PA House Agenda For Wednesday

Here's this week's schedule for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Information has been supplied by Rep. Mike Turzai, Republican Majority Leader.

Wednesday, May 23

Committee Meetings/Hearings
EDUCATION, 9 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• SB 1406 (Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon/Berks/Chester/Dauphin/Lancaster):  Allows private, non-profit colleges or universities to offer additional degrees and institute additional programs and majors without the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education if the college or university has operated continuously in Pennsylvania for at least 10 years and is accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

• HB 1775 (Rep. Camille George, D-Clearfield):  Establishes retroactively that, unless a contractual provision explicitly assigns alternative energy credits in a different manner, the owner of an alternative energy system or a customer-generator owns any and all alternative energy credits associated with or created by the production of electric energy and shall be entitled to sell or transfer the credits.
• HB 1659 (Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong/Indiana):  Establishes a submission and review process that all future applicants for permits from the Department of Environmental Protection must go through.
• SB 367 (Sen. Don White, R-Indiana/Armstrong/Butler/Clearfield/Westmoreland):  Authorizes the Department of General Services to make and execute contracts or leases in the name of the Commonwealth for the mining or removal of valuable coal, oil, natural gas, coal bed methane, limestone and mineral resources which may be found in or beneath state-owned land and to convey Commonwealth rights to mineral resources; establishes the process for advertising and bidding; and sets forth the distribution of revenue.
• HB 2359 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/Potter/McKean):  Requires the Environmental Quality Board to establish procedures for the removal of flood-related hazards or related stream clearing activities by persons owning adjacent property, or municipalities where the flood-related hazards are located or related stream clearing activities are to be completed.

HUMAN SERVICES, 9 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building

• SB 1351 (Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland/York):  Allows certified nurse practitioners to sign death certificates.
• HB 386 (Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster):  Establishes a mental retardation services tax credit for business firms contributing money, property, or services to a non-profit community-based mental retardation service provider.

AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

• Informational meeting to discuss the issue of property tax relief for seniors and to discuss HB 273 (Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford/Fulton/Huntingdon): Establishes a demonstrative program where select school districts can allow senior citizens living in their district to volunteer in the schools in exchange for a property tax credit, the rate of which will be $5 an hour and may not exceed the total amount of property tax owed.

TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• Informational meeting on fairs and festivals in Pennsylvania.

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 9:30 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

• HB 305 (Rep. John Hornaman, D-Erie):  Increases the monthly payment for the paralyzed veteran’s pension from $150 to $200 per month.
• HB 173 (Rep. Ron Miller, R-York):  Clarifies the current law regarding leaves of absence for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard by stating that the 15-day leave of absence is to be applied to a 24 hour day and prohibits an officer or employee from being required to return to duty within 18 hours of being relieved of federal or state active duty.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH, 10 a.m., Room B-31, Main Capitol Building

• HB 451 (Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks):  Reduces the amount of time a parent can revoke his/her consent for adoption from within 30 days to within 96 hours of the birth of the child or the execution of consent.

INSURANCE, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

• HB 32 (Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny):  Requires insurers to give the Insurance Department at least 90 days advance written notice of the expiration date of a contract with a hospital and clarifies that the Insurance Department has the authority to extend the contract for another term if the expiration would leave insured individuals without adequate access to a viable alternate health care delivery system.
• HB 508 (Rep. Tony DeLuca):  Requires all health insurers to cover the costs that are directly associated with a cancer clinical trial in which an insured individual participates voluntarily.
• HB 532 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York):  Requires health insurers to provide coverage of general anesthesia and associated medical costs for dental care provided to children who are 7 years old or younger or to special needs patients.
• HB 1537 (Rep. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery/Philadelphia):  Prohibits an insurer from setting fees for dental services which are provided to its subscribers unless the insurer is compensating a dentist for the services.
• HB 2135 (Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-Bucks):  Requires vendors to hold a limited lines license to sell, solicit, or negotiate coverage under a policy of portable electronics insurance, requires vendors to maintain a list of the Pennsylvania locations where they offer coverage, and outlines the written materials that must be made available to customers at all of the vendor’s locations.
• SB 388 (Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland/York):  Requires dentists to maintain medical professional liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1 million per occurrence or claim and $3 million per annual aggregate.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 10:15 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

• SB 1433 (Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder/Dauphin/Luzerne):  Establishes the Homeowner Assistance Settlement Fund, from which no more than $12 million will be distributed annually at the following rate: 90 percent of the funds will be given to the Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, 5 percent will be given to the Attorney General for the purpose of funding housing consumer protection programs, and 5 percent will be given to the Access to Justice account for civil legal assistance related to housing issues.

GAME AND FISHERIES, Call of the Chair, Room 205, Ryan Office Building

• SB 1049 (Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Fayette/Somerset/Washington/Westmoreland):  Allows the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to make available licenses and permits that cover multiple years, licenses and permits that cover a group of individuals who meet certain criteria as established by the commission, and allows for promotional discounts.

Session
On Wednesday the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
 
Votes on Third Consideration
HB 1972 (Rep. Justin Simmons)
HB 2254 (Rep. Mike Fleck)
HB 2289 (Rep. Jerry Stern)
HB 2324 (Rep. Mark Keller)
HB 2326 (Rep. Mark Keller)