Category: Pennsylvania Legislation

Laws proposed or passed in the Pennsylvania Legislature

HB 46 Eases Organ Donations

The Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed legislation, HB 46, that would remove a major hurdle for potential organ and bone marrow donors, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129), and the bill awaits Gov. Corbett’s signature.

Cox said the bill would reauthorize, and make permanent, a program initiated in 2006 to provide tax credits to employers who offer paid leave to workers who choose to become living donors. The ability to get paid time off work for this procedure could help save lives.

He said tax credits offered under the bill would be equal to the amount paid out in wages while an employee donor undergoes the transplant procedure and recovery – up to five days.

The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.

For  information about organ donation, including how to become a donor, click here.

HB 46 Eases Organ Donations

HB 46 Eases Organ Donations

HB 1013 Gives Homeschooling Boost

The Pennsylvania  General Assembly, Oct. 22 passed HB 1013, a major reform of Pennsylvania’s home education law, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

The bill would grant Commonwealth recognition of diplomas issued by supervisors and approved diploma-granting organizations; eliminate duplicate evaluation requirements; and give much-needed protection to home education programs for the duration of any appeals process relating program, said Cox.

The bill awaits Gov. Corbett’s expected signature.

The initial vote, June 29, passed  the House  133-65 with no Republican dissenters and 26 Democrat supporters.

The passage in the Senate occurred on Oct. 15 and was 37-11, with the dissenters being all Democrats.

The House concurrence was on Oct. 20, again with all Republicans supporting joined by just 21 Democrats this time.

Cox notes that the House passed Senate Bill 1281, a government reform proposal that would assist local school districts with the construction reimbursement process known as PlanCON; and House Bill 2076, which would apply a uniform standard of acceptability for Advanced Placement examinations in all state institutions of higher learning but that these bills appear dead in the Senate.

Cox pointed out that the legislature has set an an all-time in investment in Pennsylvania education of more than $10 billion in the 2014-15 state budget.

HB 1013 Gives Homeschooling Boost

HB 1013 Gives Homeschooling Boost

 

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