State Representative Mike Turzai

28th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Contact: Stephen Miskin                                                                                                                                       RepTurzai.com

smiskin@pahousegop.com                                                                                                                                                                

717.705.1852

PAHouseGOP.com

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/SAM1963

                                                           

 

TO:                  Capitol Correspondents, News Editors, Assignment Editors

FROM:             Stephen Miskin

                        Press Secretary to the Majority Leader

SUBJ:              House Action for the Week of April 4, 2011

DATE:             April 1, 2011

Ending Runaway Lawsuits, Mandate Relief for Municipalities

The state House returns to session on Monday, April 4, to deal with various issues of importance.

Lawsuit Abuse, the Fair Share Act

Commonsense lawsuit abuse reform tops the House agenda next week as House Bill 1 is prepared for a floor vote. The Fair Share Act passed the General Assembly twice, first in 2002 when Gov. Mark Schweiker signed the legislation only to have the Supreme Court overturn the law on technical grounds. The second time the Fair Share Act passed the General Assembly in 2006, Gov. Ed Rendell broke his promise to sign the legislation and instead vetoed it.

 

Current Pennsylvania law allows a defendant, who may be only 1 percent responsible for the injuries to a plaintiff, to be held liable for 100 percent of the damages – and that is not fair! The system encourages lawsuits; rewards a plaintiff’s attorney for taking a ‘shotgun’ approach to suing, firing lawsuits in every direction instead of focusing on the defendant truly at fault; and discourages reasonable settlements as the lawyer pursues the defendant with the ‘deep pockets.’ The current legal system of “joint and several liability” has forced shut the doors of Pennsylvania employers, leaving unemployed workers in nearly every community.

 

House Bill 1 reforms the civil justice system to eliminate frivolous lawsuits that hamper the medical profession, business development and job growth.

Raising Bid Limits for Local Government Relief

On Tuesday, April 5, the Local Government Committee will vote on a 13-bill package to increase non-bid contract maximums, saving municipalities from the costs of advertising and bidding low-costing contracts and services.

As various state programs will experience budget cuts this year due to the economy, helping municipalities save money is one of the priorities House members are working together to accomplish.

The Weekly Schedule

Bill numbers will be used to identify the legislation being considered either in committee or on the House Floor.  The bills, sponsors and summaries are posted below.

Monday, April 4

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings
                     
LIQUOR CONTROL, 10:30 a.m., Room B31, Main Capitol

•     HB 242 (Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming): Amends the Liquor Code (Title 47) to create a limited distillery license and grant new privileges to those already in possession of a distillery license.

FINANCE, 11 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

•     HB 986 (Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin): Amends the State Lottery Law (Act 91 of 1971) to give a four-year extension of the mandated PA Lottery return rate of 27 percent.

  • HB 174 (Rep. Ron Miller, R-York): Amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to establish tax exclusions for volunteer firemen’s organizations, and volunteer firefighter’s relief associations.
  • HB 626 (Rep. John Bear, R-Lancaster): Amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to establish procedures for claiming special tax provisions and proof of eligibility.

JUDICIARY, 11 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

•     HB 1 (Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester): Would reform Pennsylvania’s liability law to create proportional liability, requiring parties in a lawsuit to only be responsible for their share of damages or injury.

 

Session

On Monday, the House will convene at 1 p.m. for legislative business.  The members will vote the uncontested calendar and Rule 35 resolutions.

 

Votes on Second Consideration

•     HB 66 (Rep. Edward Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne): Designates a bridge in Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County, as the Police Chief Thomas J. Malone Memorial Bridge.

•     HB 162 (Rep. John Bear, R-Lancaster): Would increase the grading of an offense to a misdemeanor of the second degree for anyone who invades the privacy of a minor.

•     HB 176 (Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh): Classifies synthetic marijuana as a controlled substance.

•     HB 218 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Designates a portion of State Route 462 in York County as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.

•     HB 295 (Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton): Amends the “Main Street Act” permitting DCED to provide grants for an additional period of five years.

•     HB 385 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming): Creates the Honor and Remember Flag Act.

•     HB 488 (Rep. Scott Hutchinson, R-Butler/Venango): Authorizes the release of Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act restrictions in Venango County.
                     
                     

 

 

Votes on Third Consideration

•     HB 208 (Reed):  Increases the minimum term of imprisonment for hit-and-run accidents involving death or personal injury from one year to three years.

•     HB 317 (Benninghoff):  Adds an aggravating circumstance to be considered in conjunction with a first-degree murder conviction (whether the defendant perpetrated a sexually violent offense and was a registered sex offender). 

•     HB 344 (Baker): Amends the Public Utilities Code to provide the PUC with regulatory oversight with respect to the safety of certain activities related to the natural gas transportation process. 

•     HB 365 (Swanger): Amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to include salvia divinorum as a Schedule I substance. 

 

Tuesday, April 5

 

Press Conferences/Events:

  • Right to Work Legislation, 9 a.m., Capitol Media Center
    • Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will be joined by other lawmakers to introduce Right to Work legislation.
    • Public Integrity Commission, 10 a.m., Capitol Media Center
      • Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester) will be joined by other lawmakers and government reform advocates to reintroduce legislation creating a Public Integrity Commission.

 

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

•     HB 278-282, 284 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Second Class Township Code, the First Class Township Code, the Third Class City Code, the Borough Code, County Code, and the contracts of incorporated towns to increase non-bid contract maximums and create a system of indexing and adjusting of figures for inflation.

•     HB 286 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Political Subdivision Joint Purchases Law to increase to $25,000 the amount of purchases that may be made subject to certain conditions.

•     HB 287 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Housing Authorities Law to establish the awarding of contracts, competition bond, and additional bond for protection of materialmen and others.

•     HB 288 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Public Auditorium Authorities Law to increase the dollar amount of supplies and materials which may be purchased without advertising.

•     HB 289 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends current law to allow local municipalities to protect themselves against flood through the erection and construction of certain works and improvements.

•     HB 290 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Second Class County Code to set Consumer Price Index adjustments in relation to contracts and purchases.

•     HB 291 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes in relation to competitive bidding of government contracts.

•     HB 294 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes in relation to competitive bidding of contracts to municipal authorities.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND SENATE URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

•     A joint informational meeting on Land Banking.
                     LABOR AND INDUSTRY, 10 a.m., Room B31, Main Capitol

•     A briefing provided by the acting Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry on the financial status of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.

 

HEALTH,  Call Of Chair, Room 205 Ryan Office Building

  • HB 960 (Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon County): Public Welfare Code/fraud detection and eligibility verification.
  • HB 1250 (Rep. Tarah Toohill, R-Luzerne County): Public Welfare Code/false statements, investigations & reporting fraud.
  • HB 1254 (Rep. Mike Reese, Fayette/Westmoreland Counties): Public Welfare Code/prohibited use of public assistance funds.
  • HB 1261 (Rep. Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery County): Public Welfare Code/determination of eligibility.

 

Session
                     
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.  The House Floor photo will be taken.

Votes on Third Consideration

•     HB 66 (Staback)

•     HB 162 (Bear)

•     HB 176 (Mann)

•     HB 218 (Saylor)

•     HB 295 (Freeman)

•     HB 385 (Boback)

•     HB 488 (Hutchinson)

 

Wednesday, April 6

 

Press Conferences/Events:

  • Marcellus Works, 9 a.m., Commonwealth Avenue
    • Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) will re-introduce his “Marcellus Works” package and feature a fleet of natural gas vehicles behind the state Capitol.
    • Child Abuse Prevention Month, 10 a.m., Capitol Rotunda
      • Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny) will be joined by the PA Family Support Alliance to tout his House Resolution 47, which would designate April 2011 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Pennsylvania.

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

•     HB 685 (Rep. James Roebuck, D-Philadelphia): Amends the Public School Code relating to powers and duties of the board.

•     HB 686 (Rep. James Roebuck, D-Philadelphia): Amends the Public School Code in relation to institutions of higher education and the creation of a Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.

GAMING OVERSIGHT, 9 a.m., Room B31, Main Capitol

•     HB 587 (Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks): Requires licensed gaming entities to issue monthly statements of winning and losses for patrons with reward cards.

STATE GOVERNMENT, 9 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

•     HB 934 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler): Requiring proof of identification for voters at every election.

•     HB 647 (Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia): Requiring registered electors to provide county voter registration commissions and the Department of State with two photographs to prepare a voter’s identification card.

URBAN AFFAIRS, 9 a.m., Room 39, East Wing

•     HB 283 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the “Separations Act” to raise the public project threshold from $4,000 to $25,000 and making adjustments for inflation.

•     HB 292 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Will raise the competitive bidding threshold for parking authority contracts.

•     HB 371 (Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester): Amends the Third Class City Code to allow the sale of city personal property through electronic auctions.

•     HB 639 (Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia): Removes a date that prevents the City of Philadelphia from increasing its affordable housing program fee.

AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
                     •     Informational meeting on Homecare and Hospice

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 60, East Wing

•     HB 48 (Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe): Establishes a state licensure requirement for prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists and orthotic fitters under the Medical Practice Act.

•     HB 332 – 333 (Rep. Thomas Killion, R-Chester/Delaware): Amends the Medical Practice Act and Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to require a license to practice genetic counseling.

•     HB 398 (Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-Butler/Mercer): Requires appraisal management companies to register with the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers and become subject to the Board’s regulation and oversight.

TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 10 a.m., Room B31, Main Capitol

•     Presentation by the Tourism office of DCED on the promotion and marketing of PA.
                     TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

•     HR 70 (Rep. Julie Harhart, R-Northampton/Lehigh): Requests the Department of Transportation to conduct a study of the slate industry for the purpose of finding ways to use slate waste as a component in highway construction and civil engineering projects.

•     HB 293 (Rep. Mark Keller, R-Franklin/Perry): Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes relating to competitive bidding of metropolitan transportation authority contracts.

•     HB 700 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to require compliance with Federal Selective Service requirements as part of the application process for learners’ permits or drivers’ licenses.

•     HB 869 (Rep. Ronald Marsico, R-Dauphin): Amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to allow drivers in funeral processions to display flashing or revolving purple lights on any funeral processional vehicle driven in a funeral procession.

•     HB 917 (Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair): Designates the bridge carrying State Route 2014 over the Beaverdam Branch of the Juniata River in Hollidaysburg Borough, Blair County, as the Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Lightner Memorial Bridge.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Call of the Chair, Room 148, Main Capitol

•     HB 192 (Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Philadelphia): Creates an act that prohibits the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in the production of baby products.

•     HB 1182 (Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery): Amends the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to require full disclosure of rental fees and costs to apply to all tenant leases.

Session

On Wednesday, the House will convene at 11 a.m. for legislative business.

 

Votes on Second Consideration

•     HB 1 (Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester): Reforms Pennsylvania’s liability law to create proportional liability, requiring parties in a lawsuit to only be responsible for their share of damages or injury.

  • HB 140 (Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks County):  Creates a freestanding act entitled the Methadone Death and Incident Review Act.  The Department of Health also shall conduct a death review for all deaths where methadone was either a primary or secondary cause of death. 
  • HB 176 (Rep. Jennifer Mannm D-Lehigh County):  Amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to include synthetic marijuana and associated compounds as a Schedule I substance.

•     HB 389 (Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks): Designates the Mill Creek Bridge on the Route 202 Parkway in Warrington Township, Bucks County, as the George W. Niblock Bridge.

•     HB 390 (Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks): Designates a portion of the Route 202 Parkway in Montgomery and Bucks counties as the George A. Penglase Memorial Parkway.

•     HB 399 (Rep. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer): Designates a bridge in Mercer County as the Staff Sgt. David M. Veverka Veterans Memorial Bridge.

•     HB 438 (Rep. Julie Harhart, R-Northampton/Lehigh): Designates a portion of State Route 145 in Northampton and Lehigh counties as the Battle of the Bulge Veterans Memorial Highway.

•     HB 520 (Rep. Adam Harris, R-Juniata/Mifflin/Snyder): Amends the State Lottery Law to create a PA Lottery winnings intercept for state delinquent taxes.

•     HB 589 (Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks): Designates a portion of U.S. Route 1 in Bucks County as the Detective Christopher Jones Memorial Highway.

•     HB 705, 707 (Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, R-Lebanon): Amends the County Code and Second Class County Code to permit county commissioners to abolish the office of jury commissioner.

•     HB 915 (Rep. William Adolph, R-Delaware): Decreases state funds allocated to public education in the 2011-12 state budget and replaces them with federal funds.

•     HB 986 (Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre): Amends the State Lottery Act to provide a four-year extension of the PA Lottery mandated return rate of 27 percent.

 

Thursday, April 7

 

Committee Meetings/Hearings
                     
EDUCATION, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building

•     A presentation by the Department of Education on the PA Value-Added Assessment System.

GAMING OVERSIGHT, 10 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol

•     HB 640 (Rep. Ronald Marsico, R-Dauphin): Transfers duties of the PA Gaming Control Board’s Bureau of Investigations and Enforcements to the PA State Police.

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

•     An informational meeting with a presentation from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) on the regulatory review process.

 

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