Watson Advances Eight Adoption Reform Bills to Full House

Feb. 06, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Committed to opening up more loving homes for children, the House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), today reported out a series of bills designed to reform the adoption process in Pennsylvania.

Simmons’ Student Health and Safety Bill Approved by Committee

Feb. 06, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – The House Education Committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) that would help to ensure the health and safety of Pennsylvania students who suffer from severe allergic reactions. House Bill 224 will next be considered by the full House of Representatives.

Barrar and House, Senate Committees to Learn About Veterans’ Issues

Feb. 06, 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 hear a presentation about programs and issues that concern the veteran and military community.

Harris, House Committee to Vote on Bill Impacting Beer Distributors

Feb. 03, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Adam Harris (R-Franklin/Juniata/Mifflin), chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, will hold a committee meeting to vote on a bill to delay the prohibition of beer distributors from selling or delivering outside of the franchise territory from which they purchased the beer originally to April 30. It would also modify the penalty for those licensees that accept any product improperly sold or delivered outside of their franchise territory from the current 30-day suspension to a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Nesbit to Unveil Bill to Help Keep Opioids off the Streets

Feb. 03, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler) will announce legislation he is sponsoring that would help prevent opioid drugs from being misused. Much of the opioid and heroin abuse crisis stems from doctor and pharmacy shopping and pills being sold on the streets. This legislation is designed to tightly control how opioids are prescribed.

House Children and Youth Committee to Consider Adoption Reform Bills

Feb. 03, 2017 /

WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee will consider six bills to designed to reform the adoption process in Pennsylvania. House Bills 57 and 58, sponsored by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), would streamline and expedite the procedures for terminating parental rights, and shorten the period in which a birth parent can revoke his/her consent; House Bill 59, sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), would allow adoptive families to appeal the amount of an adoption subsidy provided by local authorities; House Bill 61, sponsored by Rep. Harry Lewis (R-Chester), would make it easier for parents who are incarcerated to relinquish their parental rights by allowing correctional staff to witness the individual’s consent to adoption; and House Bills 62 and 63, sponsored by Rep. Dan Miller (D-Allegheny), would eliminate the hearing currently required to confirm parental consent, and refine the definition of “intermediary” to include a licensed attorney or social worker.

Barrar, House Committee to Vote on Bills Benefiting Veterans

Feb. 02, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will hold a committee meeting to adopt the committee rules for the new legislative session and vote on three bills:

Toohil Reintroduces Postpartum Depression Bill

Jan. 31, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Seeking to assist mothers in Pennsylvania who are struggling with postpartum depression and their infants, Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) today reintroduced legislation that would make them eligible for Early Intervention services. Toohil was the prime sponsor of a similar measure during the 2015-16 session that stalled in committee.

Mackenzie Assigned to House Committees, Leadership Positions

Jan. 31, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – With the start of the 2017-18 legislative session, it was announced that state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Berks) was re-appointed as deputy majority whip and deputy chair of the Majority Policy Committee. He will also serve as a member of four House standing committees: Commerce, Environmental Resources & Energy, Insurance, and Labor & Industry.

Toohil Retains Her Seats on Important House Committees

Jan. 31, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) has been appointed to serve on the Children and Youth, Human Services, Judiciary and Professional Licensure committees during the 2017-18 legislative session in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

DiGirolamo to Unveil Proposal to Enlist New Government Approach to Drug Epidemic

Jan. 30, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), chairman of the House Human Services Committee and longtime champion of efforts to prevent drug abuse, will respond to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to combine the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and three other agencies into a Department of Health and Human Services.

Ortitay Introduces Bill to Streamline Problem Gambling Assistance

Jan. 30, 2017 /

HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today introduced legislation to streamline the Commonwealth’s problem gambling assistance telephone number and codify current practice involving education, awareness and training for problem gaming.