Category: Pennsylvania Legislation

Texting Ban Takes Effect March 8 — The law banning texting while driving takes effect, Thursday, March 8.

The law will prohibit drivers of all ages from using interactive wireless communication devices for the purposes of reading, writing or sending a text message or email while operating a motor vehicle, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)  Texting while driving will be classified as a primary offense, allowing a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver solely for that offense. Anyone who is found texting while driving will face a $50 fine.

Any driver who reads, selects or enters a phone number or name in an interactive wireless communication device for the purpose of making a phone call will not be in violation of the texting ban.

The murder of Caylee Anthony has inspired two bills that are now of the floor of the Pennsylvania House.

HB 1841 introduced by Tarah Toohil (R-116) would make strengthen the penalties of providing false reports to police during a criminal investigation involving a child.

HB 1842 introduced by Justin J. Simmons (R-131) would strengthen the penalties of for concealing the death of a child.

The bills — together known as Caylee’s Laws — would make upgrade both crimes to third-degree felonies and increase the maximum penalties to seven years and a $15,000 fine.

Hat tip Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

A bill that would increase penalties for willful unemployment compensation fraud has been sent to the House for a vote, State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) said.

It was unanimously passed out of the  House Labor and Industry Committee, Feb. 14. unanimously voted to send a bill to the House this week that will increase penalties for willful unemployment compensation fraud.

HB 1852 would increase the penalty period for individuals who commit unemployment compensation fraud from two weeks to 10 weeks and would remove the current four-year limit on the imposition of these penalty weeks, Cox said. The bill would add a 15 percent penalty to the total owed to the fund for a fraudulent claim and create a 52-week penalty for individuals who commit willful fraud to collect benefits while in prison.

It is estimated the proposal will save the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund $15 million to $20 million annually. Pennsylvania’s rate of fraudulent unemployment claims is more than 5 percent, exceeding the national average.

HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project — A bill was re-committed, today, Feb. 15,  to the State House Appropriations Committee that would require the Governor to  itemize capital projects.

The bill, HB 2175,  was submitted Feb. 7 by Mike Turzai (R-28) who is majority floor leader and was almost certainly a response to legislation proposed by Democrat Rosita Youngblood of the 128th District, according to Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi.

Further it came soon after Tea Party candidates such as Rogers  Howard who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in the 9th District GOP primary criticized certain expenditures by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The program is specifically addressed in the bill.

To quote the bill:

At least once each legislative session, the Governor shall submit a capital project itemization bill to the General Assembly specifically itemizing the capital projects to be financed from the proceeds of obligations of the Commonwealth. No redevelopment assistance capital project may receive funds unless the project was itemized in a capital budget project itemization bill, a capital budget bill or a capital project itemization bill enacted within ten years of the date the project is approved under section 318 or the project has been approved by the secretary on or before December 31, 2011.

Kudos Mr. Howard and Ms. Youngblood.

 

 

HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project

State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) reports that the Pennsylvania House has passed HB 2022, Feb. 7, which would establish an online portal where businesses can access their personal accounts to register, apply for, and track documents associated with setting up or doing business in the Commonwealth.

The portal would provide electronic submission of a permit application, permit fee or fines, tracking of payment status and pending permit applications, and a listing of information related to local permit application information for relevant local permitting authorities, among other services, he says.

The vote was 194-0.

It now goes before the Senate for consideration.

A bipartisan group of House members came together this week to announce legislation aimed at helping to create a fairer business climate in Pennsylvania.

A bill to close the “Delaware Loophole” has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House, according to State Rep. Jim Cox. HB 2150 will prohibit multi-state corporations to reduce their Pennsylvania tax liabilities by transferring the ownership of intangible assets to an affiliated company in Delaware.

The bill would only affect businesses that are taking advantage of the loophole for the sole purpose of avoiding paying taxes in Pennsylvania and would use revenue gained from closing the loophole to reduce Pennsylvania’s overall business tax burden, Cox said.

Churches Charities Allowed Better Prizes — A grand isn’t what it was, so the Pennsylvania legislature has for the first time since 1988 updated the state’s Small Games of Chance Act to increase  limits for prize payouts for contests run nonprofit associations, charitable organizations and other civic groups.

The law raises the limit from $500 to $1,000 for daily drawings, from $5,000 to $25,000 for weekly drawings and from $5,000 to $10,000 for raffles per calendar month.

The bill amending the act, HB 169, awaits the governor’s expected signature.

The Senate amended the bill to include measures that permit fire and emergency services to hold a raffle with $50,000 prize limits and to require clubs with liquor licenses to submit semi-annual reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Hat tip State Rep Jim Cox (R-129)

 

Churches Charities Allowed Better Prizes

The House Committee on State Government, yesterday, Jan. 24, voted overwhelmingly to send to the House floor a bill that would cut representation in Harrisburg.

The bill, HB 153, would cut the number of  representatives in the State House from 203 to 153. It would leave the membership of the state Senate unchanged at 50.

The bill would also mandate that counties, municipalities and wards not be divided in forming a senatorial or representative district which would be about the only bright side of this wealth and power grab.

The argument for the bill is to cut cost since the base  pay for a  Pennsylvania legislator is $$82,026, and, yes,  fewer legislators would mean spending less money. Of course, if saving money was really the motive, maybe they would have first thought of cutting their extremely generous pay and benefits rather than representation.

In fact, I am certain we could get high quality citizen-legislators who would be willing to serve for no material compensation just as we get high quality people willing to serve as volunteers as ambulance drivers, and firefighters and Little League coaches and on church boards and on charities.

In fact, I am certain they would be an improvement.

HB 153 is sponsored by House Speaker Samuel Smith (R-66). Among the co-sponsors is Bill Adolph (R-165) of Delaware County.

The only GOP State Committee members voting nay were Lynda Culver and Jerry Stern. The only Democrat members voting aye were Eugene DePasquale, Florindo Fabrizio and Steve Santarsiero.