House Committee to Hold Meeting on Lawrence’s Dairy Pricing Transparency Bill

Jun. 15, 2015 /

WHAT: The state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold an informational meeting to discuss legislation introduced by Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester) that aims to encourage transparency and accountability with regard to premiums owed to Pennsylvania dairy farmers. House Bill 1265 would require that written statements accompanying payments made to a dairy farmer clearly delineate the dollar amount of the total that consists of money collected from the state mandated over-order premium.

Grove to Urge Reform, Additional Funding for School Construction Projects

Jun. 12, 2015 /

Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) will bring together school officials in continuing to spearhead legislative efforts to both reform and increase funding for the school construction reimbursement process. Grove has sponsored House Bill 210 to replace PlanCon (also known as the “Planning Construction Workbook”) with a new system called ArcCon, which stands for the “Accountability and Reducing Costs in Construction Process.”

Wolf Administration’s Threatening Letter Reprehensible, House Labor and Industry Committee Chair says

Jun. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon), chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee and outspoken advocate for children, the elderly and people with disabilities, responded to a letter by the Wolf administration today that threatened funding for the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB) and other associations receiving funds for vocational rehabilitation services if a budget is not passed by July 1. The administration’s letter further threatens that expenses will not be reimbursed or paid retroactively if passage is delayed.

House Passes Amendment That Would Waive Volunteers’ Background Check Fees, Heffley Says

Jun. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) released the following statement after the House unanimously voted to endorse an amendment, introduced by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), that would waive the fees that volunteers must pay for background checks. The two fees are associated with Act 153, the child protection laws that were signed into law last year. The amendment waiving the fees was added to House Bill 1276, which the House is expected to consider on final passage next week.

House Amends Child Protection Legislation to Waive Fee for Background Checks, Says Gabler

Jun. 10, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The $10 fee that volunteers must pay for background checks associated with child protection laws enacted last year would be waived under legislation which moved unanimously today in the state House, according to Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk). The move was made as an amendment to House Bill 1276, which is expected to be voted on final passage next week.

House Passes the Matt Adler Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Act

Jun. 10, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Today the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 64, also known as the Matt Adler Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Act. This legislation seeks to ensure health care professionals receive training in identifying those at risk for suicide. Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Springfield) sponsored this legislation after meeting with local residents Gary and Phyllis Adler. The Adlers lost their son, Matt, in 2011 to suicide and want to make sure that other families don’t have to go through the pain that they endured.

Maher Bill Strengthens Environmental Quality Board

Jun. 10, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House has advanced legislation, sponsored by Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny/Washington), majority chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, which would help to ensure the integrity of the rules and regulations governing Pennsylvania environmental law.