IN THIS ISSUE Co-Sponsor Memos Bill Actions
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March 11, 2016 IN THIS ISSUE Co-Sponsor Memos Bill Actions Committee Stories Press Conferences Upcoming Events Session Schedule In the News Co-Sponsor Memos HCO2906 Metzgar, Carl Addresses a vacancy within the makeup of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board. HCO2936 Santora, James Designates a portion of State Route 2005 in Drexel Hill, Delaware County as the Officer Dennis McNamara Memorial Highway. HCO2938 Keller, Mark Designates a bridge on a portion of State Route 74 over the Sherman's Creek, Spring Township, Perry County, as the PFC William Oscar Stambaugh Memorial Bridge. HCO2942 Mullery, Gerald Prohibits individuals or organizations from using drones to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing, and boating activities. SCO1356 Hutchinson, Scott Requires that in order for someone to be an eligible candidate for road or bridge name designation they must be deceased. Bill Actions HB 339 Barrar, Stephen (PN 1693) Amends the Insurance Company Law to require managed care companies to provide reimbursements to emergency medical services agencies when services were rendered but a person subsequently does not require transport or refuses transport to a hospital. Effective in 60 days. (Prior Printer Number: 361) Bill History: 06-10-15 Laid out for discussion 5:09pm 06-10-15 Third consideration 5:10pm 06-10-15 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:188/N: 0) 06-12-15 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Banking and Insurance 03-09-16 S Discussed in joint informational meeting, House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Prepared. -- House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Prepared. HB 927 Lawrence, John (PN 2917) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in registration of vehicles, establishing a special license plate for recipients of the Legion of Merit. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-08-16 H Filed 03-10-16 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation HB 1460 Adolph, William (PN 2632) The General Appropriation Act of 2015 provides from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive and Judicial Departments, the State Government Support Agencies PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2016 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com March 11, 2016 and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, for certain institutions and organizations, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015; to provide appropriations from the State Lottery Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Fund, the Aviation Restricted Account, the Hazardous Material Response Fund, The State Stores Fund, the Milk Marketing Fund, the Home Investment Trust Fund, the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, the Tuition Account Guaranteed Savings Program Fund, the Banking Fund, the Firearm Records Check Fund, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, the Home Improvement Account, the Cigarette Fire Safety and Firefighter Protection Act Enforcement Fund, the Insurance Regulation and Oversight Fund and the Pennsylvania Racehorse Development Restricted Receipt Account, to the Executive Department; to provide appropriations from the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account to the Judicial Department for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016; to provide appropriations from the Motor License Fund for the fiscal year July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, for the proper operation of several departments of the Commonwealth and the Pennsylvania State Police authorized to spend Motor License Fund moneys; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive Department of the Commonwealth and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. General Appropriations under the legislation total $30,508,007. Effective immediately. (Prior Printer Number: 2055, 2626) Bill History: 03-08-16 H Discussed in Budget Hearing - Department of Education, House Appropriations -- House Appropriations 03-09-16 H Press conference held 03-09-16 H Discussed in Budget Hearing - DHS, House Appropriations -- House Appropriations 03-10-16 H Discussed in Budget Hearing - Budget Secretary, House Appropriations -- House Appropriations 03-10-16 H Discussed in Budget Hearing - Member Testimony, House Appropriations -- House Appropriations HB 1895 Metzgar, Carl Amends the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act further providing for Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board. Bill History: 03-10-16 H Filed SB 1132 Hutchinson, Scott (PN 1568) Amends the State Highway Law making editorial changes and adding that an individual in whose name a State- owned road, or any portion of a State-owned road, a bridge, an interchange or an intersection is to be designated by the General Assembly must be deceased. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-04-16 S Filed 03-04-16 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation SB 1142 Yaw, Gene (PN 1585) Amends the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act further providing for Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board by replacing the Middle Atlantic Truck Stop Operators with the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. Effective in PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2016 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com March 11, 2016 60 days. Bill History: 03-07-16 S Filed 03-07-16 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Banking and Insurance SB 1152 Browne, Patrick (PN 1591) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in other required equipment, further providing for restraint systems; and making an editorial change. Babies under age two shall be in a rear- facing child passenger restraint system. Further, the driver of a passenger car, Class I truck, Class II truck or motor home operated in this Commonwealth shall: if under 18 years of age, be secured in a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt system; and secure or cause to be secured in a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt every vehicle occupant eight years of age or older but under 18 years of age. During the first year following the effective date, law enforcement shall only issue verbal warnings to individuals who are in violation. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-09-16 S Filed 03-09-16 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation SB 1153 Vogel, Jr., Elder (PN 1592) Act designating a portion of State Routes 108 and 551 in Lawrence County as the Battery B Memorial Highway. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-09-16 S Filed 03-09-16 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation SB 1155 Reschenthaler, Guy (PN 1594) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in registration of vehicles, establishing a special license place for active members of the armed forces of the United States. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-09-16 S Filed 03-09-16 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation Committee Stories House Appropriations Committee budget hearing with PEMA & OSFC (BH) 3/8/16, 11:30 a.m., 140 Main Capitol By Nina Lehr, Pennsylvania Legislative Services The committee held a budget hearing with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. PEMA Director Richard Flinn stated the mission of his agency is to direct and coordinate state agency response and support county and local governments in the areas of disaster preparedness, planning and response to and recovery from man-made or natural disasters. He added "my ultimate goal is to have the Commonwealth's emergency management agency be the best in the country." He said he has conducted a comprehensive review of his organization and tasked each bureau with identifying efficiencies and improving customer service processes. He noted they implemented many cost saving measures and are working on a project with the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) to reduce the overall cost of training to the commonwealth. He commented "we are re- engineering our entire training exercise program to continue to meet the needs of our stakeholders while lowering the cost." PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2016 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com March 11, 2016 Flinn stated PEMA is unlike any other state agency and not only do the majority of the staff have their day-to-day job, they also serve as an emergency manager during a state of emergency. He noted a majority of the funding PEMA receives comes in the form of state and federal grants and PEMA serves as the administrative agency for these grants to county and local governments. He said PEMA is working with the Office of Administration and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to improve the grant process and develop an e-grant program to not only save money and time but improve overall customer service. He remarked PEMA will be completing the transition into new headquarters in the new fiscal year which will improve coordination with state agencies during emergencies and will incorporate new state-of-the-art technology to reduce redundancy and enhance situational awareness in operations. He stated PEMA has developed a reorganization plan to focus efforts on four general categories, mission support, preparedness, response, and the 911 program and are realigning staff with the appropriate expertise without increasing their overall complement. Flinn added PEMA is expanding the public outreach effort to include the private sector and non-profit volunteer organizations. Flinn thanked the General Assembly for passing Act 12 of 2015, the comprehensive rewrite of the 911 law, and are on track to beat the estimated revenue collections in the 911 Fund to support those systems throughout the Commonwealth. Tim Solobay, Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner, stated the main responsibility of OSFC is to train and educate firefighters and make sure there are ample instructors to handle that job. He said OSFC is the administrator of a $30 million grant program through casino revenue dollars that goes back to fire and ambulance departments throughout the Commonwealth.