The state House returns to session on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2021, to vote on issues of importance. NOTE: session on Monday and Tuesday has been cancelled due to weather. Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5 have been added as session days. Committee meetings listed here are subject to change as calendar adjustments are made - keep up with the latest schedule here. Stay tuned to PAHouseGOP.com for details.
Protecting Families by Leading on the COVID-19 Vaccine
The Wolf administration has failed the people of Pennsylvania in deploying our supply of the COVID-19 vaccine. As of Friday, Pennsylvania ranks an embarrassing 46th in the country in terms of vaccine deployment efficiency and has deployed only roughly 50% or 965,000 doses of 1.9 million vaccines received.
The House Health Committee will hold an oversight hearing with the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 vaccine deployment on Monday. In addition, Rep. Tim O’Neal’s bill requiring the National Guard to take an active role in vaccine deployment will be considered this week.
Restoring the People’s Voice
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be moving legislation and taking action to restore the people’s voice during times of emergency. By advancing Senate Bill 2, a constitutional amendment that will go before the voters to limit the governor’s emergency declaration authority, the House will take concrete action to rein in unchecked executive authority and restore the people’s voice to how decisions get made. When the bill passes the House this week, it will be timely for the May primary ballot.
Appropriating COVID-19 Relief
The House this week will take up Senate Bill 109, legislation that appropriates hundreds of millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief, including using $145 million from the Workers Compensation Security Fund for a small business grant program to help those most hurt by Gov. Tom Wolf’s economic shutdown.
The Weekly Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
· ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
o Informational meeting on the state of our natural gas economy in Pennsylvania and opportunities for growing our energy industry.
· HEALTH, 9 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
o Public hearing on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Strengths and Weaknesses in the Commonwealth.
· LEGISLATIVE AUDIT ADVISORY COMMISSION, 10 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Building
o Meeting to reorganize, review and accept the audit for the fiscal year 2020.
· VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 11:00 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
o HB 196 (Rep. Gary Day, R-Berks): Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to extend current employment protections to Pennsylvania citizens who are members of another state's National Guard.
o HB 326 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Amends Titles 35 (Health and Safety) and 51 (Military Affairs) to require the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist in both the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
· APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
o Agenda to be announced.
Session
On Wednesday, the House will meet at noon for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration
· HB 157 (Rep. Mindy Fee, R-Lancaster): Repeals the act of July 1, 1978 (P.L.584, No.109), entitled "An act establishing an agency to create the linkage necessary for the planning of an economic development system for Pennsylvania, and making an appropriation."
· HB 178 (Rep. R. Lee James, R-Venango): Amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to lengthen the time for unemployment compensation appeals.
· HB 186 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/McKean/Potter): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to clarify that milk haulers can travel on highways during a declaration of disaster emergency.
· HB 203 (Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne): Provides protections for living organ and tissue donors and imposes duties on the Department of Health and the Insurance Department.
· HB 284 (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler): Amends Title 37 (Historical and Museums) to provide for updates and modernization.
· SB 109 (Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Armstrong): Amends the Fiscal Code to provide for COVID-19 hospitality relief and appropriate other COVID-19 relief funds.
Votes on Third Consideration
· HB 11 (Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne): Designates a portion of Pennsylvania Route 92 from Apple Tree Road to Rustic Lane in Exeter Township, Luzerne County, as the Robert F. Kile Sr., Memorial Highway.
· HB 12 (Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 46475, carrying State Route 1021 over the Susquehanna River in Wyoming Borough, Luzerne County, as the George J. Dennis Jr. Memorial Bridge.
· HB 16 (Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Fayette): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 40269, on that portion of U.S. Route 219 Southbound over State Route 2047 in Summit Township, Somerset County, as the SP4 Michael William Twigg Memorial Bridge.
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
· FINANCE, 9:30 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
o Voting meeting on adoption of committee rules and reorganization, as well as:
o HB 230 (Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon): Amends the Administrative Code to require dynamic scoring of the fiscal impact of any proposed legislation that could have an impact in excess of $10 million upon request by a member of the General Assembly.
o HB 273 (Rep. Mike Peifer, R-Wayne/Pike): Amends the Tax Reform Code to correct a scrivener’s error relating to the Realty Transfer Tax.
· TRANSPORTATION, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
o HB 56 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8516, carrying State Route 271 over the West Branch Susquehanna River, in Northern Cambria Borough, Cambria County, as the Sergeant William Stock Memorial Bridge.
o HB 57 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Designates a bridge on that portion of State Route 4001 over Crooked Creek, in Armstrong Township, Indiana County, as the Sergeant Carl Roof Memorial Bridge.
o HB 113 (Rep. Perry Stambaugh, R-Perry): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to afford organized motorcycle processions many of the same rights that funeral processions currently receive.
o HB 124 (Rep. Jim Rigby, R-Cambria/Somerset): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8680, carrying State Route 3055 over Stonycreek River in the City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the City of Johnstown Firefighters Memorial Bridge.
o HB 125 (Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 1951, carrying State Route 4017 on Wetzel Road, Shaler Township, Allegheny County, as the Commander William J. Schofield, III, Memorial Bridge.
o HB 140 (Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks): Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to require that vehicles parking along a curbside bike lane must park parallel with their right-hand or left-hand wheels within 12 inches of the outside line of the buffer area between the bike lane and parking in the direction of traffic flow.
o HB 148 (Rep. Martin Causer, R- Cameron/McKean/Potter): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 25488, carrying State Route 1011 over the Mix Creek, in Eldred Township, McKean County, as the Sgt. Neil K. Dorrion Memorial Bridge.
o HB 149 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/McKean/Potter): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 39504, carrying Pennsylvania Route 3004 over the Allegheny River, Roulette Township, Potter County, as the SSG Gerrith Kibbe Memorial Bridge.
o HB 150 (Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8391, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 53 over Laurel Run, also known as Lost Creek, in Dean Township, Cambria County, as the Seaman 2nd Class Louis J. Benzie WWII Memorial Bridge.
o HB 151 (Rep. Benjamin Sanchez, D-Montgomery): Designates the portion of State Route 2038, also known as Fitzwatertown Road, between Jenkintown Road and North Hills Avenue in Upper Dublin Township, Montgomery County, as the CPL Vincent J. Wargo, Jr., U.S.M.C. Memorial Highway.
o HB 152 (Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 43267, on that portion of State Route 3041, also known as Dishong Mountain Road, over U.S. Route 22 in Jackson Township, Cambria County, as the Technical Sergeant Mike Capelli Memorial Bridge.
o HB 153 (Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria): Designates a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8461, on that portion of U.S. Route 219 over Pennsylvania Route 53, also known as Railroad Street, in Croyle Township, Cambria County, as the Janice Keen-Livingston First Responders' Memorial Bridge.
· APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
o Agenda to be announced.
Session
On Thursday, the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration
· HB 101 (Rep. Barbra Gleim, R-Cumberland): Provides for limited civil liability for agritourism activity providers, for notice of limited civil liability and for acknowledgment of limited civil liability.
· HB 110 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Potter/McKean): Amends the Hardwoods Development Council Act to provide for additional representation by Pennsylvania’s forestry industry on the Hardwood Development Council within the Department of Agriculture.
· HB 187 (Rep. David Rowe, R-Snyder, Union): Amends the Donated Food Limited Liability Act to expand the current immunity from civil and criminal liability to explicitly apply to the donation of food that has exceeded the manufacturer’s recommended label code date but is still fit for human consumption.
· HB 326 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Amends Titles 35 (Health and Safety) and 51 (Military Affairs) to require the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist in both the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
· SB 2 (Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland): Amends the Pennsylvania Constitution to (1) Add race and ethnicity under the Declaration of Rights Section of the Pennsylvania Constitution; and (2) Change the Emergency Declaration provision to ensure emergency declarations only last 21 days and need legislative approval to continue thereafter.
Votes on Third Consideration
· HB 157 (Fee)
· HB 178 (James)
· HB 186 (Causer)
· HB 203 (Toohil)
· HB 284 (Metcalfe)
· SB 109 (Pittman)
Committee Meetings/Hearings
• HUMAN SERVICES, 9 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
o Informational meeting on updates and improvements regarding care of children residing at Devereux Behavioral Health facilities in PA.
• JUDICIARY, 9:30 a.m., Room 140, Main Capitol
o HB 175 (Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York): Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally), in municipal police education and training, further providing for powers and duties of MPOTEC and establishing the Police Department Grant Program.
o HB 486 (Rep. Karen Boback, R-Luzerne/Wyoming): Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), in offenses against the family, to create a penalty for failing to report a missing child.
o SB 976 (Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to codify state Veterans Courts.
o SB 1170 (Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria): Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to permit the Commonwealth to call expert witnesses in cases of domestic violence in order to explain victim behavior.
o SB 1193 (Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh): Amends the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Act to provide an increase in funding for the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Account.
• PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, noon, Room B-31, Main Capitol
o HB 100 (Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford): Amends the Professional Nursing Law to provide for the modernization of the Professional Nursing Law – Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners.
• APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
o Agenda to be announced.
• HEALTH, Call of the Chair, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
o HB 2202 (Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York): Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act to create a new classification under Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities.
o SB 273 (Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair): Amends the Community-Based Health Care Act to remove the cap on funds which can be obtained by federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).
o HB 2476 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York): Amends the Human Services Code to expand healthcare outcome programs.
o HB 2857 (Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York): Amends the Human Services Code to create an annual enrollment period for recipients to choose their Medicaid plan.
• LABOR & INDUSTRY, Call of the Chair, Room B-31, Main Capitol
o SB 94 (Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster): Amends the Workers Compensation Act to provide workers compensation for integral members of fire companies.
o SB 594 (Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria): Amends the Workers Compensation Act to require employers who have a certified safety committee as part of their workers’ compensation program to include information about the risks associated with the use of opioids.
o SB 935 (Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria): Amends the Fire and Panic Act, further providing for standards for Class VI buildings.
Session
On Tuesday the House will meet at 1 p.m. for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration
• HB 980 (Rep. Dave Hickernell, R-Lancaster): Amends Title 51 to provide for the composition of the State Veterans Commission.
• HB 2103 (Rep. Barry Jozwiak, R-Berks): Amends the Patient Test Result Information Act to exempt specific cardiac testing from current notification requirements.
• HB 2331 (Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks): Amends the Human Services Code to provide for a Mental Health Care Services Clearinghouse.
• HB 2673 (Rep. Louis Schmitt, R-Blair): 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, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate in Allegheny Township, Blair County.
• HB 2674 (Rep. Louis Schmitt, R-Blair): 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, at a price to be determined through a competitive bid process, certain lands, buildings and improvements situate in Allegheny Township, Blair County.
• HB 2779 (Rep. Chris Quinn, R-Delaware): Act providing for retaining health care innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposing duties on the Joint State Government Commission.
• HB 2792 (Rep. Wendi Thomas, R-Bucks): Act providing for a long-term care medical director registry and imposing duties on the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services.
Votes on Third Consideration
• HB 862 (Barrar)
• HB 2561 (Culver)
• HB 2584 (Topper)
• HB 1348 (Gleim)
• SB 1216 (Langerholc)
Friday, Feb. 5, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
· COMMERCE, 10 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
o Public hearing to receive testimony from the Taverns/Clubs/VFWs regarding the impact of COVID-19 and how the Legislature can help them recover from their devastating losses.
· TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
o Voting meeting on reorganization of committee, adopt committee rules and any other business that may come before the committee.
· TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 10 a.m., Room G-50, Irivs Office Building
o Informational meeting with Department of Community and Economic Development's Office of Marketing, Tourism and Film on state tourism marketing and promotion activities.
· APPROPRIATIONS, Call of the Chair, Room 140, Main Capitol
o Agenda to be announced.
Session
On Friday, the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
Votes on Third Consideration:
· HB 101 (Gleim)
· HB 110 (Causer)
· HB 187 (Rowe)
· HB 326 (O’Neal)
· SB 2 (Ward)
All of House session and most House committee meetings will stream live on PAHouseGOP.com.