An update of recent legislative activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats

Nov. 16, 2007

Solobay, Markosek and PennDOT unveil new disability motorcycle plate

Reps. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, and Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, joined with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and motorcyclists this week to unveil a new motorcycle license plate for people with disabilities. The plate will replace the disability decal currently used by motorcyclists. Solobay heard from many motorcyclists that their decal was not always recognized by police as permission to park in a disabled driver zone. He and Markosek pushed for PennDOT to create the new plate.

"When I learned about the problem, I knew we in the legislature had to take immediate steps to remedy it," Solobay said. "I am pleased that PennDOT stepped up to the plate, so to speak, and we were able to get this done without legislation."

"By switching from a decal to an actual license plate, it will bring uniformity, and allow police and others to readily recognize the motorcycle owner has a right to park in a disabled driver zone," Markosek said.

Individuals wishing to obtain a disability motorcycle license plate may do so by visiting www.dmv.state.pa.us and completing Form MV-145.

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PASSED THE HOUSE

Conklin proposal to expand sexual violence awareness passes House

Legislation introduced by Centre County Rep. Scott Conklin that would aim to prevent sexual violence on Pennsylvania's college campuses by increasing sexual awareness education programs for incoming new students passed the House this week. Specifically, the bill (H.B. 1129) would require colleges in Pennsylvania to establish educational programs to provide discussion on various topics relating to sexual violence including consent, the relationship between drugs, alcohol and sexual violence, and the possibility of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. 

"The first few months of college are the most dangerous for new students due to the absence of parental supervision, the availability of drugs and alcohol, and a lack of education and awareness about sexual assault," Conklin said. "This measure would ensure that colleges and universities across the Commonwealth give students the information they need to protect themselves and have a better understanding of the potential dangers they could face, as well as where to go if they are a victim of an assault."

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House gives thumbs up to Shimkus'effort to honor Pa. emergency responders

The House has unanimously passed legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus that would honor emergency responders in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1033 would designate Sept. 11 each year as "Pennsylvania Emergency Responders'Day," calling on all state residents to set apart the day as a day of gratitude and respect for firefighters, police officers, ambulance drivers, emergency medical technicians and other first responders.

"This legislation would affirm that we see our first responders as heroes who help our citizens every day in extraordinary ways," said Shimkus, D-Lackawanna. "It also asks citizens to observe a moment of silence on September 11th in memory of first responders who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks and all emergency responders who have lost their lives in the selfless effort of making Pennsylvania safer for all."

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House passes Casorio bill to protect more law enforcement personnel

The state House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, that would make it easier for several categories of state law enforcement personnel to collect workers'compensation benefits when they contract hepatitis C on the job. Casorio's bill (H.B. 1025) would classify hepatitis C as an occupational disease for state Fish and Boat, and Game Commission officers, officers of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and port authority police officers in Pennsylvania.

"These employees, like other law enforcement personnel and first responders who deal with medical emergencies, are at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis C," Casorio said. "In the unfortunate cases where these officers do contract hepatitis C, they should not have to go through a lengthy legal process to prove they were infected on the job in order to get the benefits they and their families need and deserve."

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COMMITTEE ACTION

House Consumer Affairs Committee holds hearing on 2-1-1 telephone service

The House Consumer Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny, recently held a public hearing on legislation that would create a 2-1-1 abbreviated dialing code, similar to the 4-1-1 and 9-1-1 telephone systems, for people in Pennsylvania seeking non-emergency assistance. Preston's legislation (H.B. 539) would designate the state Department of Health as the implementing agency for the telephone plan. The 2-1-1 dialing code could be used for everyday, non-emergency inquiries about unemployment compensation, health-care coverage, the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, and other programs and services. Preston said the measure would also establish a 2-1-1 state advisory board.

"If implemented, the dialing service would benefit citizens across Pennsylvania," Preston said. "The proposed system would provide 24-hour, year-round telephone information and referral services to people with important but non life-threatening needs."

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BILL INTRODUCTIONS

Freeman proposal would require 'smart meters' for all electrical customers

Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, is introducing legislation that would require electric utilities to provide "smart meter" technology to all customers, and to offer rate information that would allow customers to shift their electricity use voluntarily to non-peak periods and save money on their electric utility bills. Smart meters allow customers to see how much electricity they use at any given time. Freeman said that when smart meters are used in conjunction with known electricity rates at peak and off-peak times, residential customers can see significant savings in their electricity bills, no matter the size of the household.

"Smart meters are a vital tool for conserving energy, cutting pollution, protecting electric grid reliability and reducing the need to construct new power plants and transmission lines," Freeman said. "I believe that smart meters are fundamentally about empowering customers to save money and energy by providing them the information to respond to changes in electricity prices as those changes happen."

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Freeman proposal would compensate municipalities for tax-exempt property

At a Capitol news conference this week, Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, unveiled legislation he is introducing that would provide funding to municipalities with high levels of tax-exempt property. Freeman's legislation would create the Tax-Exempt Property Municipal Assistance Fund, which would be funded by dedicating revenue generated by the 18 percent Johnstown Flood Tax to the new fund. Under the proposal, any Pennsylvania municipality where 17 percent or more of the total assessed value of properties within its borders is tax-exempt would qualify for compensation. The Johnstown Flood Tax, enacted by the state legislature in 1936 to provide financial relief to victims of flooding in Johnstown, is levied on the sale of wine and liquors and was intended to be temporary but now provides the state with approximately $240 million in annual revenue.

"Throughout our Commonwealth, communities large and small, urban and rural, city, borough and township alike contain a considerable percentage of tax-exempt property within their borders," Freeman said. "While these tax-exempt properties usually represent the presence of important governmental institutions, not-for-profit medical facilities or institutions of higher learning that contribute to the quality of life of a community, they do not contribute to the tax base of the communities in which they are located as a result of their tax-exempt status."

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DePasquale calls for greater consumer protection from recalled products

Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, is calling for changes in state law to protect Pennsylvania consumers from dangerous, recalled products. DePasquale is working on legislation that would require the attorney general to establish and maintain a Web page providing links to lists of all national agencies that deal with consumer product safety and product recalls, and declare any products identified on any of those lists to be unlawful for commerce within Pennsylvania.

"Since the beginning of this year, more than 170 items have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission," DePasquale said. "The recalls include dozens of infant and children's toys and products. Parents have a lot of responsibilities on their plate, and it would be extremely helpful to have one place to find information about these recalls so they can protect their children."

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White bill would prevent mass buyouts of event tickets, protect consumers

Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington/Allegheny/Beaver, is introducing legislation (H.B. 2011) that would prohibit the use of automated ticket-buying software in Pennsylvania. The software helps people bypass online ticket sale protection systems so they can purchase tickets faster than the general public. These buyers are able to place hundreds of ticket requests at a time, selling out venues quickly and shutting out the average person logged in or physically waiting in line.

"In some cases, the tickets sell out quickly, but then end up for sale on another site at a much higher asking price than the original face value," White said. "It's a practice that's very unfair to consumers." 

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Mundy bill would close loophole in hit-and-run cases where drunk driver flees

Rep. Phyllis Mundy has introduced legislation (H.B. 2013) to strengthen punishments for drivers convicted of leaving the scene of an accident. Mundy's proposed legislation would reclassify a hit-and-run accident where death or serious bodily injury results as a second-degree felony.

"A drunk driver who hits someone and takes off, and is later tried and convicted on a hit-and-run charge, receives a lesser punishment than he would have had he stayed at the scene to render assistance or simply face up to what he'd done," Mundy said. "This loophole makes no sense from a legal standpoint, and it certainly makes no sense to victims and their families."

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King introduces reform proposal to extend campaign-free zone at polls

Rep. Chris King, D-Bucks, has introduced reform legislation that would require people who campaign at the polls on Election Day to move back. Current law requires electioneers to remain 10 feet away from a polling place while voting is going on. King's legislation (H.B. 1993) would increase that distance tenfold to 100 feet.

"By the time many voters reach the polls, they have already been bombarded in their homes and in their communities by near-constant campaigning - television commercials, mailers and yard signs. I think we should give voters a break for a couple of minutes before they go in the polling place and make a very important decision," King said.

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Solobay introduced bill calling for a study of the alternative energy standards

Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, wants to make sure Pennsylvania's efforts to help the environment are not hurting the economy. He has introduced a bill that would provide for a study of how the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 is impacting the Commonwealth's manufacturing economy, energy prices, energy production and consumption, and personal income. House Bill 2014 would examine whether mandated reductions in Pennsylvania's emissions would actually lead to a real reduction in national greenhouse gasses. The legislation would also examine both the economic impact and emission reduction potentially achieved by Pennsylvania's participation in the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

"It is very difficult for one state to reduce emissions within its borders due to leakage from surrounding states," Solobay said. "Therefore, I think we need to look before we leap, study the issue, and make sure our efforts to clean the air are not placing undo burden on our citizens and businesses."

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Cohen bill would authorize $5 million to find cure for MRSA 'superbug' 

Responding to the increase in new cases of the drug-resistant "superbug" known as MRSA, Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced a plan to help Pennsylvania's nonprofit research institutions look for a cure. Cohen's legislation (H.B. 2000) would allow the secretary of the state Department of Health to competitively award a $5 million grant to a nonprofit research institution in Pennsylvania to dedicate to "superbug" antibiotic research and development.

"Pharmaceutical companies have been slow to look for a cure to this increasingly dangerous infection," Cohen said. "I believe the public sector will most likely be responsible for finding the cure, and I think state government can share in that search and success."

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Youngblood proposes streamlining hiring process of state House

Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would streamline administrative operations within the House of Representatives to foster uniformity, equity and transparency in hiring and other human resource practices. Youngblood said her proposal would combine the human resource and administrative services of each caucus within the state House into a single bipartisan entity called the Office of Legislative Services, which would be under the authority of the Bipartisan Management Committee.

"As we examine ways to reform and streamline the operations of our state government, it is vital that we begin restructuring the way we handle our own administrative services here in the state House," Youngblood said. "I believe that combining these most basic support services for both House caucuses is a step in the right direction."

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