that Pennsylvania no longer is content to be bullied by energy shortages, high fuel prices, foreign oil and the environmentally damaging practices of the past," George said.

 

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House unanimously passes Costa bill to help veterans return to civilian work faster

 

Legislation introduced by Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, that would help members of the Armed Forces return to civilian work faster was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives this week.  

 

House Bill 347 would require the state Department of Transportation to waive the skills test for commercial driver's license applicants who are active or reserve members of the Armed Forces and who hold a valid Class 2, 3 or 4 driver's license issued by any of the military branches.

 

"U.S. military members applying for a commercial driver's license shouldn't have to go about the regular routine of testing requirements if they already meet the qualifications," Costa said. "My bill would simplify those people's lives by allowing the state to issue these licenses upon application, saving time and money in the process."

 

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House passes Solobay bill allowing Pa. wines
to be sold at farmers' markets

 

The state House this week passed legislation (H.B. 896) introduced by Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, that would allow Pennsylvania wineries to sell their wines at Pennsylvania farmers' markets.

 

In addition to selling at their wineries, Pennsylvania winemakers may also have up to five retail outlets and may sell at festivals. However, farmers' markets currently are not included as off-site retail outlets approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

 

"Pennsylvania farmers' markets spotlight Pennsylvania-grown products and the state's wine industry deserves a place among the locally grown fruits and vegetables," Solobay said. "Not only are Pennsylvania wines a significant part of the state's agriculture industry, but the vineyards contribute greatly to tourism and economic development."

 

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House passes Walko bill to protect
residents of personal care homes

 

Rep. Don Walko, D-Allegheny, this week won House passage of his bill (H.B. 642) that would allow prosecutors to file criminal charges of neglect against owners or staff of personal care homes that have three or fewer adults unrelated to the owner.

 

Current state law does not allow criminal charges in such cases.

 

"If the Senate joins the House in passing this bill, we can prevent that kind of outrageous injustice in the future. In addition to punishing abusers after the fact, this legislation is also intended to have a deterrent effect."

 

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House passes Petrone bill allowing Pittsburgh
to remove abandoned vehicles

 

The House of Representatives this week unanimously passed a bill introduced by state Rep. Thomas Petrone, D-Allegheny, that would give Pittsburgh the authority to remove abandoned vehicles within its boundaries.

 

The bill (H.B. 202) would allow Pittsburgh to investigate, report on and ultimately remove abandoned vehicles within its limits. Current law grants that authority only to Philadelphia.

 

"The problem of abandoned vehicles is not a problem that is unique to Philadelphia. It is an issue that needs to be addressed other cities," Petrone said. "The hazards these vehicles pose to a municipality necessitate that immediate action be taken to remove them from our streets. I am pleased that my colleagues in the House have agreed to extend this authority."

 

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House passes Petrarca bill criminalizing dumping of methamphetamine waste

 

The House has unanimously passed legislation introduced by Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, that would make dumping methamphetamine waste a criminal act in Pennsylvania.

 

Under the legislation (H.B. 675), illegally dumping any substance, chemical waste or debris used in or resulting from the manufacture of methamphetamine would be a third-degree felony, and would carry a maximum fine of $15,000 and a jail sentence of up to seven years.

 

"Illegal meth labs are a growing problem in the state, particularly in western Pennsylvania and in rural areas," Petrarca said. "They're dangerous not only because they produce a highly addictive drug, but also because meth cookers often contaminate water sources by dumping their waste down drains, on the ground or into streams and rivers. We need to make meth waste dumping a crime so we can prosecute offenders and help protect the public."  

 

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Santoni proposal to widen pool
of school board candidates passed

 

Legislation (H.B. 503) introduced by Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, that would allow constables to run for school board has been passed by the state House of Representatives.

 

Santoni said he became aware of current law prohibiting constables from serving on school boards several years ago when a local school board member was elected to constable and later had to resign from the board. Few people were aware of the statute, but once discovered, local authorities had no choice but to enforce it.

 

"Many communities across the state have trouble finding citizens to serve on the local school board," Santoni said. "A candidate who meets the qualifications for one office should not automatically be prohibited from serving in the other office. This bill would remove that clause in current law."

 

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Costa jury duty bill passes House

 

The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, that would allow people 70 or older to opt out of jury duty.

 

House Bill 688 would provide an exemption from jury duty for senior citizens who are 70 or older and who choose not to serve.

 

"I think it is very important we allow seniors the courtesy of choosing to be exempt from jury duty," Costa said. "Requiring these folks to serve often places an unnecessary hardship on them and their families."

 

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House committee advances Taylor education bill

 

The state House Education Committee this week voted to send to the full House a bill introduced by Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, that would increase funds to help high school students pay for enrollment in college-level courses while still in high school.

 

The measure (H.B. 932), part of Gov. Ed Rendell's education funding proposal, would increase funding for the Dual Enrollment Program by $2 million, with the increase targeted to high schools to enroll low-income students in college-level courses.

 

"Helping these students to take college-level courses while still in high school certainly improves their chances for getting into the college they most want to attend and eases their tuition load by giving them a head start on earning credit hours," Taylor said.

 

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Harhai: Vehicle 'black box' legislation can help Pa. consumers

 

Vehicle "black box" legislation proposed by state Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Westmoreland/Fayette, is one step closer to becoming law after being voted out of the House Transportation Committee this week.

 

The bill (H.B. 487) would require automobile sellers to disclose whether a vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder, or "black box," and if it is, to provide a description of the kind of data the EDR is able to record.

 

"Similar to the 'black boxes' found in airplanes, EDRs record the status of car system readings such as braking, steering, vehicle speed, airbag deployment and seat belt use immediately before, during and after an accident," Harhai said. "The data is often used in automobile manufacturer research and federal safety research, as well as in police accident investigations."

 

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White introduces legislation to help
homeowners avoid foreclosure

 

Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington/Allegheny/Beaver, is introducing legislation that would extend the stay on mortgage foreclosures when homeowners appeal the denial of assistance through the state's Homeowner Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program.

 

White's legislation (H.B. 1083) would require lenders to put a hold on any foreclosure proceedings until the homeowner has appealed the PHFA rejection and has again been denied assistance.

 

"Too many homeowners are losing out on the American dream because of unfair loans that don't give them a fighting chance to keep up with their mortgage payments," White said. "We need to make the process more even-handed to help protect consumers."

 

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Wansacz introduces plan to limit landfill sites

 

Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, wants to limit the potential of landfills to infringe on the peace and tranquility of Pennsylvania's most solemn sites -- cemeteries.

 

A bill he has introduced (H.B. 1123) would prohibit landfills from being located within half a mile of a cemetery. Landfills can have an adverse impact on areas where they are located, including odors, noise, traffic and potential pollution.

 

"Landfills don't make good neighbors," Wansacz said. "While we can't eliminate them altogether, we can place them strategically where they will cause the least social damage. This bill would protect the integrity of our state's sacred spaces by preventing landfills from moving in too close to cemeteries."

 

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Cohen proposes committee on trade policy

 

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced a resolution that would give the legislature a voice in international trade agreements that affect the Commonwealth.

 

His proposal (H.R. 226) would establish a Select Committee on Trade Policy to be tasked with studying trade policies that impact Pennsylvania. It also would create a mechanism for the state legislature to offer a response to trade agreements proposed by the federal government.

 

"International trade has an enormous effect on Pennsylvania's economy. It affects job growth and employment, alters costs for consumers and impacts competition for state-produced goods," Cohen said. "In order to represent constituents and their interests, legislators should know about proposed trade agreements and be able to offer comments in advance."

 

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Mahoney to introduce bill to let Pa. deer population increase

 

Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, will introduce legislation aimed at increasing the deer population on State Game Lands by requiring the Game Commission to institute new policies and procedures for sports enthusiasts.

 

The bill would: establish citizen task forces for every wildlife management unit across the state; return antler requirements to pre-2003 status by requiring a buck to have only two points or a spike at least 3 inches long to be harvested; require the Game Commission to adopt policies to increase the deer population on Game Lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies; and require the Game Commission to collect mandatory harvest report cards from hunters.

 

"Pennsylvania's deer levels have declined in recent years, and my four-point proposal would help to expand the deer population and allow hunters to harvest more deer," Mahoney said.

 

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Gibbons seeks to extend deadline for absentee ballots

 

Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Lawrence/Butler/Beaver, has introduced legislation that would extend the due date for the submission of Pennsylvania absentee ballots.

 

Currently, all absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday before a primary or general election. Gibbons' legislation (H.B. 1148) would change the deadline to the close of business on the Monday before the election.

 

"Pennsylvania's current deadline is the earliest among all states," Gibbons said. "It has the biggest impact on our men and women serving our nation overseas. Changing this deadline would not in any way harm the voting process, and it would still give us plenty of time to make sure those ballots are counted."

 

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Solobay unveils residential sprinkler tax credit bill

 

Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, has introduced legislation (H.B. 1144) that would offer tax credits of up to $1,000 to eligible homeowners who install fire sprinkler systems.

 

A home burns somewhere in the United States every 79 seconds, and nearly 3,000 Americans die in home fires each year. An automatic sprinkler system can reduce the cost of fire damage by as much as 74 percent.

 

"Automatic fire sprinklers save lives, limit injuries and protect property," Solobay said. "If you install a sprinkler system while a home is under construction, it costs only about $2 per square foot -- less than the cost of most carpeting. My legislation would make it even more affordable to include this important fire-safety feature in Pennsylvania homes."

 

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Waters bill would require electronic
monitoring in nursing homes

 

Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Phila./Delaware, will reintroduce legislation to allow residents and their families to request video surveillance in nursing homes.

 

The bill would require facilities to make accommodations for electronic monitoring and to inform residents that they have the right to have their care monitored. The bill would also make it a crime to hamper video monitoring or tamper with video recordings made in nursing homes.

 

"By allowing families the opportunity to use cameras to monitor the care of loved ones, we can improve and assure the quality of life for those who reside in nursing homes," Waters said.

 

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Mundy proposes study to address senior care issues

 

Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne, has authored legislation (H.B. 1071) that would establish a Senior Care and Services Study Commission in Pennsylvania.

 

The commission would be charged with three duties: assess the health-care needs of the state's current and future population of senior citizens, including the need for the various levels of care and services; evaluate the ability of the current nursing home assessment and service delivery system to meet projected needs; and identify available funds to meet the long-term health-care needs of the state's senior population. wants to ensure that all older Pennsylvanians have access to the long-term care they need.

 

"Pennsylvania has one of the largest elderly populations in the country, and some estimates show it will grow by as much as 13 percent by 2025," Mundy said. "We need to examine the long-term care services we presently offer to make sure that we can handle the increased demand for these services in the future."

 

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Parker introduces measure to help
nonviolent ex-offenders get jobs

 

Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would address the issue of the increasingly high rates of unemployment for nonviolent ex-offenders.

 

The measure (H.B. 1114) would expand the benefits of the state's current job creation tax credit program to provide employers with an additional $500 tax credit per job created for each employee who is a nonviolent ex-offender.

 

"Meaningful employment is one of the most important elements to an ex-offender's ability to avoid the cycle of crime," Parker said. "Statistics show that 85 percent of those who are released from prison and have a job when they get back to their communities, and maintain that job during their supervised released time, do not return to jail."

 

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Wansacz working to give communities
a say in solid waste disposal

 

Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, has introduced legislation that would create a Host Municipality Agreement Act to provide Pennsylvania's municipalities with the ability to better control the disposal of solid waste in or near their communities.

 

The bill (H.B. 1164) would provide host municipalities with veto power over new solid waste permit decisions, as well as expansion or volume changes. It would be up to each municipality to decide whether to negotiate and sign a host municipality agreement, without which the state Department of Environmental Protection could not consider a permit.

 

"My legislation would give a greater voice to the surrounding communities near a landfill," Wansacz said. "If my legislation becomes law, communities near landfills will be able to have a final say in what happens in their backyard without having to go through the long process of the harms versus benefits analysis."  

 

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Gergely, workers' advocates call for support of paid sick leave proposal

 

Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, is introducing legislation that would allow workers in Pennsylvania to accrue paid sick leave based on the number of hours they work in a year.

 

The legislation would allow an employee to accrue one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Employers would not be required to provide more than 52 hours of sick leave per employee per year. Employers with fewer than 10 employees would only be required to provide one hour of leave per 80 hours worked, and would not be required to provide more than 26 hours of sick leave per year.

 

"This is a quality-of-life and family-values issue," Gergely said. "Illnesses can occur at any time and when people are not afforded the opportunity to fully restore their health, it not only hurts the employee but can result in a larger cost to the employer in the end."

 

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Wansacz wants to make witness intimidation
in disciplinary hearings illegal

 

Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, has introduced legislation that would expand the application of witness intimidation prohibitions in Pennsylvania to include disciplinary proceedings or events stemming from a disciplinary hearing for licensing boards.

 

The legislation (H.B. 1122) would make it unlawful to intimidate a victim or witness in a disciplinary proceeding. Further, it would make it a crime to retaliate against a witness in response to anything done as a result of the witness' testimony at a disciplinary proceeding.

 

"We need to ensure that both witnesses and victims are protected from retribution from the person or company they bring a complaint against," Wansacz said. "My bill closes a gap in existing state law that protects witnesses in court and other kinds of hearings."

 

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Yudichak introduces legislation to protect consumers

 

Rep. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne, has introduced legislation that would establish an Office of Consumer Advocate for Insurance in Pennsylvania to help protect the rights of consumers in insurance-related matters.

 

The bill (H.B. 1121) would establish the office as an independent organization within the Office of Attorney General. The Office of Consumer Advocate for Insurance would have the authority to represent consumers' interests on any insurance matter before the state Department of Insurance or any other state agency or court. The advocate also would be responsible for identifying and tracking trends in the insurance industry, recommending consumer protections, responding to consumer complaints and educating state residents about insurance issues and practices.

 

"Insurance customers need a voice on matters that affect them, and this agency would represent consumers' interests," Yudichak said. "Whenever a utility company petitions for a rate increase in the state, residents who would be affected by that change have representation from the PUC's consumer advocate. Insurance customers should also be able to have an agency that will fight on their behalf."

 

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Sturla, Solobay introduce bill to help
municipal first responders

 

Reps. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, and Tim Solobay, D-Washington, have introduced a bill (H.B. 1069) that would create an $8 million grant program for municipal fire and emergency service organizations.

 

The Municipal Fire and Emergency Service Organization Grant Program would be available to non-volunteer fire companies or emergency services departments that provide fire protection or emergency services, such as basic and advanced life support services and response to fires, vehicle accidents and water rescues. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency would oversee the program, and awarded grants would range from $10,000 to $1 million.

 

"With the state considering renewing its $25 million grant program for volunteer fire companies and ambulance services, I think it is fair to also provide some state funding for our paid fire and emergency services departments," Sturla said.

 

"It is critical that we give state assistance to all of these companies, regardless of whether they are paid or volunteers, because of the outstanding protection and care they provide Pennsylvania's communities," Solobay said.

 

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Leach to introduce legislation to protect
patient's medical rights

 

In response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Rep. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, will introduce legislation designed to protect the right of Pennsylvanians to receive appropriate medical care free of government interference.

 

The legislation would state that no patient could be prosecuted for receiving, and no doctor could be either criminally prosecuted or professionally disciplined for providing, any medical treatment or procedure the doctor believes is necessary to protect the physical health of a patient. In order to be protected by the legislation, the doctor would have to be acting reasonably and in good faith.

 

"No medically untrained politician has the right to inject himself into medical decisions between a doctor and patient," Leach said. "We must ensure that doctors are free to make reasonable medical decisions to protect the health of patients without fear of interference from the government."

 

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Hanna introduces bill to create
animal deterrent and damage fund

 

Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, has re-introduced legislation that would expand the state's deterrent fencing program for wild animals and establish an elk damage compensation fund.

 

The legislation (H.B. 1078) would increase funding for and the number of deterrent fences to protect private land from deer, bear and elk and establish an Elk Damage Fund to reimburse people for property damage caused by elk. The state Department of Agriculture and the state Game Commission would be responsible for implementation of the program.

"This legislation is needed because of the substantial crop damage caused by elk in parts of the state," Hanna said. "It's been very frustrating for farmers and other landowners who have had to cope with the damage to their property and the financial losses that have resulted." 

 

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Wansacz working to stamp out teen smoking

 

Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Susquehanna/Wyoming, has introduced legislation that would strengthen state law against minors possessing tobacco products.

 

The proposal would implement a four-step penalty process for minors found in possession of tobacco on school grounds, public parks or any other location.

 

"Smoking is incredibly harmful and we need to do everything we can to prevent our youth from ever lighting up," Wansacz said. "The longer they wait to have their first cigarette, the less likely they are to ever pick up the habit."

 

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