Brooks’ ‘Heroes and Helpers’ Legislation Passes House

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Bob Brooks’ (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny) legislation to help recruit more first responders across Pennsylvania by authorizing counties to offer a tax credit against the property tax liability of active volunteers of a fire or emergency medical services (EMS) company passed the House of Representatives unanimously today.

House Votes to Increase First Responder Loan Limits

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) today announced that the House of Representatives has voted to advance her bill, House Bill 1816, which would increase the maximum loan limits available to volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services through the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP).

House Votes to Provide Tuition Assistance to Volunteer First Responders

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. James Struzzi (R-Indiana) today announced that the House of Representatives has unanimously voted to advance his bill, House Bill 1773, which would establish the Tuition Assistance for Active Volunteers Program. This program would provide tuition assistance to active members of a volunteer fire company or emergency medical services agency who attend an approved institution of higher learning.

Diamond Introduces Amendment to Keep Focus on Voting Reform

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) released the following statement today announcing his intent to introduce an amendment to a voting reform bill that would strip it of language regarding access to campaign expense records.

Committee Approves Schmitt Bill to Better Track State Pensions

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation introduced by Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) that would require the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) to produce an additional report each year to provide policymakers with more information for budget planning was approved by the House State Government Committee on Tuesday.

Committee Advances Bill to Protect Health Care Workers

Oct. 23, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) announced that the House Judiciary Committee has passed his bill, House Bill 1879. This bill would amend Title 18 to add “health care practitioners” to the list of protected classes in the event of assault. Under the bill, the penalty for an assault on a health care practitioner, while in the performance of duty, would be increased from a misdemeanor to a felony of the second degree.

House Approves Bill to Improve PennWATCH Site, Says Toepel

Oct. 22, 2019 /

HARRISBURG - A bill sponsored by Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) that would include information on the state’s PennWATCH website about each settlement paid as a result of an action taken by an employee of a Commonwealth agency was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives today.

James Defends Life-Saving Commonwealth Volunteers from Needless Paperwork

Oct. 22, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – As part of a larger package of bills designed to improve recruitment and retention of firefighters and emergency responders in the Commonwealth, legislation drafted by Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) that would exempt volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance companies from the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) received strong bipartisan support from the House today.

Keefer Bill to Improve Trespassing Notifications Clears Committee

Oct. 22, 2019 /

HARRISBURG – A bill to give landowners, particularly farmers, more options to post their property as areas not to trespass on was approved by the House Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support on Tuesday, Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-York/Cumberland) said.