Saccone Bill to Bestow New Honors Passes House

Mar. 21, 2017 /

HARRISBURG—Legislation introduced by Rep. Rick Saccone (R- Allegheny/Washington) that would add two new decorations to the list of existing medals, badges and awards conferred by the Commonwealth for heroic civilian and military service passed the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday.

Pickett Votes for Bills to Get Children into Loving Homes

Mar. 21, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – As a way to help ensure that Pennsylvania children who are in need of loving homes are adopted, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) voted last week to approve a series of bills designed to improve the way in which adoptions are handled in Pennsylvania.

House OKs Study of Right-to-Know Law, Harper Says

Mar. 21, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Working to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s Right-to-Know Law, the state House has unanimously approved a resolution, sponsored by Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), to study the law’s impact on state and local agencies.

House Children and Youth Committee to Consider Task Force Bill

Mar. 21, 2017 /

WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee will consider House Bill 235 authored by its chairman, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), to establish a task force on the opioid abuse epidemic’s impact on children. The legislation also would outline the duties and responsibilities of such task force, which is modeled after the Task Force on Child Protection.

Human Services Committee to Consider Rx Database, Budget Impasse and Mental Health Measures

Mar. 21, 2017 /

WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold a voting meeting to consider four proposals, including two by the chairman. House Bill 396 would require prescribers to query the prescription monitoring database for each patient every time the patient is prescribed a controlled substance; and House Bill 398 would ensure that funding continues for essential human services in case of a budget impasse. Two other bills on the agenda include House Bill 45, which would allow eligible, terminally ill patients to use investigational drugs, biological products and devices not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and House Bill 381, which would require the Department of Human Services to issue guidelines and adopt rules and regulations regarding a minor’s right to consent to mental health treatment.

Pickett Bill to Exempt Maple Sugar Houses from UCC Passes House

Mar. 20, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that will help bring common sense to the state’s Uniform Construction Code (UCC), especially along the Northern Tier, passed the state House today and is on its way to the state Senate for consideration, said Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna).

Rep. White Bill to Protect Police IDs Passes House

Mar. 20, 2017 /

HARRISBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) to protect police officers and their families when the officer is involved in a discharge of his or her firearm or other use of force has passed the House.

Who Will Come When You Call?

Mar. 20, 2017 /

In the spirit of Senate Resolution 60, the General Assembly is working on corresponding legislation that addresses the following issues:

Benninghoff Invites Tech Firms to Present Potential Budget Cost Savings

Mar. 20, 2017 /

WHAT: State government agencies have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to upgrade and build technology systems and databases in an attempt to make government run more efficiently and effectively. Yet, despite the money being spent, the data collected is not being used to its fullest potential, personnel costs are climbing, fraud and system abuse continues, and Pennsylvania is still years behind in its technology capabilities.

Committee Approves Ortitay Bill to Streamline Problem Gambling Assistance

Mar. 20, 2017 /

HARRISBURG — The House Gaming Oversight Committee today reported out Rep. Jason Ortitay’s (R-Washington/Allegheny) legislation to streamline the Commonwealth’s problem gambling assistance telephone number and put into law current practice involving education, awareness and training for problem gaming.

Barrar and House, Senate Committees to Hear from Veteran Community

Mar. 20, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct a joint informational hearing to learn about programs and issues that affect our veteran and military communities.

Senate and House Committees Announce Hearing on Autonomous Vehicle Testing

Mar. 17, 2017 /

HARRISBURG-- The Senate and House Transportation Committees will hold a joint hearing to gather information on “Highly Automated Vehicles,” also known as autonomous vehicles, driverless cars, self-driving cars, etc. The committees will focus on Senate Bill 427, which creates standards for the testing of Highly Automated Vehicles (HAV) on roadways in the Commonwealth.