LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS P E N N S Y L V A N I A HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS 2019-2020 Legislative Session Fall 2019 Pennsylvania’s House Republican Caucus is committed to our state’s residents and taxpayers. Constantly striving to strengthen the economy, enact commonsense public policy, and provide a government that is both efficient and effective, the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus is out front, fighting to make Pennsylvania the best place to live, work and raise a family. By working together, we have accomplished much and have shown we stand by our commitments. 2 | Page ACHIEVEMENTS Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2019-2020 Legislative Session Budget 5 Economic Enhancers #GOODJOBS4PA 8 Promoting Confidence Among Consumers and Businesses 11 Preserving PA’s Agricultural Heritage 12 Protecting Pennsylvanians Protecting Victims 16 Addiction and Substance Use Disorder 19 Emergency Responders 20 Justice Reform 22 Strengthening Communities & Supporting Families 23 Senior Citizens 25 Health Care that Makes Sense 26 Conservation Efforts to Achieve Results 28 Standing up for Taxpayers Government Done Right 30 Fiscal Responsibility 37 Relaxing the State’s Hold on Alcohol 38 Advancing Local Government 39 Insurance Related Concerns 41 Education Accomplishments Education: Equipping Students for Success 43 Safeguarding Citizens’ Rights to Safely Hunt and Fish 45 Supporting and Honoring Our Veterans 46 Transportation 48 Miscellaneous 49 3 | Page 4 | Page Budget Thanks to Republican-led budgets, our ways. School funding is revenues are up, and we are on a path to increased, but so is better protect taxpayers now and in the funding to support future. opportunities for students to thrive in private, • This budget puts $317 million charter and online into the Rainy Day Fund. schools. • We passed legislation to ensure o Employers are searching taxpayer dollars are accounted for employees with the for and the administration can be right skills for the modern held accountable for workforce. We supplemental spending. complement this search • Our record of holding the line on by promoting career and tax increases and spending is technical education proven correct by the increased expansion ideas so revenues. This budget continues Pennsylvanians can get to build on those ideals: the training, skills and o We are strategically tools they need to succeed investing while also in careers that pay far backing up our legislative more than minimum priorities with the funding wage. to make an impact to attract and grow more job creators and family- sustaining jobs. o We are committed to our agricultural and farming community, ensuring the Commonwealth’s No.1 industry has what it needs to thrive. o We are strengthening victim rights, protecting Signed into Law: communities and helping • Act 1A of 2019 (formerly HB 790 ( those battling addiction. Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would o We remain committed to provide for the General educating for success. We Appropriations Act for the 2019-20 recognize that students find success in different 5 | Page fiscal year, which runs from July 1, for the following: Bureau of 2019, to June 30, 2020. (140-62). Professional and Occupational • Act 2A of 2019 (formerly HB 1350 Affairs (201-0); Workmen’s (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would Compensation Administration Fund make non-preferred appropriations to (201-0); Office of Small Business the Pennsylvania State University for Advocate (201-0); Office of the 2019-20 fiscal year. (199-2). Consumer Advocate (201-0); Public • Act 3A of 2019 (formerly HB 1351 School Employees' Retirement Fund (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would (201-0); State Employees’ make non-preferred appropriations to Retirement Fund (201-0); the University of Pittsburgh for the Philadelphia Parking Authority (161- 2019-20 fiscal year. (169-32). 40); Public Utility Commission • Act 4A of 2019 (formerly HB 1352 (201-0); and State Gaming Fund (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would (201-0). make non-preferred appropriations to • Act 15 of 2019 (formerly HB 1461 Temple University for the 2019-20 (Rep. Mindy Fee, R-Lancaster): fiscal year. (198-3). Would allow the Office of Inspector • Act 5A of 2019 (formerly HB 1353 General (OIG) to investigate and (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would combat all avenues of public benefits make non-preferred appropriations to fraud. Also serves as the Lincoln University for the 2019-20 Administrative Code bill for the fiscal year. (201-1). 2019-20 state budget (181-6). • Act 6A of 2019 (formerly HB 1354 • Act 20 of 2019 (formerly SB 712 (Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York): Would (Sen. David Argall, R- make non-preferred appropriations to Berks/Schuylkill): Would update the the University of Pennsylvania for Fiscal Code to provide budget the 2019-20 fiscal year. (196-5). implementation language. (125-74). • Acts 7A -15A of 2019 (formerly SBs 235-243 (Sen. Pat Browne, R- Lehigh): Would make appropriations 6 | Page Economic Enhancers #GOODJOBS4PA House Republicans are looking at new • HB 265 (Rep. Craig Staats, R- pathways to careers with a greater focus on Bucks): Expands an established providing students with job skills before database that allows students and they leave high school. Students would potential students to plan where benefit from knowing what kind of job or courses, programs, certificates, and career they are headed for before taking on diplomas transfer among public huge amounts of debt for a college degree schools and institutions of higher education. (197-0). they may never use. While equipping students with workplace skills addresses the needs of one segment of Bills Awaiting Senate Action: the job-seeking population, our members are • HB 138 (Rep. Christopher Quinn, also offering solutions for unemployed R-Delaware): Provides further adults, soon-to-be-released inmates and qualifications for license and examinations for physical therapists returning military veterans. and physical therapist assistants. Ultimately building an effective workforce (193-0). system is essential to economic • HB 280 (Rep. R. Lee James, R- development. Simply, you need people to be Venango/Butler): Increases the successful as they work in the jobs that are periods of time allotted for parties to created. Our caucus is working on all sides appeal the determination of an Unemployment Compensation (UC) of the issue, creating a world-class Service Center and the decision of a workforce and growing world-leading UC referee. (193-0). industries, which will lead to the next • HB 297 (Rep. Zachary Mako, R- generation of great companies and Northampton/Lehigh): Requires employees calling Pennsylvania home. the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to develop materials outlining workforce needs including training opportunities and future earning potential. Also allows for community colleges and other technical and/or trade schools to attend career/college fairs. (193-1). • HB 334 (Rep. Seth Grove, R- York): Requires Pennsylvania Department of Education to establish a standard application for schools to Workforce Ready PA seek approval to establish or renew a Signed in Law: classification of instructional program. (195-0). 8 | Page • HB 393 (Rep. Patrick Harkins, D- • HB 522 (Rep. Mike Tobash, R- Erie): Requires PDE and the Schuylkill/Dauphin): Establishes departments of Labor and Industry the Career and Technical Education and Agriculture to develop and Investment Incentive Program, maintain a comprehensive online which would provide tax credits to career resource center for students, businesses that contribute to career parents, educators and school and technical partnership officials to provide information on organizations. (162-34). the value and impact of career and technical education (CTE), career pathways, data and statistics on employment opportunities and compensation, postsecondary options, and statewide and regional articulation agreements. (194-0). • HB 394 (Rep. Gerald Mullery, D- Luzerne): Requires PDE and the Department of Labor and Industry to • conduct a complete inventory of HB 796 (Rep. Jared Soloman, D- existing workforce development Philadelphia): Would create grant program for apprenticeship programs at both the secondary and programs. (201-0). postsecondary levels. (195-0). • HB 1437 (Rep. Mark Keller, R- • HB 395 (Rep. James Roebuck Jr., Perry/Cumberland): Would update D-Philadelphia): Allows CTE the Rural Jobs and Investment Tax programs or a cluster of programs to Credit Program. (159-41). establish occupational advisory • committees at the Intermediate Unit HB 64 (Rep. Harry Readshaw, D- (IU) level to serve multiple school Allegheny): Amends the Bureau of districts or Career and Technical Professional and Occupational Centers (CTCs). (194-0). Affairs Act, allowing professionals to carry over accrued continuing • HB 396 (Rep. James Roebuck Jr., education credits for biennial terms. D-Philadelphia): Requires each (193-0). local Workforce Development Board (WDB) to include in its membership at least one administrator of a Career and Technical Center whose #ENERGIZE PA attendance area is covered by the Bills Awaiting Senate Action: service area of the WDB. (194-0). • HB 1100 (Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R- • HB 425 (Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R- Luzerne): Would create the Energy Lehigh/Berks): and Fertilizer Manufacturing Tax Creates CareerBound, a program to Credit. (139-46). strengthen the connection between • HB 1104 HB 1104 (Rep. Tarah Pennsylvania’s students and the next Toohil, R-Luzerne): Would require generation of high-priority careers. the Department of Community and (192-1). Economic Development (DCED) to establish a registry for 9 | Page abandoned manufacturing sites Commonwealth lands that pose a across the Commonwealth. (197-2). current or future risk to the health • HB 1105 (Rep. Eric Nelson, R- and safety of our residents. (105- Westmoreland): Would incentivize 96). businesses to remediate 10 | Page Promoting Confidence Among Consumers and Businesses Signed in Law: Act to add certified PA evaluators to • Act 318 of 2019 (formerly HB 318, the State Board of Certified Real Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Estate Appraisers. (200-0). Allows consumers to permanently • HB 1033 (Rep. Dan Moul, R- sign up for the state’s “do-not-call’ Adams): Would amend the list.