October 17, 2016
Six Session Days Remain to Wrap Up Legislative Work
After a two-week break, the State House reconvenes today. A brief late-September session started slowly but quickly ramped up as legislators moved bills knowing only six October session days remain before the end of the two-year session. Issues moving on both sides of the legislature included state uniform construction code, performance-based budgeting and opioid abuse. Governor Wolf gave a speech to a joint session of the Senate and House supporting legislation to help stem the “scourge” of opioid addiction which he described as a “public health crisis.” He noted that opioid abuse threatens whole communities with 3,500 Pennsylvanians losing their life in 2016 because of this epidemic. The Governor’s speech, as well as highlights of the address, is located
here. The Governor outlined specific bills and asked that the legislature deliver these bills to his desk for his signature. None of the bills that the legislature moved last week are on their way to the Governor, but several have a chance to get to his desk before the end of session.
SB 1356 sponsored by Senator Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) and HB 2337 sponsored by Rep. Quigley (R-Montgomery) contain identical language and would impact the funding for PHEAA in 2017-18. These bills would permanently allow for distance education inclusion in the PHEAA State Grant program. Currently, students must take 50% of classes or coursework in a physical class to receive a PHEAA grant, but these bills would allow students to take 100% online and still be eligible for student aid. Costs of this change are not known, although the Senate bill is in the Appropriations Committee where a fiscal note will be attached. Both bills have received first consideration and the House bill is on the calendar for further consideration. (Three considerations in each chamber are required to pass any bill.)
Other important higher education related bills are in a holding pattern. SB 1156, which removed the exemption for background checks for most employees of colleges and universities, remains in the Senate Rules Committee.
Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) made an impassioned plea in a House press conference to amend HB 1947. He wants to put back a “reviver” clause that allows for civil liability claims for child sexual abuse without regard to the amount of time that has passed beyond the statute of limitations. Several constitutional law experts testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee indicated that this clause would be unconstitutional. The recently appointed Attorney General Bruce Beemer contradicted what others have said, including the former Solicitor General Bruce Castor, indicating that he believes that the Supreme Court should determine the constitutionality of the bill. The bill in the House provides additional criminal and civil protection, but advocates are insisting on the “reviver” clause. Currently the bill is in the House Rules Committee. According to Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), the leadership plans to run this legislation and send it back to the Senate. While AICUP supports the changes to the criminal and civil penalties in the bill, we oppose the “reviver” clause.
Did you know: The next speaker at the monthly Press Club in Harrisburg is James H. Mullen, Jr. President of Allegheny College. The luncheon is Monday, October 31, 2016, at noon at the Hilton. Deeply troubled by the rise of incivility in U.S. politics, and its negative impacts on political participation, particularly among young people, the College created the Civility Prize in 2011 to highlight and reinforce the unheralded public figures who advance civility. If you would like to hear Dr. Mullen, please contact the Christine Corrigan at (717) 939-1400 or
cc@christinecorrigan.com no later than October 27. The cost is $30.00 and includes lunch.
