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Harrisburg Happenings
Dear Friend, I am pleased to send you my Session Wrap Up e-newsletter. This e-newsletter features events and legislative activities during the Session Week of April 23, 2018. If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website www.senatorlaughlin.com for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the page. If you would like to contact my office, please go to my web page and click the “contact” button. Please do not “reply” directly to this e-mail. Sincerely, Dan Laughlin Maternal Death Review Committee Measure Sent to GovernorThe Senate approved legislation on Wednesday that would create a statewide review committee to identify and investigate pregnancy-related deaths among expectant and new mothers. The measure now goes to the Governor for enactment into law. House Bill 1869 establishes a committee to review maternal deaths and develop strategies for the prevention of maternal deaths. The 14-member Maternal Mortality Review Committee would be empowered to track cases involving women who die within one year of the end of a pregnancy and develop recommendations to prevent such deaths. Currently, 32 states have maternal mortality review committees in operation or in development. Between 700 and 900 American women die each year from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. The rate of life-threatening complications has soared in the past few decades, impacting more than 50,000 women annually. Also sent to the Governor this week was House Bill 1926, which designates a portion of Fort Washington Avenue in Montgomery County as the SPC5 George W. Charters, Jr., Memorial Highway. School Safety Measure Sent to House of RepresentativesThe Senate approved a measure on Wednesday that will give school districts in areas without municipal police coverage a new option for protecting their students. Senate Bill 1136 amends the state School Code to allow a school located in a municipality without a municipal police department to enter into a cooperative police service agreement with an adjacent municipality. Senate Bill 1136 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Approves New Marketing Tool for Veteran-Owned BusinessesThe Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would provide a valuable new marketing tool for veteran-owned businesses. Senate Bill 1041 directs the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create logos to promote businesses owned by veterans, disabled veterans, active duty service members and members of the National Guard and reserves. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration The Senate approved 10 additional measures this week. Senate Resolution 258 urges Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Senate Bill 384 removes the current exemption for Philadelphia from the Assessors Certification Act of 1992. Senate Bill 435 would require all motorists to clear snow and ice from the top of their vehicles before driving. House Bill 478 requires outpatient psychiatric clinics to have a psychiatrist on site for two hours of psychiatric time per week for each full-time equivalent treatment staff member employed by the clinic. The bill returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments. Senate Bill 627 ensures that all air freight companies are treated equally under Pennsylvania tax law. Senate Bill 1056 allows long-standing deductions for depreciation in determining taxable income. Senate Bill 1070 creates a County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee. Senate Bill 1071 streamlines the process for placement in State Intermediate Punishment. Senate Bill 1072 revises sentencing laws. Senate Bill 1091 provides for contributions for pediatric cancer research and establishes the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Committee RoundupAging & Youth The Senate Aging & Youth Committee approved two bills on Tuesday. Senate Bill 891 requires the Department of Aging to cross-check its list of PACE and PACENET beneficiaries with death records maintained by the Department of Health. House Bill 1232 requires schools and hospitals to display a poster that includes the statewide toll-free telephone number for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. Appropriations The Senate Appropriations Committee approved 15 bills on Monday. Senate Bill 384 removes the current exemption for Philadelphia from the Assessors Certification Act of 1992. House Bill 478 requires outpatient psychiatric clinics to have a psychiatrist on site for two hours of psychiatric time per week for each full-time equivalent treatment staff member employed by the clinic. Senate Bill 627 ensures that all air freight companies are treated equally under Pennsylvania tax law. Senate Bill 995 is the capital budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1031 requires the Department of Insurance to submit an annual report detailing its spending for third-parties contractors to conduct fiscal examinations of insurance companies doing business in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1056 allows long-standing deductions for depreciation in determining taxable income. Senate Bill 1091 provides for contributions for pediatric cancer research and establishes the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Senate Bill 1117 is the State Gaming Fund Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1118 is Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1119 is Workers’ Compensation Act and Office of Small Business Advocate funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1120 is Bureau of Professional and Occupations Affairs funding, including the State Athletic Commission, for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1121 is Office of Consumer Advocate funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1122 is Office of Small Business Advocate funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1124 is State Employees’ Retirement Board funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Senate Bill 1125 is Public School Employees’ Retirement Board funding for Fiscal Year 2018-19. The Appropriations Committee approved two bills on Tuesday. Senate Bill 576 defines the difference between an inducement for a patient to participate in a cancer clinical trial and the reimbursement of expenses for participating in a clinical trial. Senate Bill 1136 amends state law regarding school police officers. The Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 83 on Wednesday. The bill requires that, except in cases of refunding bond issuance, all debt amortization must be done using an equal annual maturities plan. Community, Economic & Recreational Development The Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee approved two bills on Tuesday. House Bill 864 allows 50/50 drawings at the Pittsburgh Airport. Senate Bill 1047 provides for the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure The Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee approved three bills on Tuesday. Senate Bill 835 regulates pipeline land agents. Senate Bill 930 provides for pipeline emergency management information. Senate Bill 931 provides for pipeline safety valves. Education The Senate Education Committee approved three bills on Monday. House Bill 679 requires the Department of Education to establish a central online clearinghouse, including an online database of online courses for students enrolled in grades six through 12. House Bill 857 adds online schools to the types of schools licensed, regulated, and inspected by the State Board of Private Academic Schools. Senate Bill 1136 amends state law regarding school police officers. The Education Committee approved two bills on Tuesday. Senate Bill 1104 changes the certification requirements for vocational teachers. Senate Bill 1142 establishes the Safe2Say Program and provides methods of anonymous reporting unsafe activities in schools. Judiciary The Senate Judiciary Committee approved five bills on Tuesday. Senate Bill 897 expands the scope of restitution for victims to include government agencies, non-profits, corporations and other similar organizations. Senate Bill 1036 addresses the inability to pay fines and court costs. Senate Bill 1126 requires training for the minor judiciary to better identify indigent individuals unable to pay court costs, fines, and fees. Senate Bill 1127 increases the penalties for the fraudulent traffic of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. House Bill 1979 removes a sunset provision for a 20-year statute of limitations on actions on instruments under seal. Local Government The Senate Local Government Committee approved five bills on Tuesday. House Bill 479 addresses intergovernmental agreements. House Bill 480 addresses intergovernmental agreements. House Bill 481 addresses intergovernmental agreements. Senate Bill 1006 addresses the existing statutory requirement that building permit information be submitted to the county assessment office to ensure accurate property valuation. Senate Bill 1007 makes changes to state law regarding county boards of assessment. Transportation The Senate Transportation Committee approved six bills on Wednesday. Senate Bill 945 would allow for the doubling of the donation level for the Veterans Trust Fund on two-year vehicle registration renewals. Senate Bill 1063 designates a bridge on Route 286 over the Two Lick Creek in the Borough of Clymer, Indiana County, as the Corporal Louis R. Tate Memorial Bridge. Senate Bill 1098 would allow for the placement of cameras on school buses to capture motorists who pass when red signals are flashing. Senate Bill 1101 reduces the need for some consumers to obtain a recovered theft vehicle title by creating a damage threshold that would trigger this requirement. House Bill 1964 designates a portion of Route 115 in Monroe County as the Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway. House Bill 2067 designates a portion of Route 73 in Philadelphia as the Police Officer Isabel Nazario Memorial Highway. Urban Affairs & Housing The Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee approved Senate Bill 1066 on Tuesday. The bill creates First-time Homebuyers Savings Accounts. |
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