7 New PA Laws That May Change Your Life In 2016

2015 was a year of change in Pennsylvania, as several new laws went into effect that could have a lasting impact on the day to day lives of citizens of the Keystone State.

Health Care For Seniors

Resolving health care issues for seniors was one of state Rep. Seth Grove’s priorities in 2015, and he delivered with House Bill 777, signed into law in December.

The law allows for more prescription drug assistance for seniors through the popular PACE and PACENET programs. Cardholders are now able to retain benefits which they would have lost as the Social Security cost of living increased.

Child Abuse

The scandal at Penn State involving former football coach Jerry Sandusky rocked both the university and the state.

In a response to that incident, several new laws were signed into law in 2014 and 2015 to help protect children.

The new laws require background checks and clearances for anyone with direct contact with children, and to make access to training regarding child abuse recognition more widely available.

Gun Rights

Before a renewed wave of mass shootings in 2015 brought the gun debate first and foremost to the national conscience, legislation was passed in Pennsylvania that made it easier for towns to sue over firearms restrictions.

The law was extremely divisive, along the usual lines. Gun advocates said it protected their rights and kept them safer. Gun control advocates said it was illegal.

Act 192 went into effect in January of 2015, but by June, the courts had already struck it down as unconstitutional. Their reasoning was that the language about guns had been added on to a larger bill that was focused on copper and aluminum theft.

Because the legislation was struck down due to its process, not its content, means that this is something to keep an eye on heading into 2016.

Unions and Intimidation

Unions have long been an important part of life for workers around the country.

With the number of wage labor jobs relying on unions in Pennsylvania, the issue is especially important locally. Like guns, unions are incredibly divisive, with strong opinions on both sides of the issue effecting large numbers of people.

In November, Gov. Wolf signed into law Act 59, aimed at protecting union members, workers, and all employees from harassment, threats, and intimidation.

Somehow, there was a loophole in the existing Crimes Code which prevented police from intervening in any situation involving a labor dispute - even in cases of harassment, intimidation, and “threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction.

The new law removes the loophole and gives police the authority to intervene whenever they deem necessary.

Commercial Drivers Licenses

Important changes were made to the Commerical Drivers License (CDL) in 2015 with the passage into law of Act 75 in October.

Along with some minor changes to periodical physical and vision examinations, the law changed the codes used to describe the difference classifications of CDL’s. The codes can be found here.

Perhaps more importantly, the new law states that an applicant who has restrictions on their current license does not need to completely retake the CDL skills test, but can instead pass a modified test.

Multiple changes were made to the test itself as well. These changes can be reviewed on the DMV site here.

Fracking

Fracking, the controversial use of water to blast open to the earth to get at oil reserves, is loathed by environmentalists.

But in a nod to business interests and oil developers in the state, Gov. Wolf, a Democrat with a historically pro-environment voting record, signed into law a bill giving fracking companies access to treated mine water for their work.

Under Act 47, sponsored by State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Greene County), fracking companies are no longer held responsible for impurities that may have snuck into the previously treated mine water.

More fracking could have a huge impact on the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians. It could potentially mean more jobs, more environmental disaster, more land lost, and it will almost certainly engender more debate.

Rape

Senate Bill 663, sponsored by Senator Randy Vulakovich, was signed by Gov. Wolf in October. The law improves state protections for victims of rape.

A court is now able to terminate the parental rights of a convicted rapist, meaning that the child of a rapist would not be placed in danger under the convict’s custody.

Under the new law, courts can also completely remove the rapist’s access to full, partial, or supervised custody of a child conceived by rape.