Weekly Wrap
Both chambers were in Harrisburg this week for three session days.
On Monday, the House Professional Licensure Committee held an informational meeting with the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to receive updates on the PA Licensing System (PALS) and licensing processing times. The Committee then held a voting meeting to report out:
- H.B. 192 (Topper, R-Bedford), which would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;
- H.B. 245 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would change the timeframe in which international medical graduates can apply for a medical license; and
- H.B. 325 (Greiner, R-Lancaster), which would permit licensing boards to issue advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of an Act or regulation pertaining to the licensee.
The rest of the day was highlighted by public hearings and informational meetings:
- The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held an informational meeting on Pennsylvania's energy potential: hydrogen power and carbon capture (part two will take place on Monday);
- The House State Government Committee held a public hearing on government telework policies and data during COVID-19;
- The House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee held an informational meeting on the impact of COVID-19 on tourism, lodging, and attractions; and
- The Senate Special Committee on Election Integrity and Reform Committee held a public hearing on best practices of election integrity and security from other states.
Tuesday, the House Consumer Affairs Committee held a public hearing to receive testimony from the Public Utility Commission and the Energy Association of PA regarding the electric industry. Also, the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee reported out S.B. 154 (Langerholc, R-Cambria), which would increase the amount of available grants to distressed municipalities under Act 47.
On the House floor, H.B. 230 (Ryan, R-Lebanon) passed finally and heads to the Senate for consideration. The bill would require the Independent Fiscal Office to prepare a revenue estimate for a proposed bill or amendment expected to have a fiscal impact over $25 million.
The Senate sent S.B. 116 (Scavello, R-Monroe) to the House. The bill would update and modernization History Code provisions relating to archives. The following day, the Senate State Government Committee reported out the House version, H.B. 284 (Metcalfe, R-Butler).
On Wednesday, the House Health Committee reported out four pieces of legislation:
- H.B. 63 (Lawrence, R-Chester), which would require those permitted to vaccinate for COVID-19 by the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to administer vaccines;
- H.B. 649 (Rapp, R-Warren), which would establish protocol for essential caregivers to have access to long-term care facilities;
- H.B. 741 (Heffley, R-Carbon), which would require recovery houses to contact an emergency contact of an individual should they leave under eviction or against medical advice; and
- H.R. 68 (Rapp, R-Warren), which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of the availability of dental services in rural areas of the state.
The Senate Transportation Committee reported out S.B. 114 (Boscola, D-Northampton), which would require motorists to clear snow and ice from the top of their vehicles before driving, and S.B. 382 (Langerholc, R-Cambria), which would provide changes to the public-private transportation partnership (P3) law.
The Senate finally passed S.B. 69 (Langerholc, R-Cambria), which would establish a Recovery-to-Work pilot program for individuals recovering from the heroin and opioid epidemic. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee held budget hearings with the Department of Education and the State System of Higher Education. Finally, the House State Government Committee held a public hearing on mail-in and absentee ballots.
The Week Ahead
Next week the House is in session Monday-Wednesday, while the Senate only has two session days (Tuesday-Wednesday).
The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold two budget on Monday, first with the Department of Corrections and Board of Probation and Parole, and then the Department of Community and Economic Development.
In the lower chamber, the House State Government Committee will hold an informational meeting on regulatory/statutory suspensions and innovation due to COVID-19. Furthermore, the House Insurance Committee will hold an informational meeting examining transparency in prescription drug pricing.
The House Urban Affairs Committee has three bills on their agenda:
- H.B. 264 (Heffley, R-Carbon), which would amend the Real Estate Tax Sale law by requiring a pre-registration process for all potential bidders prior to the sale;
- H.B. 581 (Solomon, D-Philadelphia), which would allow local taxing authorities to expand access to affordable housing through tax abatements or exemptions; and
- H.B. 827 (Gillespie, R-Lancaster), which would allow local governments to develop micro-enterprises in downtown business communities.
Tuesday, the House Commerce Committee will meet to consider H.B. 331 (Brown, R-Monroe), which would authorize certain financial institutions to offer incentives for saving money, and H.B. 747 (Roae, R-Crawford), which would allow small businesses to stay open during a state of emergency.
Also, the House Transportation Committee will consider two bills: H.B. 37 (Brown, R-Monroe), which would prohibit the use of hand-held interactive wireless communications devices while operating a motor vehicle; and H.B. 521 (Stephens, R-Montgomery), which would authorize courts to require an alcohol monitoring device as a condition of bail, probation, or parole for repeat DUI offenders.
The House Human Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on warm hand-offs to treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. In addition, the House Consumer Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing regarding the "State of the Electricity Market", noting the 25th anniversary of the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act.
Wednesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will consider four bills:
- S.B. 108 (Bartolotta, R-Washington), which would dedicate additional Medicaid funding to facilities demonstrating a significant commitment to caring for patients requiring ventilator and tracheostomy services;
- S.B. 156 (Mensch, R-Montgomery), which would allow individuals with disabilities to increase earnings under a new category of Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities;
- S.B. 317 (Browne, R-Lehigh), which would provide for the authority to prescribe or personally furnish antibiotics to treat sexually transmitted infections without having examined the individual for whom the drug is intended; and
- H.B. 203 (Toohil, R-Luzerne), which would prohibit discrimination by an insurer based on an insured's status as a living organ or tissue donor.
The House State Government Committee will consider:
- H.B. 39 (Grove, R-York), which would direct of the Office of the Budget to expand Recovery Audits Contracts (RACs) to include any program which expends over $50 million;
- H.B. 120 (Ryan, R-Lebanon), which would establish a commission to analyze past and projected economic conditions to secure the solvency of the Commonwealth; and
- H.B. 854 (Ecker, R-Adams), which would require an executive agency or contractor to preserve certain records pertaining to COVID-19.
Moreover, the House Finance Committee will consider two bills of note: H.B. 766 (Greiner, R-Lancaster), which would change the due date of corporate tax returns from 30 days after the due date of the federal return to the 15th day of the month following the due date of the federal return; and H.B. 430 (Emrick, R-Northampton), which would waive the 10 percent penalty during the first year of ownership for property owners who did not receive their tax bill.
The House Gaming Oversight Committee will consider H.B. 290 (Warner, R-Fayette), which would allow Small Games of Chance licensees to conduct online games and transactions during the duration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration. Lastly, The House Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing on PennDOT's P-3 bridge tolling initiative.
A full list of committee meetings can be found here:
In Other News
- The Secretary of Health signed an updated order making March 31 the date by which all vaccine providers should have those eligible in Phase 1A schedule for a vaccine appointment.
- The Secretary of Health issued a new order requiring skilled nursing facilities to complete a COVID-19 Vaccine Needs Assessment Survey.
- Department Human Services announced the establishment of five Regional Accountable Health Councils (RAHCs), which will lead efforts to address social determinants of health, reduce health disparities, and promote equity and value in health care.
- The Administration launched the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to distribute $569 million to households at risk of eviction or loss of utility service.
- The Department of Revenue announced they are extending the personal income tax deadline to May 17, 2021.
- The Department of General Services announced the Capitol Building will re-open to the public on March 22.
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