Jun. 14, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, this week hosted a public hearing on legislation that would ensure all appropriate fire service personnel are covered under the Heart and Lung Act, which provides compensation and medical care for first responders.
Jun. 14, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement today in response to a Pennsylvania House vote of 150-41 in favor of an amendment to Senate Bill 1071, otherwise known as the Tobash amendment, which establishes a hybrid retirement benefits plan for future state and school employees.
Jun. 14, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Today, members of the York County House Republican delegation supported the passage of Senate Bill 1071, which reforms the Commonwealth’s two public pension systems. Specifically, the legislation will reform benefits for new-hire state employees to bring them more in line with the private sector. The new benefit package is referred to as a “stacked hybrid” with a limited defined benefit pension and a defined contribution, 401(k)-style benefit. The legislation passed on a bipartisan vote of 136-59.
Jun. 14, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – In a bipartisan vote of 136-59, the House of Representatives today sent the Senate legislation to reform the state’s public employee pension systems in order to save taxpayers over $5 billion and make the systems sustainable in the long term, said House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana).
Jun. 14, 2016 /
WHAT: House Gaming Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin) announced the committee will hold a voting meeting to consider House Bill 2150, which would require fantasy sports contest providers to be licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and implement needed consumer protections.
Jun. 14, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives approved legislation to help protect the practice of marriage and family therapists, according to Senator Ryan P. Aument (R-36) and Rep. Seth Grove (R-196).
Jun. 13, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – A bill introduced by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) that would require publicly funded drug recovery houses to stock Narcan, the opioid overdose antidote, passed unanimously today out of the House Human Services Committee.
Jun. 13, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) today unveiled his plan to provide permanent elimination of property taxes in Pennsylvania by next summer. He issued the following statement on his solution to a problem that has confounded the General Assembly for years:
Jun. 13, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jason Ortitay’s (R-Washington/Allegheny) legislation to increase online learning opportunities in the Commonwealth gained unanimous, bipartisan support today from the House Education Committee.
Jun. 13, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – To encourage the employment of people with disabilities at competitive wages by Commonwealth employers, Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and Dan Miller (D-Allegheny) introduced the Employment First Act. The bipartisan legislation would prioritize community inclusion and offer the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to work in a wide range of jobs in the public and private sectors.
Jun. 10, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – To help promote and recognize the economic impact of Pennsylvania’s amusement and water parks, the House of Representatives this week unanimously adopted House Resolution 877 designating Friday, June 10, as Amusement Park Day in Pennsylvania.
Jun. 10, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Liquor reform legislation signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday included a proposal authored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) that allows independent colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to conduct wine auction fundraisers. Simmons’ legislation was passed overwhelmingly in the House last year as House Bill 619.
Jun. 10, 2016 /
LUZERNE – Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) is introducing a bill aimed at providing emergency drug and alcohol detoxification in existing community hospitals and other settings in Pennsylvania. Kaufer, who co-chairs the newly established PA Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (PA-HOPE) Caucus, learned about the severe lack of detox beds available across the state during the caucus’s first meeting in May.
Jun. 10, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – To help promote and recognize the economic impact of Pennsylvania’s amusement and water parks, the House of Representatives Wednesday unanimously adopted House Resolution 877, designating June 10 as Amusement Park Day in Pennsylvania, said Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin), author of the measure.
Jun. 10, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct a public hearing to consider the potential effects of two bills that would amend the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law to extend benefit coverage. House Bill 194, drafted by Rep. Michael O’Brien (D-Philadelphia), would provide coverage to emergency medical services personnel; House Bill 2148, drafted by Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks), would extend coverage to career firefighters.
Jun. 09, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) said that this week’s announcement by Shell Chemical Appalachia that it will be constructing a multi-billion dollar ethylene cracker facility in western Pennsylvania is great news for all of Pennsylvania.
Jun. 09, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – A measure sponsored by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), which was included in a bill signed into law late Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf, will permit operators of Pennsylvania bed and breakfast inns who do not possess a liquor license to provide a complimentary bottle of Pennsylvania wine to their overnight guests at check-in.
Jun. 09, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – In order to move Pennsylvania’s liquor laws into the 21st century and to provide convenience to consumers, Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) voted in favor of House Bill 1690, which would permit the sale of wine in grocery stores, increase opportunities for the sale of beer, and improve customer convenience for overall liquor sales.
Jun. 08, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement today in response to the governor signing into law historic liquor privatization legislation (House Bill 1690):
Jun. 08, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – An amendment proposed by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) that would require all college and university employees who come in contact with children to obtain background checks passed the House on Tuesday 129-57.