Jun. 19, 2015 /
![Keller Provides Update on PA’s Avian Influenza Planning, Response Efforts]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to safeguard Pennsylvania’s $13 billion poultry industry, Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland) reports that state officials have been working to put response and recovery plans in place in the event of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak (HPAI).
Jun. 19, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Committee Passes Three Bills to Improve Lives of Two Important Communities]()
HARRISBURG – During a Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting that Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) held this week, three bills benefiting both veterans and emergency responders were unanimously approved. The bills now await a vote by the full House.
Jun. 19, 2015 /
![Rapp, House Education Committee to Consider Recommendations for New Basic Education Funding Formula Next Week]()
HARRISBURG — Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) announced today that the House Education Committee will convene next week to examine the Basic Education Funding Commission’s newly released report which recommends that the Pennsylvania General Assembly adopt a new formula for distributing state funding for basic education to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts.
Jun. 18, 2015 /
![Basic Education Funding Commission Recommends New Formula for Funding Public Education, Saylor Says]()
HARRISBURG - Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) announced that the Basic Education Funding Commission recommended today that the General Assembly adopt a new formula for distributing state funding for basic education to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts.
Jun. 18, 2015 /
![Causer Comments on Basic Education Funding Report]()
HARRISBURG – A commission established last year to study the formula for funding basic education in the state’s 500 school districts released its report on Thursday, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).
Jun. 18, 2015 /
![House Ag Committee Discusses Lawrence’s Bill That Would Ensure Transparency in Payments to Dairy Farmers]()
HARRISBURG – The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on Wednesday held a public informational meeting to discuss legislation sponsored by Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster) that would encourage transparency and accountability with regard to premiums owed to Pennsylvania dairy farmers.
Jun. 18, 2015 /
![Heffley’s Bill to Increase Penalties for Impersonating an Officer Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – The state House on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation introduced by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) that would increase penalties for impersonating a law enforcement officer and outline the illegal use of sirens and lights by a person not authorized to do so.
Jun. 18, 2015 /
![House Passes Legislation Clarifying Background Requirements for Volunteers, Employees under Child Protection Laws, Santora Says]()
HARRISBURG – The state House on Wednesday passed legislation that aims to more clearly define who is subject to the requirements enacted under Pennsylvania’s child protection laws and, where possible, make those requirements less onerous for adult volunteers who work with children, Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) said.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Ward Supports Legislation to Clarify Child Protection Laws]()
HARRISBURG – In order to further clarify the Commonwealth’s child protection laws and provide in statute the waivers of two child abuse clearance fees for volunteers, Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) joined her colleagues today in the passage of House Bill 1276.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Ag Committee Discusses Milk Pricing, Producer Payments, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), held an informational meeting Wednesday to discuss legislation designed to bring transparency to the payment of certain state-mandated premiums to Pennsylvania milk producers.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Heffley Issues Statement Following House Vote on Child Protection Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) today released the following statement explaining his vote against legislation that aims to address unintended consequences created by Pennsylvania’s child protection laws but would exempt college and university employees from the background check requirements:
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Measure to Clear Up Background Check Requirements for Employees, Volunteers Clears House, Oberlander Says]()
HARRISBURG – To address the confusion for employees and volunteers who work directly with children, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) has voted in favor of legislation to more clearly define the types of personnel who must obtain criminal background checks and child abuse clearances, as required by a new state law.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![House Endorses Watson Measure to Clarify Child Abuse Background Checks for Volunteers, Employees]()
HARRISBURG – To further clarify the types of volunteers and employees who are required to obtain background checks to work with children, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) has authored and secured House approval of legislation to address many of the questions surfacing from Act 153 of 2014.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Cutler and Dean Introduce Bill to Appoint Judges to Three Statewide Courts]()
HARRISBURG – To improve the integrity of the Commonwealth’s justice system, Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) introduced legislation that would establish a merit-based system for appointing statewide appellate judges.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Benninghoff’s Childhood Cancer Resolution Passes with Unanimous Support]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) today announced that his House resolution designating September 2015 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month passed unanimously.
Jun. 17, 2015 /
![Committee Advances Bill to Move Low-Income Families Toward Self-Sustainability, Lawmakers Say]()
Bill to end ‘benefits cliff’ heads to House chamber
Jun. 16, 2015 /
![House Committee to Learn More About Retroactive Denial of Insurance Claims]()
WHAT: The House Insurance Committee, led by Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) will hold an informational meeting to learn more about House Bill 1178, legislation to limit the retroactive denial of medical claim reimbursement to12 months.
Jun. 16, 2015 /
![Judiciary Committee Considers a Series of Bills to Help Victims of Crime Collect Restitution]()
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) was pleased that various pieces of legislation addressing the issues with the collection of restitution for victims of crime were passed today during the Judiciary Committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
Jun. 16, 2015 /
![House Agriculture Committee to Discuss Transparency in Payments to Dairy Farmers]()
WHAT: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), will hold an informational meeting to discuss House Bill 1265, which would require any payment made to a dairy farmer to clearly delineate the dollar amount of the total that consists of money collected from the state mandated over-order premium.
Jun. 16, 2015 /
![Benninghoff’s Bill Designating Local Bridge in Honor of Veterans Passes Senate Unanimously]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) today announced that House Bill 863, which would designate a bridge in Centre County as the Bellefonte Veterans Bridge, passed the Senate unanimously on Monday.