Category: Pennsylvania Legislation

Laws proposed or passed in the Pennsylvania Legislature

HB 91 Expands School Choice In Pa

HB 91, which expands Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, has overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly and awaits Gov. Corbett’s signature, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The bill also allows the credits for the programs to be shared based on need.

The EITC and OSTC provide businesses a tax credit of up to 90 percent for up to $750,000 if they contribute to a scholarship organization, an educational improvement organization, and/or a pre-kindergarten scholarship organization.

The tax credit does not apply to property taxes.

The money is used to fund innovations in public schools and provide tuition assistance in the form of scholarships to eligible students residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school to attend another public school outside of their district or nonpublic school.

The initial passage of the bill in the House on June 24, 2013 was 198-0.  The passage in the Senate on Oct. 15, 2014 was 48-0. The concurrence in the House on Oct. 20 was 193-4 with the dissenters being Mike Carroll of the 118th District, Pamela DeLissio of the 194th District, Phyllis Mundy of the 120th District and Eddie Day Pashinski  of the 121st District.

HB 91 Expands School Choice In Pa

 

HB 91 Expands School Choice In Pa

HB 1816 Awaits Corbett’s Signature

HB 1816 has been passed by the Pennsylvania legislature and awaits Gov. Corbett’s expected signature, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The bill requires that anyone who applies to work directly in or around schools would have to provide detailed background information from all previous employers, including contact information, in order to be considered for employment. In turn, previous employers would have to provide the inquiring school entity with all requested background information regarding a former employee, explicitly pertaining to abuse allegations.

The bill also would require explicit disclosure from the applicant during the initial application process. The applicant is now required to indicate whether or not they have ever been disciplined, discharged, non-renewed, asked to resign from employment or separated from employment while allegations of such abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation.

The bill would apply to all public schools, private schools, nonpublic schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools in the Commonwealth.

House Bill 1816 also would encourage teaching and learning in manufacturing and vocational fields and outlines when an assessment of basic skills would be required of an applicant for teacher certification.

HB 1816 Awaits Corbett's Signature

HB 1816 Awaits Corbett’s Signature

SB 1180 Aims At Prescription Abuse

The Pennsylvania Legislature passed SB 1180, Oct. 16, putting it on Gov. Corbett’s desk for his expected signature.

Senate Bill 1180 creates  a statewide database of certain prescription medication records says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The database  — maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health — would collect Pennsylvanian ’ prescription records for substances on Schedules II-V of the federal Controlled Substances Act. These medications include OxyContin, Tylenol with codeine and Valium.

Medical practitioners and pharmacists  would have access to this  database. Patients  would be able to obtain prescription records at no charge once a year.

The database would alert practitioners to patients who may be “doctor or pharmacy shopping” to feed an addiction, Cox said.

Law enforcement would only be able to access the database through the state Office of Attorney General if relevant to an active investigation, Cox said.

SB 1180 Aims At Prescription Abuse

SB 1180 Aims At Prescription Abuse

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

An amendment to a school emergency allergy bill, (HB 803) instituting “paycheck protection” was defeated 28-20, yesterday, Oct. 15.

All Democrats voted nay excepted for LeAnna Washington who didn’t vote. They were joined by Republicans Pat Browne, Stewart Greenleaf, Bob Mensch, John Rafferty,  Tommy Tomlinson and Eric Erickson.

Erickson represents the 26th District in Delaware County. There is no point in giving him grief, though, as he vacates his seat this December.  We are disappointed it should be noted.  He has indicated paycheck protection is not something he opposed.

The others, except for Browne who represents Lehigh County, also represent the Philadelphia suburbs.

Paycheck protection would end the almost universal Pennsylvania practice of union dues, fees and political contributions being automatically deducted from the paychecks of government employees including those in the public schools.

This would require supporters of those causes to write checks or make other arrangements to transfer the money, just like, well, the rest of us do.

In places where this was implemented the money for leftist “progressive” groups dried up. They are apparently not so popular that their flock won’t stop the tithes when given the chance.

The amendment was introduced by Scott Wagner of the 28th District who is starting to look heroic.

While there is no point in giving grief to Erickson one might want to send a nod of thanks to embattled Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi of the 9th District  who voted aye and represents most of the rest of Delaware County.

But also give a nod of thanks to Wagner and the others who are battling him.

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

 

Hat tip Matt Brouillette of Commonwealth Foundation

Oral Anticancer Med Payments Addressed By HB 2471

HB 2471, which prohibits insurance companies from placing oral anticancer medications on a specialty tier, was passed by the Pennsylvania House, Oct 6, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

He says the bill also prohibits charging a co-insurance payment for the medication.

The vote was 195-1 with John D McGinnis (R-79) being the dissenter.

The bill is now before the Senate.

“With more than 80,000 Pennsylvanians estimated to be diagnosed with cancer this year, this legislation would have a tremendous impact on the lives of many Commonwealth residents” said  Cox.  “As it currently stands, intravenous anticancer medications are typically covered under a health plan’s medical benefit, often only requiring patients to pay a minimal fixed co-payment; however, orally administered anticancer medications are covered under a health plan’s pharmacy benefit and require patients to pay a percentage of the total cost of the drug, generally between 25 percent and 30 percent. This significantly increases the out-of-pocket costs to obtain treatment for patients.”

 

Oral Anticancer Med Payments Addressed By HB 2471

Oral Anticancer Med Payments Addressed By HB 2471

HB 1982 Makes Credit Security Freezes Permanent

A bill that would require credit report security freezes to stay until their removal is specifically requested by their subjects is before the Pennsylvania Senate, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing the consumer’s credit information to certain third parties. They automatically expire after seven years.

The bill, House Bill 1982, was unanimously passed by the State House on Oct. 7.

The prime sponsor is State Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-160)

 

HB 1982 Makes Credit Security Freezes Permanent

HB 1982 Makes Credit Security Freezes Permanent

 

Mumia Speech Inspires HB 2533

Murderer Mumia Abu Jamal’s Oct. 5 recorded commencement address for the Vermont Campus of Goddard College has inspired legislation in Pennsylvania to address revictimization.

House Bill 2533 passed the  House Judiciary Committee, Oct. 8, and is expected to come before the full house this week, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

Ahhh but what will happen if it should reach the Senate, hmmm Senator Pileggi?

HB 2533 says In addition to any other right of action and any other remedy provided by law, a victim of a personal injury crime may bring a civil action against an offender in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain injunctive and other appropriate relief, including reasonable attorney fees and other costs associated with the litigation, for conduct which perpetuates the continuing effect of the crime on the victim. 

Jamal is a convicted murderer who barely escaped the execution gurney and is serving a life sentence for taking the life of an innocent man, whom he has been slandering ever since. And before you start screaming in defense of Jamal’s First Amendment rights ask if he should have Second Amendment rights as well. How about the Fourth Amendment? You think the guards should need a warrant to search his cell?

Jamal can’t even order out for a pizza. He can’t even choose what clothes to wear.

He should be grateful for just being allowed to breathe.

Danny and Maureen Faulkner Mumia Speech Inspires HB 2533

Danny and Maureen Faulkner at their wedding in 1979. Faulkner was the Philadelphia policeman murdered by Mumia Abu Jamal in 1981, who Jamal has been slandering unrepentantly since. Mr. Faulkner was 25.

Mumia Speech Inspires HB 2533

Pileggi Union Ties Lead To Senate Rebellion

Pileggi Union Ties Lead To Senate Rebellion Scott Wagner             Pileggi Union Ties Lead To Senate Rebellion Dominic Pileggi

Scott Wagner vs Dominic Pileggi

Anti-establishment Republican Scott Wagner has picked up a supporter in his rebellion against Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi of the 9th District which includes large parts of Delaware and Chester counties.

Don White of the 41st District has also declared that Pileggi should step down from the post.

Pileggi has been majority leader since 2006, a rather remarkable feat since he only entered the Senate in 2002.

Wagner crushed party-pick Ron Miller in a special election, March 18, to fill the 28th District seat that was vacated by Mike Waugh for a suspiciously sweet job to direct the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex.

On Sept. 30, Wagner posted on his website a manifesto as to why reforms aren’t getting done in Harrisburg.

“The roadblock standing in the way of getting any real reforms passed is our Republican Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi,” he said.

“There have been countless times since I have taken office, where at least two-thirds of our Republican Caucus members wanted legislation to go to the floor for an up or down vote,” Wagner said. “Senator Pileggi has continually refused to do so.”

Wagner has concluded that it is because Pileggi is tied to closely to labor.

“After reviewing Senator Pileggi’s Political Action Committee campaign finance reports, I have concluded that Senator Pileggi is heavily influenced by public sector unions and private trade unions,” Wagner said. “In fact, on May 28, 2014 the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article referencing the Electricians’ Union “Local 98’s $100,000 Club” which lists Senator Pileggi as having received $175,000. Senator Pileggi is 9th on the list behind President Obama and seven other Democrats. Local 98 is just one of many unions that Senator Pileggi has taken a significant amount of money from.”

Wagner said that “after spending considerable time considering how best to address” the issue he sent a letter to Pileggi on Sept. 29 “informing him of my conclusion that it is not in the best interest of Pennsylvanians for him to continue as Senate Majority Leader.”

The letter can be found here.

White, yesterday, Oct. 10, sent his own letter to Pileggi in which he says “You have succeeded in fracturing our caucus and bastardizing the committee process to promote an unknown agenda that is debilitating to our caucus and, more importantly, our Commonwealth.

“To be clear, I will not support your re-election as Majority Leader should you choose to run.”

White  accused Pileggi of being the deciding vote in the Appropriations Committee in favor of an an amendment drafted by “extremely liberal environmental group Penn Future to House Bill 2354, and failing to advance House Bill 1243 which passed the House overwhelmingly with bipartisan support to prevent harassment of gun owners by local governments unwilling to respect state law.

White also noted that Pileggi squelched SB7 that would limit the rate of spending growth in Pennsylvania to the rate of inflation and did the same to paycheck protection in June.

White was specifically angry about Pileggi’s actions regarding health insurance.

“On an issue important to me personally, and as a favor to Big Pharmacy, you engineered an end run around the committee process in an attempt to enact a health insurance mandate that is terribly written and simply unworkable, without a proper vetting or debate of the issue,” he said.

White’s letter can be found here

Hat tips Donna Ellingsen and Bob Guzzardi.

Pileggi Union Ties Lead To Senate Rebellion

 

 

Act 139 Grants Immunity For Those Reporting ODs

A bill providing legal immunity from minor drug offenses for those reporting overdoses was signed into law as Act 139 by Gov. Tom Corbett on Sept. 24, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

It also grants immunity to the overdose victim.

The law was introduced as SB 1164 in November 2013 by Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9)was passed by the Pennsylvania House, Sept. 24 and signed into law as Act 139 by Gov. Corbett on Sept. 30.

“This fear of prosecution prevents many who need emergency assistance from getting help, and that can mean the difference between life and death,” Cox said.T”he new law also makes the potentially life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone, available to emergency services personnel, law enforcement and even family or friends of someone who is at risk of an opioid overdose.”

Over the past five years, heroin and opioid abuse has claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 Pennsylvanian, Cox said. One in four families across the Commonwealth will be affected by opioid abuse.

“If you or someone you know needs assistance overcoming addiction, you can visit the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website, and find a variety of statewide treatment options,” Cox said.

Act 139 Grants Immunity For Those Reporting ODs

Act 139 Grants Immunity For Those Reporting ODs

Education Bills Pending In Pa

Continuing our commitment to ensuring a quality education for Pennsylvania students, the House last week took up four school-related bills, reports state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

Senate Bill 1281 would reform the cumbersome and outdated reimbursement process for school renovation and construction projects, Cox said. It would also establish a publicly accessible Internet database (SchoolWATCH) that shows exactly how taxpayer money is being spent by schools as a way to increase transparency; and give school districts flexibility for obtaining the necessary 180 school days in a school year in the case of weather emergencies. The bill awaits further consideration by the Senate.

In addition, House Bill 1207 seeks to expand access to the popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) or the Educational Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, which help provide opportunities for students to participate in innovated educational programs. The legislation is awaiting further consideration by the full House.

Finally, House Bill 2076 would make sure high school students get the college credits they earn through Advanced Placement and other educational programs by requiring the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to adopt uniform standards to ensure that all credits transfer between the State System universities seamlessly. The bill awaits action in the Senate.

“The House continues to look for ways to improve educational opportunities for all students across the Commonwealth, with more efficient oversight, streamlining the bureaucratic process, and putting students first,” Cox said.

Education Bills Pending In Pa

Education Bills Pending In Pa