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Weekly Wrap
This week was the start of budget hearings, where the House and Senate Appropriations Committees examine the Governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021. The Governor's proposal comes in at $36.1 billion, a $1.46 billion or 4.22% increase, over last year's budget.
Here are the hearings that took place this week and some of the issues discussed.
Tuesday, February 18
House
Department of Revenue and PA Lottery
- Combined reporting
- Minimum wage
- Lottery RFP
Independent Fiscal Office
- Tax revenue
- Business tax climate compared to competing states
- Property tax reform
Department of Aging
- Performance of Area Agencies on Aging
- PACE/PACENET
- Direct care workers
Senate
Independent Fiscal Office
- Economic growth
- Demographics of the state and its effect on the economy
- Tax credits
Department of Revenue and PA Lottery
- Corporate net income tax and combined reporting
- Games of skill
- Lottery revenue
Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Federal funding
- Recovery houses
Wednesday, February 19
House
Department of State
- Election security
- Voting systems
- Licensing under the Bureau of Professional and Occupations Affairs
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
- Operation and maintenance of facilities
- Youth programs
- Veteran services
Department of Labor & Industry
- Minimum wage and overtime regulations
- Workforce development, apprenticeships, and job training
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Senate
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
- Pennsylvania Family GI bill
- Care for veterans
- Homeless veterans
Department of Corrections and Board of Probation & Parole
- Closure of SCI-Retreat
- Inmate training and medical care
- Parole and recidivism
Board of Pardons
- Pardon and commutation process
- Modernizing application process
Thursday, February 20
House
State Police
- Municipal fee for State Police coverage
- Background checks for firearm purchases
Department of Corrections, Board of Probation & Parole, and Board of Pardons
- Supplemental funding
- Health services for inmates
- Housing inmates and facility closures
Senate
PA State System of Higher Education
- Governor's proposed $204 million scholarship program
- System redesign
- Decline in enrollment
Department of State
- Election modernization
- Occupational licensure
- Election security
Office of Attorney General
- Opioid settlement
- School safety
- Data privacy and security
In addition to budget hearings, on Tuesday the House Consumer Affairs Committee held a public hearing on H.B. 853 (Oberlander, R-Clarion), which would prohibit health insurers from altering the coverage included in a policy during the term when an insured person has received treatment.
Friday, the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee held a public hearing on the waste goal generation industry. Furthermore, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee held a public hearing on elder abuse.
The Week Ahead
Budget hearings continue next week, with the schedule as follows:
Monday, February 24
House
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
- Department of Health and Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
Senate
- Department of Labor & Industry
- Auditor General
- Department of Aging
Tuesday, February 25
House
- Department of Transportation
- Department of General Services
- Liquor Control Board
Senate
- Liquor Control Board
- Department of Transportation
- Treasury Department
Wednesday, February 26
House
- Department of Community & Economic Development
- Department of Agriculture
- PA Emergency Management Agency & State Fire Commissioner
Senate
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Health
Thursday, February 27
Senate
- Department of Education
- Department of Community & Economic Development
Besides the Appropriations Committees, the House Health Committee will meet on Tuesday to hold a public hearing on prescription drug pricing. Also, the House Commerce Committee will meet to hold a public hearing on H.B. 1010 (Solomon, D-Philadelphia), which would: (1) mandate a company or entity take reasonable measures to secure personal information from hacking and compensate consumers in the event of a breach; and (2) provide for a private right of action for consumers to have recourse for damages they suffer due to a data breach.
Wednesday, the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on H.B. 1983 (Causer, R-McKean), which would eliminate the sunset date and continue the status quo for how the costs of racehorse medication testing are paid.
In Other News
- The Administration awarded $1.5 million in grants for opioid use disorder criminal justice diversion programs.
- The Department of Health approved four more clinical registrants for the Medical Marijuana Research Program.
- Gaming Control Board total revenue was up 17% in January.
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