October 21 – 22, 2024

Bills voted on Third Consideration
HB 2185 (FLEMING) Amends the Public School Code requiring school entities and nonpublic schools to provide type 1 diabetes informational materials to parents and guardians when the student is first enrolled in elementary school and upon a student’s entry into grade six. Directs the Department of Health to develop the type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians. PASSED 48-0.

HB 2610 (MALAGARI) Amends the Crematory Regulation Act to remove the requirement for crematories constructed after April 17, 1989, to have incinerators with an interlock system that precludes charging of the primary chamber until the secondary or last chamber exit temperature is established and holds at 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. PASSED 48-0.

Resolution Adopted
SR 359 (PITTMAN) Creates a special rule of practice and procedure to govern the procedures of the Senate when sitting on refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by a standing committee. PASSED 27-21.

Bills voted on Concurrence
SB 1232 (PENNYCUICK) Amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to allow persons entitled to workers compensation benefits to request payment by direct deposit. Allows insurers or self-insured employers to require individuals entitled to benefits to receive payment by direct deposit, so long as an option is offered to receive benefit payments via a paper check if the person entitled to compensation does not have an account with a financial institution capable of accepting direct deposit. CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS 50-0.

SB 267 (BROOKS) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 23 (Domestic Relations) to add urgent care centers to the list of safe havens where a parent may surrender their newborn. Provides exemption from criminal liability to the parent if the newborn is not a victim of abuse or criminal conduct. Requires urgent care centers that accept newborns to post display hours during which newborns are accepted. Urgent care centers must ensure officers, providers, and employees are familiar with the Newborn Protection Act, taking a child into protective custody, and child protective services provisions. CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS 50-0.

SB 1237 (BAKER) Reauthorizes the Underground Utility Line Protection Law until December 31, 2031. Makes changes to the Damage Prevention Committee, as well as to the duties of facility owners, designers, excavators, and project owners. Revises penalty provisions and definitions. CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS 50-0.

Bills voted on Third Consideration
SB 766 (COMITTA) Amends the Administrative Code adding the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to the State Planning Board. PASSED 50-0.

HB 843 (D. MILLER) Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) requiring the establishment of a Type 3 urban search and rescue (US&R) response team in Allegheny County no later than January 1, 2026, or eighteen months after the PEMA enters into a letter of agreement with a sponsoring agency. Requires a Type 1 US&R response team covering Philadelphia County, which may be an existing federal team. Directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study and assessment of the Commonwealth’s urban search and rescue capabilities. PASSED 50-0.

HB 1409 (KULIK) Amends Title 30 (Fish) to extend the sunset provision from July 15, 2025 until July 15, 2035 that allows the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to set their own fishing license fees. PASSED 47-3.

HB 450 (FREEMAN) Amends the Main Street Act to authorize the Department of Community and Economic Development to extend the current grant for the costs associated with the hiring of a Main Street Manager for a period of five additional years. PASSED 49-1.

HB 2160 (SAPPEY) Amends the First Class Township Code to provide for filling vacancies in elected township offices by the court of common pleas when a township’s vacancy board is unable to act or when a majority of the board of commissioners positions are vacant. PASSED 50-0.

HB 2265 (DONAHUE) Amends Title 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) to increase the maximum compensation schedules for borough mayors and council members. Permits a borough to provide council member compensation on a per-meeting basis based on the attendance of the council member. Provides a borough is not required to reduce compensation due to a decrease in population. PASSED 49-1.

HB 2378 (ABNEY) Amends State Lottery Law to exclude as income when determining PACE and PACENET eligibility the principal and any interest accrued from a savings bond. PASSED 50-0.