Capitol Recap AROUND THE ROTUNDA Volume 5 Number 426 PLS coverage of Capitol events including press conferences, bill signings, & media availabilities October 16, 2018 CONTENTS STOP CHILD PREDATORS, SENATORS, URGE SENATE ACTION ON SB 261 AROUND THE ROTUNDA 1 By Derek Snyder, Pennsylvania Legislative Services | October 16, 2018 COMMITTEE NEWS 3 NEW LEGISLATION 15 Stop Child Predators (SCP) held a press conference alongside lawmakers to urge the LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 19 Senate to act on SB 261. EXECUTIVE ACTIONS 41 UPCOMING MEETINGS 43 Stacie Rumenap, President of SCP, said that they were there with a message for the Senate SESSION STATUS to pass window legislation so victims are able to have their day in court, adding that there is At 5:58 p.m. on Tuesday, a lot of excitement about passing the legislation. October 16, 2018 the Senate stands in recess Jim VanSickle, Survivor Advocacy Coordinator for SCP, discussed that it has come to his until Wednesday, October attention that his abuser of 37 years ago will be in court tomorrow. VanSickle added that 17, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., there is a trial set for February 11th and he fully expects his abuser to plead guilty tomorrow unless sooner recalled by or in the coming weeks. VanSickle said that he felt that it was important to come forward the President Pro Tempore. to urge for the window legislation to be passed. VanSickle expressed that SB 261 needs to pass so that all victims can have their day in court. At 4:18 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 the Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) said that SB 261 is an important and significant piece House stands adjourned of legislation and urged his colleagues to make a giant step in bringing wholeness to the until Wednesday, October victims of sexual abuse and their families. 17, 2018 at 9:30 a.m., unless sooner recalled by Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) discussed how close the legislature is to bringing an the Speaker. opportunity for justice to many people who deserve it. Sen. Leach said that they cannot go home tomorrow without getting this done, adding that there has to be some opportunity for victims to come forward, tell their story and get the justice they deserve. Sen. Leach added that they are now working pretty much around the clock to bring legislation to the floor and get something completed before the end of tomorrow, noting that he and a lot of other people will stay as long as necessary to get it done. UPCOMING SESSION DAYS House October 17 November 13 LEGISLATORS CALL FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PROTECTION Senate By Matt Hess, Pennsylvania Legislative Services | October 16, 2018 October 17 November 14 A group of legislators held a press conference this morning to urge action on legislation that would prevent the elimination of health insurance for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) began the press conference by taking a moment to remember that the House Democratic Caucus has lost four members this session: Rep. Daniel McNeill (D-Lehigh), Rep. Flo Fabrizio (D-Erie), Rep. Michael O’Brien (D-Philadelphia), and Rep. Sid Kavulich (D-Lackawanna). “It’s important to remember that we are put on Earth to do things, we’re put on Earth to do stuff, to improve our communities,” he stated. “We Provided by Pennsylvania have this remarkable opportunity to serve our communities, our neighborhoods as members Legislative Services of the General Assembly. Danny, Flo, Mike, and Sid were the kind of people that put their 240 N. 3rd St. 6th Floor communities and neighborhoods first. As we take time to reflect on their lives, their families’ Harrisburg, PA 17101 loss, it’s important to remember that it’s our job to do something. It’s high time that we in their 717.236.6984 phone 717.236.5097 fax honor, their spirit, and their history of service that we actually do something as members of www.mypls.com the General Assembly.” Rep. Schweyer, prime sponsor of HB 2552, explained that his legislation is based off SB 958 which was authored by Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia). He said prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and pregnancy could be denied access to affordable health insurance. “Since the passage of the ACA, here in Pennsylvania 5.4 million Pennsylvanians can no longer be denied health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition,” he stated. “The Affordable Care Act is far from perfect but guaranteeing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions is one of the most tremendously important parts of the ACA. During the last two years however the protections afforded to those 5.4 million Pennsylvanians have been under direct assault. The Trump Administration and their allies in Congress appear to be hell-bent on dismantling the ACA without any real plan to replace it.” Rep. Schweyer highlighted ways in which the Trump Administration has attempted to undercut the ACA: • Changed association health plans and short term rules that have reduced coverage; • Shortened the open enrollment period for ACA plans; • Repealed the individual health insurance mandate; • Reduced funding for navigator programs. “They are telling us through their actions that they want to get rid of this. Shame on all of us in Harrisburg if we bury our heads in the sand and do nothing to protect those 5.4 million Pennsylvanians,” Rep. Schweyer stated. “That’s why we need to enact HB 2552 or SB 958. There is a constant threat of being denied the ability to see a doctor or the risk of financial ruin for those 5.4 million Pennsylvanians. They deserve action on this legislation.” Sen. Hughes noted that neither bill is on the House or Senate calendar and emphasized that 72 percent of Americans support protections for pre-existing conditions. “These are pieces of legislation that would bring us together, that is common ground for all of us,” he stated. “Over 5.4 million Pennsylvanians deserve to have this coverage. We are here to send a message that this is important, this is vital, and this speaks directly to the reality of Pennsylvania citizens…all of us have been sick at some point in our lives. All of us have had to go to the hospital at some point. The issue of pre-existing conditions impacts every citizens of Pennsylvania.” Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), minority chairman of the House Insurance Committee, spoke in support of the legislation. “We cannot sit idly by and watch the president and the Republican majority in Washington D.C. attempt to take away protections currently imbedded in federal laws,” he stated. “Today we are here to pledge to fight to protect these laws and protect those people with pre-existing conditions.” Rep. DeLuca shared that he and his wife are both cancer survivors and they would not be alive without health insurance. He noted that he introduced a resolution in February 2017 that would urge Congress to keep protections in place for indi- viduals with pre-existing conditions individuals who qualify to participate in cancer clinical trials. “I have a good rapport with my counterpart on the Insurance Committee but the leadership of the Republican House would not let this out and it’s been almost two years,” he stated. “Health care is something that everybody needs and it’s a fact of life we shouldn’t deny them. These politicians have no heart when they have their own insurance plans and they want other people to have less insur- ance than they have. Let’s have the same damn thing that people have to go out and struggle for.” Rep. Helen Tai (D-Bucks), Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), and Rep. Eddie Pashinski (D-Luzerne) were also on hand for the press conference. 2 COMMITTEE NEWS Comprehensive coverage of House & Senate public hearings & voting meetings House Appropriations Committee 10/16/18, 12:30 p.m., Room 140 Main Capitol By Mike Howells, Pennsylvania Legislative Services The committee met to consider legislation. SB 353 Rafferty, John - (PN 2088) Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey to the Pennhurst Memorial Preservation Alliance, or its assigns, a certain tract of land with certain improvements on it situate in East Vincent Township, Chester County; authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to 812 Market, Inc., or its assigns, certain lands and improvements situate in the City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County; authorizing the Department of Transportation, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Two Farms Inc., certain lands situate in the Collegeville Borough, Montgomery County; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate in the Borough of Chambersburg, Franklin County; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Department of Transportation and the Governor, to grant and convey, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate partially in the 6th Ward City of Washington and situate partially in South Strabane Township, Washington County; and authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Governor, to grant and convey to Jose L. Ramos and Lisa Ramos, husband and wife, certain lands situate in the Township of Whitemarsh, Montgomery County.