Pennsylvania Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1080: An Act amending the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in death and fetal death registration, providing for pronouncement of death by a practical nurse; and, in records, further providing for fees for copies.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Vital Statistics Law to allow licensed practical nurses working in hospice care to officially pronounce death under specific conditions. To qualify, the patient must be under hospice care with a valid Do Not Resuscitate order, and the nurse must complete required training on assessing vital signs and postmortem care. The law clarifies that while nurses can declare death based on the cessation of breathing and heartbeat, they cannot determine the cause of death, which remains the responsibility of physicians or coroners. Additionally, the bill expands fee waivers for certified copies of death records to include a broader range of military personnel, veterans, and their dependents.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1132: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class Township Code, in finance and taxation, further providing for tax levies.

This law allows first-class townships to use up to one mill of their property tax revenue to pay salaries and benefits for fire suppression employees. The township board of commissioners can choose to set aside half of this tax revenue for these purposes, though they have the option to waive this limit if needed. This change directly affects the financial management of fire services in these specific municipalities by providing a dedicated funding source.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1133: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, in taxation and finance, further providing for township and special tax levies.

This bill allows second-class townships to levy a special annual tax of up to three mills to fund fire protection services. The revenue can be used to buy and maintain fire equipment, build facilities for housing it, support local and outside fire companies, and train personnel. Townships may use up to one mill of this tax to pay salaries and benefits for their own fire suppression employees, though they can choose to waive this limit. If a township wants to collect more than three mills in taxes for these purposes, the plan must be approved by a vote of the township's residents.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1134: An Act amending Title 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in taxation and finance, further providing for tax levy.

This law allows Pennsylvania boroughs to collect a special tax of up to three mills to fund fire protection services, including purchasing equipment, building firehouses, and hiring firefighters. The bill permits boroughs to use up to one mill of these funds for paying firefighter salaries and benefits, though the local council can choose to waive this limit. If a borough wants to set the tax rate higher than three mills, it must first ask the voters to approve the increase through an election.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1241: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.789, No.285), known as The Insurance Department Act of 1921, in insurance producers, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of department, for license prerequisites, for licensing and for license renewals.

This bill amends the Insurance Department Act of 1921 to extend a specific timeframe from 60 days to 180 days, though the text provided does not explicitly state which specific requirement or deadline this change applies to. The legislation affects insurance producers and the state's insurance department by altering a procedural timeline within the existing regulatory framework. As a technical adjustment to current laws, it modifies the duration of a process without introducing new definitions, licensing prerequisites, or powers for the department.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1274: An Act amending the act of July 2, 2004 (P.L.492, No.57), known as the Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act, further providing for title of act, for definitions, for office responsibilities, for State registration required, for State registration and for provisional registration.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act to expand the group of people covered to include those who are deafblind and to clarify definitions for services like video remote interpreting. It requires individuals providing these services to be state-registered by the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with specific exceptions for volunteers, students, religious settings, and short-term visitors. The legislation also outlines how the office must review educational programs and establishes a process for provisional registration, ensuring that the state maintains oversight while allowing for necessary flexibility in various contexts.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 31, 2024

SB 1319: An Act amending the act of December 14, 1982 (P.L.1227, No.281), known as the Architects Licensure Law, further providing for title of act, for short title, for declaration of purpose, for definitions, for creation of board and appointment and term of members and officers, for organization of board, for powers of board, for duties of board, for examination and qualification of applicants, for reciprocal licensing, for issuance and renewal of certificates, for payment and disposition of fees and for seal of architect; providing for architectural firm registration and for architectural firm names; further providing for permitted practices, for existing licenses, for existing rules and regulations and for unauthorized practice prohibited; providing for certification of interior designers; further providing for disciplinary proceedings, for penalties and for complaint procedure and hearings; providing for regulations; further providing for severability, for repeals and for effective date; and making editorial changes.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Architects Licensure Law to formally include interior design services under the state's regulatory framework. It establishes an Architects Licensure Board with specific representation for architects, public members, and certified interior designers to oversee licensing, examinations, and disciplinary actions. The legislation defines what constitutes the practice of architecture versus interior design services and sets requirements for individual licensure, firm registration, and continuing education. Additionally, it creates a certification path for interior designers and outlines procedures for handling complaints and penalties related to unauthorized practice.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 31, 2024

HB 450: An Act amending the act of April 23, 2002 (P.L.298, No.39), known as the Main Street Act, further providing for the duration of grants.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Main Street Act to clarify the funding timeline for downtown commercial enhancement programs. It allows grants to cover administrative costs, such as hiring a manager, for an initial period of up to five years, with the possibility of extending this duration by another five years upon approval. The change directly affects local organizations and businesses participating in the state's commercial revitalization efforts by providing a clearer framework for long-term grant support.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 31, 2024

HB 1409: An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, further providing for power to set fees; and, in fishing licenses, further providing for license, permit and issuing agent fees.

HB 1409 updates the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's authority to set fees for fishing licenses, permits, and issuing agents. The bill allows the commission to adjust specific amounts for various licenses, such as resident annual and senior resident lifetime licenses, as well as different tourist and replacement options, by referencing existing administrative rules. It also establishes fixed fees for special permits, including those for trout fishing and charter boat guides, while capping transaction costs for the automated licensing system at one dollar. This legislation directly impacts anglers and fishing businesses by defining the current fee structure and providing the legal framework for the commission to manage these costs.

Anita Kulik (D) · 35 co-sponsors

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 31, 2024

HB 2160: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class Township Code, in election of officers and vacancies in office, further providing for vacancies in general.

This Pennsylvania law updates the rules for filling empty seats on township commission boards to ensure positions are filled promptly. If a township board fails to appoint a replacement within 30 days, a temporary "vacancy board" must be formed within the next 15 days to make the appointment, consisting of the original commissioners and one local voter who chairs the group but cannot vote for themselves. If this temporary board also fails to act or if most commissioner seats are vacant at once, the matter moves to a county court where a judge appoints a replacement based on a petition from remaining officials or local voters. The changes take effect 60 days after the law is signed.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 31, 2024

HB 2265: An Act amending Title 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in powers and duties of elected officials, further providing for organization of council, quorum, participation by telecommunication device, voting, compensation and eligibility; and, in mayor, further providing for salary of mayor.

This bill updates Pennsylvania laws regarding the compensation and eligibility rules for borough and town council members and mayors. It clarifies that council members do not receive pay for unexcused absences from meetings, while allowing excused absences for reasons like illness, emergencies, or travel. The legislation also ensures that a borough cannot be forced to lower a mayor's or council member's salary if the town's population decreases, though it maintains that council pay cannot exceed the mayor's salary. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines on how local officials are paid and when they are eligible for that pay.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 31, 2024

HB 2610: An Act amending the act of June 17, 2024 (P.L.403, No.26), known as the Crematory Regulation Act, further providing for work practice standards.

This Pennsylvania law updates the Crematory Regulation Act to require specific safety standards for crematories that began construction after April 17, 1989. The main change mandates that these facilities install an interlock system which prevents operators from loading the primary chamber until the secondary chamber reaches and maintains a temperature of 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. This requirement applies to all existing and new crematories built after the specified date to ensure consistent operational safety. The legislation took effect immediately upon the Governor's approval in late October 2024.