Legislative Scorecard
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2020 LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 .........................................SCORING METHODOLOGY 05 ..................... LETTER FROM THE STATE DIRECTOR 06 .................................................... BILL DESCRIPTIONS 14 ............................................................... SENATE VOTES 18 ..................................................................HOUSE VOTES www.AmericansForProsperity.org/Pennsylvania 3 FELLOW PENNSYLVANIANS, Thank you for your interest in the 2019-2020 Americans for Prosperity- Pennsylvania (AFP-PA) Legislative Scorecard. Our goal with the scorecard is simple: to make the government more accountable to the people. People are capable of extraordinary things when provided with the freedom and opportunity to do so. Based on that belief, our team of dedicated staff and activists works tirelessly on the most pressing public policy issues of our time to remove barriers to opportunity to ensure that every Pennsylvanian can reach their full potential, and have the best shot at their unique version of the American Dream. Through continuous engagement, our grassroots activists across the Keystone State build connections between lawmakers and the constituents they serve to transform the key institution of government. It begins with welcoming everyday citizens that are motivated to join our charge so that we can elevate and amplify their voices in public policy—making them more powerful and influential than they could be on their own. It comes full circle when AFP-PA successfully mobilizes activists in support of principled policy leadership or to hold lawmakers accountable for harmful policies. It is about consistently pushing activists and lawmakers alike to be better and make a difference. From building diverse coalitions or providing lawmakers with the support they need to stand on principle, this approach has allowed our organization to emerge as a change-maker in the state. We remain committed to working with anyone who shares our vision and wants to SCORING METHODOLOGY drive positive change by advancing meaningful policies that level the playing field for all to make Pennsylvania an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. One point has been awarded for each vote cast in 4 = Voted with AFP-Pennsylvania’s position support of an issue that removes barriers for society Our 2019-2020 Legislative Scorecard or against an issue that creates new barriers. Each vote 8 = Voted against AFP-Pennsylvania’s position highlights how your lawmakers stood on critical carries the same weight, regardless of the issue, or policies to help you hold them accountable for whether the vote occurred in committee or on the floor. NA = Not Applicable their positions and accomplish lasting policy changes for a brighter future. Legislators voting on an issue twice and voting in favor NV = No Vote of our position both times received a score of 2/2. If they voted against our position both times they received ASHLEY KLINGENSMITH a score of 0/2. We also awarded one point for prime State Director sponsorship of a priority bill we supported. www.AmericansForProsperity.org/Pennsylvania 5 BILL DESCRIPTIONS HB 333 | SMALL BUSINESS TAX PACKAGE HB 356 | CHARTER SCHOOL REFORM PACKAGE: Rep. Eric Nelson CHARTER SCHOOL BUILDINGS Rep. Matthew Dowling House Bill 333 addresses a distortion in the Pennsylvania tax code, allowing expensing for This bill would make it easier for charter schools to corporations, but not passthrough businesses. This acquire new facilities by providing charter schools the legislation would align the tax code to encourage the right of first refusal to public school property or sale. small businesses’ investment by allowing the full tax deduction for equipment under section 179 of the federal tax code. HB 357 | CHARTER SCHOOL REFORM PACKAGE: STANDARD CHARTER APPLICATION Rep. Jesse Topper HB 1316 | TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT Rep. Ryan Warner This would create a uniform application process for a charter school with the Department of Education. This bill proposes an amendment to the state constitution, which will install a significant spending engaged in unethical or illegal conduct. It requires law SB 14 | COMPREHENSIVE PROBATION REFORM reform to ensure the state does not grow government HB 358 | CHARTER SCHOOL REFORM PACKAGE: enforcement agencies to retain certain disciplinary Sen. Anthony Williams spending unchecked. This amendment would limit PER PUPIL FUNDING AND CONCURRENT records, report records related to an officer’s dismissal annual increases in state spending. The cap in spending ENROLLMENT in a state-run database, and review such records before This bill provides incentives that reward positive growth would account for factors like inflation and Rep. Jim Marshall hiring former officers for a new role. behavior under community supervision and also population growth, ensuring that the state will have allows for potential early release from probation by the resources to continue providing its important core This would allow charter school and vocational- incentivizing probationers to participate in educational, functions while also protecting taxpayer dollars. technical students to dual enroll in higher education HB 1910 | MANDATORY CHILD ABUSE vocational, and/or drug treatment programming that institutions. RECOGNITION TRAINING & POLICE MENTAL has been shown to reduce recidivism. Additionally, HEALTH EVALUATION the bill will help reduce unnecessary revocations for HB 800 | EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX Rep. Dan Williams technical violations and ensures that in revocation CREDIT EXPANSION HB 1841 | LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND hearings, courts use sufficiently high evidence Rep. Mike Turzai INVESTIGATIONS This bill equips police officers with additional training standards, give defendants access to counsel, and adopt Rep. Harry Readshaw that will help them recognize child abuse, interact with a presumption that other combinations of supervision This bill would increase the Educational Improvement individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, conditions or treatment should be considered before a Tax Credit (EITC) by $100 million and establish an This bill improves the ability for law enforcement and implement proper de-escalation tactics. It also return to prison is ordered. automatic annual escalator for the program’s funding. leaders to secure quality candidates and prevent the requires law enforcement agencies to complete a mental uninformed hiring of candidates who have previously health evaluation upon request of an officer or police agency 30 days after the use of lethal force. www.AmericansForProsperity.org/Pennsylvania 7 BILL DESCRIPTIONS SB 459 | LAW ENFORCEMENT USE OF FORCE SB 501 | JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE 2 through their existing infrastructure and to utilize existing Sen. Jay Costa Sen. Tom Killon easements for that purpose. It eliminates the need for electric co-ops to negotiate with each property owner with The bill would require the recording and reporting on Among other reforms, this bill gives judges more land adjoining an easement before attaching broadband use-of-force incidents by all law enforcement agencies flexibility to impose probation as an alternative to equipment to their existing infrastructure. It also protects and require annual report of aggregate data about uses-of- incarceration during sentencing and equips them with property rights by making an exception for free-standing force, including those involving death or serious bodily evidence based guidelines that advise them on the easements that might impair someone’s property. injury, to certain legislative and executive officials. sentence which maximizes public safety. The bill also expanded access to drug treatment and strengthens the state’s parole and probation programs. Lastly, it also SB 613 | EMERGENCY MITIGATION PLAN FOR HB 111 | MERIT SELECTION requires the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission to BUSINESS Rep. Paul Schemel report data and information on various justice system Sen. Bob Mensch functions, including implementation of recent reforms, House Bill 111 creates an independent commission to outcome metrics, and cost savings. This bill would require the governor to develop a plan, determine eligibility for appellate and Supreme Court adhering to federal guidelines related to the coronavirus vacancies in Pennsylvania. The individuals appointed to (COVID-19) pandemic, to allow certain employers to this commission will select five proposed candidates for the SB 502 | JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE 2 reopen their businesses and get workers back to work Governors selection. That selection will then have to be Sen. Camera Bartolotta HB 440 | EXPUNGEMENT UPON PARDON OR within the ensuing three weeks. confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Pennsylvania Senate. FULL AQUITTAL In addition to improving communication between Rep. Tedd Nesbit law enforcement and victims of crime, this bill would SB 327 | COUNTY BASED COVID-19 MITIGATION SB 500 | JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE 2 expand eligibility for victim losses compensation, and House Bill 440 ensures that Pennsylvanians who have Sen. David Argall Sen. Lisa Baker merges two separate victim compensation programs into been pardoned or fully acquitted of their charges can one department that will better serve victims. secure a streamlined, automatic expungement process. The bill would give Pennsylvania county governments This bill created a state advisory committee to study and Someone who is legally innocent or pardoned should