74 New Laws Just Signed In Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Tom Wolf signed dozens of bills into law on Wednesday. In total, 74 new Pennsylvania laws were signed, and three were vetoed.

The new laws govern everything from saving dogs in hot cars, to protecting domestic abuse victims, and providing suicide prevention at colleges.

Here's a look at all 74 that were signed:

• House Bill 1216: This law allows officers to enter a vehicle to provide care to an animal believed to be a victim of neglect or living below minimum care standards. The new law allows a police officer, humane officer, animal control officer or other public safety professionals to remove a dog or cat from an unattended vehicle if they believe the animal is in "imminent danger or harm" after a reasonable search for the operator of the vehicle. It further protects a police officer, humane officer, or public safety professional who removes a dog or cat from an unattended vehicle from liability for any damages. It also requires that the officer who removes a dog or cat from an unattended vehicle must leave a conspicuous note for the owner stating the officer’s information and the information for where to pick up the pet. Read more.
• House Bill 163: Eliminates driver’s license suspensions for non-driving infractions. “This commonsense legislation promotes smart sentencing reform so that an individual may be able to keep their driver’s license after it was taken away for non-driving infractions,” Gov. Wolf said. “Having a valid driver’s license can make a difference in finding and retaining employment, which can ultimately help with the payment of fines, cost and restitution, and a reduction in recidivism." Read more.
• Senate Bill 915: Extends the time a convicted individual has to file a post-conviction relief action to one year, from what was 60 days under current law. Read more.
• Senate Bill 916: Updates Pennsylvania’s DNA testing law to reflect significant advances in technology and the lessons learned by criminal justice professionals since 2002. The legislation removes the supervision requirement that only people serving a sentence can apply for DNA testing. Expanded DNA testing has been used in overturning wrongful convictions and solving unsolved cases to benefit crime victims. Read more.
• Senate Bill 961: Increases the penalties for someone convicted of vehicular homicide while DUI that has also had prior offenses for DUI. Read more.
• Senate Bill 554: Creates new protections and supports for children of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The new law shields children from prosecution for crimes their abusers forced them to commit, enhances law enforcement training and establishes a new fund for victim services. Read more.
• Senate Bill 919: This is the final bill in a package of bills aimed to protect victims of domestic violence. It allows a housing authority tenant who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence to request relocation if the domestic or sexual violence occurred on or near the home within 90 calendar days of the request. The tenant may also request relocation if they believe they are in imminent harm from domestic or sexual violence if they remain in the home. Read more.
• House Bill 26: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for antique, classic and collectible plates and for special registration plates, etc. Read more.
• House Bill 44: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for commencement of proceedings. Read more.
• House Bill 99: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for regulation of contracts. Read more.
• House Bill 126: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in prescribing opioids to minors, further providing for procedure; providing for reimbursement of patient expenses associated with participation in cancer clinical trials and for duties of the Department of Health, etc. Read more.
• House Bill 149: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for unlawful use of an audio or video device in court. Read more.
• House Bill 353: Amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for definitions and for professional prescription, administration, and dispensing. Read more.
• House Bill 504: Amends the Insurance Department Act of 1921, further providing for definitions and providing for self-service storage insurance. Read more.
• House Bill 544: Amends the Recreational use of Land Liability Law, further providing for liability for landowners to recreational users. Read more.
• House Bill 645: Amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971, further providing for excluded transactions; and, in neighborhood assistance tax credit, further providing for tax credit and for grant of tax credit and providing for reporting. Read more.
• House Bill 927: Amends the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, in recycling and waste reduction, further providing for municipal implementation of recycling programs. Read more.
• House Bill 983: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for alimony pendente lite, counsel fees and expenses. Read more.
• House Bill 1013: Amends the Insurance Company Law of 1921, further providing for emergency services and providing for quality eye care for insured residents. Read more.
• House Bill 1228: Amends the Public School Code of 1949, providing for sun protection of students, including the application of nonprescription sunscreen. Read more.
• House Bill 1233: Establishes a new standard for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment for those with serious mental illness, while leaving in place the clear and present danger standard for involuntary hospitalization. Read more.
• House Bill 1284: Provides for the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop within the Department of Community and Economic Development. Read more.
• House Bill 1294: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for special plates for recipients of Purple Heart and providing for special plates for recipients of Legion of Merit, etc. Read more.
• House Bill 1511: Amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in hotel occupancy tax, further providing for definitions and for imposition of tax and establishing the Tourism Promotion Fund. Read more.
• House Bill 1822: Provides for suicide prevention in institutions of higher education. Read more.
• House Bill 1840: Amends the Workers' Compensation Act, further providing for schedule of compensation, for computation of benefits and for physical examination or expert interview. Read more.
• House Bill 1884: Amends the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for child exploitation awareness education. Read more.
• House Bill 1885: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in personal representative and bond, further providing for requiring or changing amount of bond.Read more.
• House Bill 1886: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in incapacitated persons, further providing for provisions concerning powers, duties and liabilities. Read more.
• House Bill 1936: Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for restrictions on use of highways and bridges; and, in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, further providing for operation by persons under age sixteen and for mufflers and sound controls. Read more.
• House Bill 1951: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of access of minors to dextromethorphan and imposing a penalty. Read more.
• House Bill 1958: Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions; in rules of the road in general, providing for platooning; and providing for highly automated vehicles. Read more.
• House Bill 2049: Provides for requirements for documentation of the need for an assistance animal or service animal in housing and for the offenses of misrepresentation of entitlement to assistance animal or service animal and misrepresentation of animal as assistance animal or service animal. Read more.
• House Bill 2052: Amends the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for military parent student support. Read more.
• House Bill 2075: Amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems, further providing for valuation of and return on the property of a public utility. Read more.
• House Bill 2124: Amends the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for information regarding education loans. Read more.
• House Bill 2453: Amend the Check Cashier Licensing Act, including updating licensing provisions like license terms and fees and updating suspension and revocation provisions. Read more.
• House Bill 2476: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for weapons or implements for escape; and, in miscellaneous provisions, further providing for contraband prohibited. Read more.
• House Bill 2557: Establishes intergovernmental cooperation authorities for certain cities of the third class; providing for powers and duties; and making an appropriation.Read more.
• Senate Bill 6: Amends the Human Services Code, further providing for definitions, for resources and for verification system, prohibiting eligibility for individuals convicted of drug distribution, prohibiting eligibility for violators of sexual offender registration, further providing for false statements, investigations and penalty and for prohibited use of public assistance funds. Read more.
• Senate Bill 31: Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act, establishing the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee, further providing for department responsibilities and for use of funds and providing for spinal cord injury research programs funding. Read more.
• Senate Bill 299: Amends the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries. Read more.
• Senate Bill 353: Authorizes the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey to the Pennhurst Memorial Preservation Alliance a certain tract of land with certain improvements on it situate in East Vincent Township, Chester County. Read more.
• Senate Bill 403: An Act amending Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, further providing for commission members. Read more.
• Senate Bill 627: An Act amending the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions.Read more.
• Senate Bill 676: Amends the Workers' Compensation Act, further providing for injuries outside this Commonwealth. Read more.
• Senate Bill 748: An Act providing for public safety facilities. Read more.
• Senate Bill 764: Creates a recreational vehicle (RV) specific law which would govern RV dealers, manufacturers, and salespeople. Read more.
• Senate Bill 771: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for completion, filing and publication of auditor's report and financial statements. Read more.
• Senate Bill 772: Amends the First Class Township Code, further providing for surcharges, auditors' report and publication of financial statements. Read more.
• Senate Bill 773: Provides for publication of audit report in incorporated towns of the Commonwealth. Read more.
• Senate Bill 796: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions; in fees, further providing for exemptions from other fees and providing for recreational trailers and recreational cargo trailers and for special procedures for trailer registration. Read more.
• Senate Bill 798: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission, further providing for establishment and membership. Read more.
• Senate Bill 801: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for regulation of contracts; and further providing for contracts or purchases not requiring advertising or bidding. Read more.
• Senate Bill 802: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class Township Code, in contracts, further providing for general regulations concerning contracts. Read more.
• Senate Bill 803: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, in contracts, further providing for letting contracts. Read more.
• Senate Bill 804: An Act amending the act of May 27, 1953 (P.L.244, No.34), entitled "An act relating to and regulating the contracts of incorporated towns and providing penalties," further providing for regulation of contracts. Read more.
• Senate Bill 888: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of the road in general, further providing for additional parking regulations to improve access for disabled people. Read more.
• Senate Bill 897: An Act amending the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for restitution for injuries to person or property; and, in sentencing, further providing for victim impact statements. Read more.
• Senate Bill 945: Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, further providing for contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund. Read more.
• Senate Bill 947: Amends Titles 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) and 11 (Cities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in corporate powers, further providing for personal property; and, in corporate powers, further providing for city property and affairs. Read more.
• Senate Bill 948: Amends the First Class Township Code, further providing for suits and property. Increases from $1,000 to $2,000 the value of municipal personal property below which a first class township need not publicly advertise for bids when selling its personal property. Read more.
• Senate Bill 949: An Act amending the act of May 27, 1953 (P.L.244, No.34), entitled "An act relating to and regulating the contracts of incorporated towns and providing penalties," further providing for power to convey. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1005: Makes extensive revisions to the County Code. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1007: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions, for chief assessor, for notices, appeals and certification of values, for special provisions relating to countywide revisions of assessments, for board of assessment appeals and board of assessment revision, for regulations of board and for auxiliary appeal boards and alternates; and making editorial changes. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1078: Amends Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for executive sessions when discussing security measures. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1092: Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for sentencing for offenses involving domestic violence in the presence of a minor. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1095: Amends the Public School Code relating to the Keystone Exams and providing students with several alternative pathways to demonstrate postsecondary readiness. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1098: Allows for cameras on school buses to capture violations relating to passing a school bus. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1127: Amends the current penalties for those that engage in the fraudulent traffic of food orders, otherwise more commonly known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1156: Designates new names for several highways and bridges in the Commonwealth. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1171: Replaces the function and composition of the Nutrient Management Advisory Board with a newly created Farm Animal Advisory Board to give animal farmers greater input into environmental regulations. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1205: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for corporate governance annual disclosure; and, in reserve liabilities, further providing for small company exemption. Read more.
• Senate Bill 1209: Addresses the backlog of untested rape kits by establishing a commission of local and state agencies to annually review funding needs and improve communications and creating a hotline for hospitals to call if a rape kit is not picked up within 72 hours. Read more.

The governor also vetoed House Bill 83, House Bill 2157, and Senate Bill 1172.

• House Bill 83: Would amend the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act, further providing for bonds, issue of bonds and notes, maturity and interest. “This legislation restricts the state’s flexibility to restructure outstanding debt to reduce future liabilities for citizens of the commonwealth,” said Governor Wolf. “Maximizing the commonwealth’s ability to secure the least costly interest rate and repayment terms is essential to enable the commonwealth to reduce annual debt service payments whenever possible to enable savings to fund other essential commonwealth programs.”
• House Bill 2157: Would amend the Public School Code of 1949, further providing for Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence; in vocational education, providing for utilization of credits; and providing for classification of program code. “This legislation renders certain agricultural education programs ineligible for state and federal funding. Specifically, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is the single state agency that is federally authorized to approve these programs,” said Governor Wolf. “Last year, my administration distributed approximately $57,000,000 in state Career and Technical Education funding to schools across the commonwealth. By removing program approval authority from the department, this bill would impair those schools’ ability to receive this funding and would eliminate funding for agricultural education programs approved under this bill’s provisions. In addition, the bill would require schools that currently receive Federal Perkins funding for Agriculture Education programs to forego such funds, costing those schools $6,345,299.”
• Senate Bill 1172: Would amend the Price Gouging Act, further providing for definitions, for price gouging prohibited and for investigation. "This legislation alters the existing standard in determining price gouging and permits pre-established increased costs during emergencies. Further, the legislation encourages the prices of consumer goods and services to be increased prior to a state of disaster emergency being declared. This legislation undermines the purpose of the act by reducing the standard for determining an unconscionable excessive price and shortens the period of this prohibition,” said Governor Wolf. “Rather than burdening consumers, I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly to protect the citizens of the commonwealth during a public emergency.”

The governor also signed seven new laws late last week. Here's a look at those.

Image via PA Gov. Tom Wolf's office