Legislation Introduced 2015-2016

Legislation Introduced by Senator Fontana | 2015-2016 Legislative Session

Lead Package of Bills (with Kitchen, Costa, Haywood, Yudichak, Hughes)

SB 16 – Creates a Task Force on Lead to study the scope of the lead issue throughout this Commonwealth.  (Yudichak)

Referred to Public Health and Welfare, April 20, 2016
Reported as amended, June 22, 2016 (11-0)
Re-referred to Appropriations, July 11, 2016

Co sponsors:  Sabatina, Argall, Teplitz, Wozniak, Greenleaf, Farnese, Wiley, Ward, Blake, Schwank, Brewster

SB 18 Requires day cares licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to test the lead levels (water, paint, and soil) as part of their licensure process.  The bill also prohibits DHS from issuing a license in which lead levels are higher than the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation and submit a remediation plan to DHS. (Kitchen)

Referred to Public Health and Welfare June 22, 2016
Reported as amended, June 27, 2016 (10-0)
Amended on second consideration, July 12, 2016
Laid on the Table, July 13

Co sponsors:  Sabatina, Argall, Teplitz, Wozniak, Greenleaf, Farnese, Wiley, Ward, Blake, Schwank, Brewster, Browne, Dinniman

SB 19 Requires any agreement of sale for real property to include an option to have the water tested for lead.  (Fontana)

Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, May 17, 2016

Co sponsors:  Sabatina, Argall, Teplitz, Wozniak, Greenleaf, Farnese, Wiley, Blake, Schwank, Brewster

SB 20 Require that property disclosure statements discloses whether lead contamination has been found in the drinking water of a home and/or a house built before 1978 contains lead paint.  (Fontana)

Referred to Urban Affairs and Housing, May 17, 2016
Reported as committed, June 22, 2016 (11-0)
Laid on the Table July 13

Co Sponsors:  Wiley, Farnese, Sabatina, Tartaglione, Brewster, Schwank

SB  – Creates a SuperFund for Lead Abatement to be utilized by entities, such as schools and day cares, to defray costs associated with remediating lead.  (Hughes)

Referred to

Co sponsors:  Argall, Teplitz, Wozniak, Greenleaf, Farnese, Wiley, Blake, Schwank, Brewster

SB  – Requires that every school building be tested for lead (water, paint, soil) prior to the start of the school year.  Results of the test would be sent to parents of every child enrolled in the school and posted on the school district’s website.  If a school tests at lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control’s acceptable amount, they would be required to submit a remediation plan to the Department of Education.  (Haywood)

Referred to

Co sponsors: Sabatina, Argall, Teplitz, Wozniak, Greenleaf, Farnese, Wiley, Ward, Blake, Rafferty, Schwank, Brewster, Browne

Kindergarten Requirement

SB 216 – Amends the Public School Code to require all school districts in the Commonwealth to provide full day kindergarten.

Referred to Education on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Brewster, Hughes, Costa, Farnese, Rafferty, Leach

Restriction for TV Series and Film Tax Credit

SB 217 – Caps the amount a tv series, whose primary purpose is the sale of commercial goods, and prohibit commercial and marketing type advertisements from receiving funding under the film tax credit.

Referred to Finance on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Brewster, Costa, Boscola, Smith, Farnese, Hughes, Leach

Film Production Tax Credit

SB 218 – Increases the Film Production Tax Credit from the current $60 million to $125 million.

Referred to Finance on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Blake, Costa, Wiley, Boscola, Smith, Brewster, Hughes, Rafferty, Leach, Ward, Browne, Farnese

Unused Film Production Tax Credit

SB 219 – Would allow for the recapture of approved unused Film Production Tax Credits from a previous year.

Referred to Finance on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors: Brewster, Blake, Yudichak, Costa, Schwank, Wiley, Boscola, Smith, Farnese, Hughes, Leach, Browne

*Signed into law under the 2016-17 Tax Code, HB 1198 (Act 84 of 2016)

Angel Investment Tax Credit

SB 223 – Amends Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) to provide for an Angel Investment Tax Credit for individuals/network of individuals who review new businesses and proposed businesses and make investments.

Referred to Finance on February 12, 2015

Co sponsors:  Greenleaf, Brewster, Boscola, Vulakovich, Yudichak, Mensch, Gordner, Schwank, Hughes, Costa, Browne, Smith Wiley, Blake Farnese, Wozniak, Dinniman, Leach

Increase for Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program

SB 243  – Would increase the allocation for the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program (NAP) from the current $18 million to $25 million.

Referred to Finance on May 1, 2015

Co sponsors:  Wiley, Brewster, Yudichak, Schwank, Costa, Smith, Stefano, Hughes, Browne

Early Voting

SB 255 – Amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to provide for early voting in primaries and elections beginning 15 days prior.

Referred to State Government on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Farnese, Teplitz, Brewster, Blake, Costa, Schwank, Wiley, Yudichak, Boscola, Hughes, Smith, Williams, Leach, Browne

Sales and Use Tax Filing Schedule Change

SB 256 – Would reinstate the former semi-monthly filing schedule for the Sales and Use Tax for certain businesses that have volatile sales.

Referred to Finance on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Costa, Boscola, Farnese, Hughes, Browne

Water Testing Results by DEP

SB 257 – Amends Title 58 (Oil and Gas) by requiring that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provide the water test results to homeowners for all parameters that they have accurately measured using their normal procedures. DEP would also be required to post the water test results online, categorized by municipality, so that the confidentiality of homeowners’ water supply will not be compromised.

Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Yudichak, Brewster, Costa, Schwank, Wiley, Boscola, Blake, Farnese, Hughes, Rafferty, Williams

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

SB 258 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in a dependent care facility which includes nursing homes, older adult daily living center, personal care home and assisted living residence.

Referred to Public Health and Welfare on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Schwank, Hughes, Smith, Costa, Tartaglione, Brewster, Tomlinson

SB 259 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in lodging establishment including a hotel, motel, inn, guest house, hostelry or other structure that provides temporary accommodations.

Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Schwank, Hughes, Smith, Costa, Tartaglione, Brewster, Tomlinson

SB 260 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in dorms of institutions of higher education including universities within the State System of Higher Education, community colleges, State-related institutions, and any college or university which is operated not for profit.

Referred to Education on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Schwank, Hughes, Smith, Costa, Tartaglione, Brewster, Tomlinson

SB 261 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in schools which include a public school, nonpublic school, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school.

Referred to Education on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Schwank, Smith, Costa, Tartaglione, Brewster, Tomlinson

SB 262 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in child care facilities including a boarding home for children, child care center and a nursery school that is licensed and regulated by the Commonwealth.

Referred to Public Health and Welfare on January 15, 2015

Co sponsors:  Kitchen, Schwank, Smith, Costa, Tartaglione, Brewster, Tomlinson

 

Private Lateral Sewage Line Maintenance

SB 288 – Amends the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act to allow municipalities to include private lateral rehabilitation or replacement in PennVEST funding applications when determined by the municipality that it is the most cost effective approach to reduce wet weather sewer overflows.

Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy on January 20, 2015

Co sponsors:  Yudichak, Hughes, Schwank, Boscola, Smith, Costa, Williams, Tartaglione, Brewster, Bartolotta

Private Lateral Sewage Line Improvement/Repair

SB 289 – Would allow municipalities to use public funds for the improvement, extension, repair or rehabilitation of private lateral sewage lines connected to public sewer systems where the municipality or municipal authority determines that such activities will benefit the public sewer system.

Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy on January 20, 2015
Reported as Committed, February 24, 2015 (11-0)
Reported as Committed in Appropriations, March 22, 2016 (25-1)
Final Passage in the Senate, June 30, 2016 (50-0)
Referred to House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, July 1, 2016

Co sponsors:  Yudichak, Hughes, Schwank, Boscola, Smith, Costa, Williams, Tartaglione, Brewster, Bartolotta

Posting School Policies

SB 322 – Would require all traditional K-12 public schools to post online certain school policies on the district’s website.

Referred to Education on January 23, 2015

Co sponsors:  Teplitz, Stack, Brewster, Hughes, Costa, Smith, Farnese, Browne

*Signed into law under the 2016-17 School Code, HB 1606 (Act 86 of 2016)

Special Occasion Permit

SB 323 – Would add the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation (PDCDC) and the McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation as an eligible entity for a Special Occasion Permit with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Referred to Law & Justice on January 23, 2015

Co sponsors:  Vulakovich, Smith, Costa, Schwank, Rafferty, Hughes

*Signed into law under HB 1690 (Act 39 of 2016)

Rideshare

SB 447 – Would allow Transportation Network Services like Lyft and Uber to operate legally in the Commonwealth.  The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission would be charged with overseeing operations.

Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, February 13, 2015

Co sponsors:  Teplitz, Blake, Brewster, Yudichak, Smith, Costa, Vulakovich

Business in Our Sites

SB 673 – Recapitalize Business in Our Sites which is an infrastructure investment program designed to create shovel ready sites for new development.

Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development on March 31, 2015

Co sponsors:  Williams, Brewster, Haywood, Yudichak, Kitchen, Costa, Wiley, Schwank, Farnese, Boscola, Wozniak, Hughes

*Signed into law under the 2016-17 Fiscal Code, HB 1605 (Act 85 of 2016)

Taxing Non-Profits on Land Value

SB 945 – Amend Title 53 to require non-profits to pay real estate taxes based on the value of their land only, exempting the first $500,000 of total land value.  The exemption would apply to all properties owned by the entity.  Land conservancies would be exempt.

Referred to Finance on July 10, 2015

Co sponsors:  Schwank

SB 946 –  Amends the Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act to require non-profits to pay real estate taxes based on the value of their land only, exempting the first $500,000 of total land value.  The exemption would apply to all properties owned by the entity.  Land conservancies would be exempt.

Referred to Finance on July 10, 2015

Co sponsors:  Schwank

Repeal of Act 11 of 2014

SB 1024  – Would repeal the law that established the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) of the City of Pittsburgh.

Referred to Community, Economic, Recreational Development on October 20, 2015

Co sponsor:  Schwank

Enhancing the Film Production Tax Credit (with Ward, Costa, Pileggi, Bartolotta)

SB 1050 – Increases the Film Tax Credit to $75 million, reissuing credits that have been awarded but unused, and providing credits for qualified post-production expenses.

Referred to Finance on November 13, 2015

Co sponsors:  Sabatina, Greenleaf, Tartaglione, Farnese, Rafferty, Tomlinson, Blake, Stefano, Leach, Hughes, Wiley, McGarrigle, Browne, Williams, Boscola, Yudichak, Brewster

Breweries at Farmers Markets and Festivals (with Scavello)

SB 1060 – The first permit would allow breweries to participate in wine and food festivals in the Commonwealth.  The second permit would permit breweries to sell malt and brewed beverages he or she manufactured at farmers markets.

Referred to Law and Justice on November 13, 2015

Co sponsors:  Vogel, Costa, Rafferty, Stefano, Vulakovich, Scarnati

*Signed into law under HB 1690 (Act 39 of 2016)

Reporting of Nursing Ratios

SB 1081 –  Staffing levels for RNs, LPNs, CANs would be posted in patient care areas as well as the Dept. of Health would compile and publish quarterly reports of this information for each Pennsylvania hospital.

Referred to Public Health and Welfare on December 17, 2015

Co sponsors:  Blake, Costa, Leach, Teplitz, Sabatina, Haywood, Williams

Budget Impasse

SB 1169 – Lays out the protocol if the General Assembly fails to pass a budget by the constitutional deadline of June 30th.

Referred to Appropriations on March 22, 2016

Co sponsors:  Teplitz, Farnese, Ward, Haywood

Property Rebate for Baby Boomers

Implements a property tax rebate for the baby boomer generation.  To qualify for a rebate, an individual must be a Pennsylvania residents who is 66 years and older, whose income is $50,000 and under, and who has lived in their home for 10 years or more.

SB 1214 – This bill amends the Taxpayer Relief Act to provide for a supplemental senior property tax rebate.

Referred to Finance on May 2, 2016

Co sponsors: Sabatina, Brewster, Ward, Costa, Haywood, Rafferty

SB 1215 – This bill amends the State Lottery Law to provide for disposition of funds.

Referred to Finance on May 2, 2016

Co sponsors: Sabatina, Brewster, Ward, Costa, Rafferty

Property Tax Elimination (with Ward)

SB 1204 – A Constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to adopt legislation that would grant any local government in Pennsylvania with local voter approval, the option to eliminate property taxes and choose from alternative taxing options to make up for the loss revenues.

Referred to Finance on April 20, 2016

Co sponsors:  Vulakovich, Brewster

Reforms to the Pittsburgh ICA (with Costa)

SB 1221 – Updates and reforms Act 11 of 2004, which created the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) by requiring the agency to be more transparent and accountable to the public.

Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development, May 2, 2016
Reported as amended, May 18, 2016 (14-0)
Amended on second consideration, June 6, 2016
Reported as committed in Appropriations, June 23 (26-0)
Final passage in the Senate, June 28, 2016 (50-0)
Referred to House Urban Affairs, June 29, 2016
Reported as committed, June 30, 2016 (22-0)
Reported as committed in House Appropriations, July 11, 2016 (37-0)
Final passage in the House, July 11, 2016 (188-0)
Signed by the Senate, July 12, 2016
Signed by the House, July 13, 2016
Approved by the Governor, July 20, 2016 (Act 99)

Co sponsors:  Scarnati, Teplitz, Vulakovich, Reschenthaler, Brewster, Yudichak, Hughes

Autonomous Vehicles (with Vulakovich, Costa, Rafferty, Wozniak)

SB 1268 – Allows for the testing of autonomous vehicles on Pennsylvania’s transportation system.

Referred to Transportation, May 18, 2016

Co Sponsors: Leach, Brewster, Reschenthaler, Schwank, Ward, Tartaglione, Browne, Haywood

R&D Tax Credit

SB 1278 – Would reauthorize Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit to promote competition among businesses to expand research and create jobs as well as make the credit permanent.

Referred to Finance, June 2, 2016

Co sponsors:  Wozniak, Costa, Vogel, Ward, Tartaglione, Stefano, Schwank, Browne, Haywood

*Signed into law under the 2016-17 Tax Code, HB 1198 (Act 84 of 2016)

Committee Consideration

SR 23 – Amends Senate Rule 14 by granting the prime sponsor of a bill/resolution the ability to request a public meeting or hearing within 10 legislative days of the request and would require a vote on the bill/resolution within 10 legislative days after the hearing.

Referred to Rules and Executive Nominations on February 12, 2015

Co sponsors:  Teplitz, Farnese, Brewster, Costa, Smith, Tartaglione, Williams, Blake, Leach

Study on Problem Gambling Funding

SR 56 – Would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the current and future state of compulsive and problem gambling treatment in this Commonwealth.

Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development on April 8, 2015

Co sponsors:  Brewster, Gordner, Schwank, Greenleaf, Smith, Costa, Kitchen, Ward, Yudichak, Hughes

LBFC Workforce Investment Study (with Smith)

SR 59 – Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of all state sponsored workforce investment programs.

Referred to Labor and Industry on April 8, 2015

Co sponsors:  Teplitz, Tartaglione, Vulakovich, Brewster, Hughes, Farnese, Gordner, Yudichak, Wiley, Costa, Schwank, Boscola, Hutchinson, Browne, Blake

Expungement of Certain Records

Would grant the ability for an individual to petition with the court of common pleas in the county where the original petition was filed the expungement of any PFA records when no protection from abuse order was issued.

Referred to

Co sponsors:  Boscola, Brewster, Hughes