May. 25, 2017 /
![Barrar’s Bill to Reimburse Ambulance Companies Advances to the Senate]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation drafted by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) that would require ambulance companies to be reimbursed for providing medical treatment, even if the patient is not transported to a hospital, was unanimously approved by the House.
May. 25, 2017 /
![Metzgar Bill to Encourage Clean Energy Transportation]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation by Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Bedford/Somerset) to encourage clean energy truck transportation passed in the House of Representatives Wednesday by a commanding unanimous vote.
May. 24, 2017 /
![Hahn Bill to Toughen DUI Law Passes Overwhelmingly]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Bushkill Township) that would strengthen penalties for DUI offenders now sits with the state Senate after a near unanimous vote of support today in the House.
May. 24, 2017 /
![Judiciary Committee to Examine Proposed Merger of Corrections, Probation/Parole]()
WHAT: Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing on the proposed consolidation of the Department of Corrections and the Board of Probation and Parole.
May. 24, 2017 /
![Saccone’s Legislation to Safeguard Children from Online Sexual Predators Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – Acting to protect children of Pennsylvania from online sexual predators, the House passed legislation authored by Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Washington/Allegheny) on May 23. The legislation, House Bill 561, which received support of both Democrats and Republicans, would make permanent an important tool to locate child predators.
May. 24, 2017 /
![House Passes Bill to Help End Funding Crisis for Local Ambulance Companies, Says Reed]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation to help to address the funding crisis facing emergency medical services organizations across Pennsylvania unanimously passed the House of Representatives today and heads to the state Senate for consideration, according to House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana).
May. 24, 2017 /
![Baker Bill to Benefit Stage IV Cancer Patients]()
New legislation would ensure unfettered access to cancer treatments
May. 24, 2017 /
![Heffley, Veterans Advocates Gather to Prevent Veteran Suicide]()
HARRISBURG – Positioned in front of a flag line, color guard, over a dozen veterans advocates and the silhouette of Army Spec. Michael Wargo, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) addressed veterans and their supporters on the Capitol steps Tuesday afternoon. Heffley’s House Resolution 349, which recognizes Mission 22, an organization that helps prevent veteran suicide, passed the House unanimously on Tuesday morning.
May. 24, 2017 /
![Murt Bill to Reform Standards for Receiving Mental Health Treatment Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG—Legislation introduced by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery) to change the standards used to help families intervene when someone with a mental illness is too sick to seek treatment has passed the Human Services Committee.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Toohil’s Postpartum Depression Bill Approved by Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation co-sponsored by Reps. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) and Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), that would offer state assistance to Pennsylvania mothers struggling with postpartum depression and their babies, today was unanimously approved by the House Children and Youth Committee. House Bill 200 now moves to the full House for consideration.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Tallman Legislation Expands Access to Potential Military Recruits]()
HARRISBURG – Branches of the military would have access to an expanded list of potential recruits under legislation authored by state Rep. Will Tallman (Adams/Cumberland). House Bill 524 now sits with the state Senate after passing the House Monday with overwhelming bipartisan support.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Zimmerman Bill to Modernize Current Law to Include Online Educational Opportunities Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R-Lancaster) to permit the licensure of online schools passed the House of Representatives today by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 190-4 for the second consecutive session
May. 23, 2017 /
![Bills Supporting Ambulance Services Advancing in State House, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – Working to address the challenges facing ambulance services in rural Pennsylvania and across the Commonwealth, the state House is advancing two measures that would boost funding for the organizations, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).
May. 23, 2017 /
![Barrar and Committee Favor Bill to Support Military Families]()
HARRISBURG – The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and its chairman, Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), unanimously supported a bill that would support military families by permanently offering an option for Commonwealth residents to contribute all or a portion of their tax refund to the Military Family Relief Fund.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Dunbar and Cutler Applaud House Action on Results First Act to Continue Conversation on Reinventing Government]()
HARRISBURG – Co-sponsored by Reps. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland) and Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), the Results First Act (House Bill 599), which would provide the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) with legal authority to obtain data and analyze the effectiveness of government assistance programs, was advanced by the state House on Monday for the second consecutive legislative session.
May. 23, 2017 /
![House Approves Ortitay Bill to Create Centralized List of Online Secondary Courses]()
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), to increase learning opportunities by establishing a central repository of online courses for secondary students.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Rapp Legislation to Improve Secondary Transition Services Unanimously Approved By PA House]()
HARRISBURG — Legislation sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) that would improve secondary transition services for special education students unanimously passed the state House on Monday for the second consecutive session.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Human Services Committee to Consider Treatment, Mental Health Bills]()
WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold a voting meeting to consider two proposals designed to help people with mental illness or those with substance abuse issues. House Bill 825, sponsored by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), would establish a registry of available beds in treatment facilities; and House Bill 1233, sponsored by Rep. Tom Murt (R-Philadelphia/Montgomery), would establish a new standard for court ordered assisted outpatient treatment in the community, while leaving in place the clear and present danger standard for involuntary hospitalization.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Show Me the Savings]()
One month from now, the General Assembly will hopefully be putting the finishing touches on the 2017-18 state budget. From my point of view, we appear to be a good distance away from accomplishing that. One of the components of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan proposes to save $90 million by combining four state agencies - the departments of Aging, Health, Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol Programs. The governor wants to roll these agencies into one department, despite their having drastically different missions.
May. 23, 2017 /
![Committee Passes Mako Bill to Make Military Family Relief Program Check-Off Permanent]()
HARRISBURG – The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee today reported out Rep. Zach Mako’s (R-Lehigh/Northampton) legislation to extend the Military Family Relief Program check-off box on state tax forms permanently.