Labor & Industry 2013-2014
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, July 01, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 1846, PN 3302 (Quinn) – This bill amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to reduce the reimbursement rate for drugs and pharmaceutical services provided to an injured worker, and to reform the practice of physician dispensing within the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system. The bill sets forth new requirements that will limit physician dispensing. Senator offered amendment A08996, which raises the reimbursement rate and changes the time frame for dispensing of certain drugs by outpatient providers. The amendment was approved (unanimous). Senator Baker offered A08995, which permits an additional 15 days of dispensing if surgery is required. The amendment was adopted (unanimous). Senator Baker offered A09016, which requires an annual study on the costs of physician-dispensed drugs. The amendment was adopted. Senator McIlhinney offered A09009, which would not limit non-addictive dispensing of narcotic drugs. The amendment was defeated. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 10-1.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 1980, PN 2920 (Fee) – This bill repeals the Employment Agency Law (Act 261 of 1941), which tasks the Department of Labor and Industry with the licensing and regulation of employment agencies and agents that charge clients a fee for employment services. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
HB 118, PN 242 (Ellis) – This bill amends the Whistleblower Law to expand coverage, increase penalties and improve confidentiality. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
HB185, PN 243 (Gibbons) – This bill amends the Whistleblower Law to expand coverage, increase maximum fines and improve confidentiality. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
SB 476, PN 424 (Argall) – This bill creates the Correctional Officers Bill of Rights Act, to establish the rights of correctional officers during investigations by the Department of Corrections. Amendment A07932 was offered, which renames the bill the “Correctional Officers Investigation Procedure Act” and removes the current language regarding suspensions in Section 7 in favor of new language. The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senator Labor & Industry Committee met on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 473, PN 2161 (Killion) – This bill amends the Mechanics’ Lien Law to create a State Construction Notices Directory. Amendment A07826 was offered, which requires DGS to establish and maintain the database and makes Notices of Commencement filing by owners mandatory rather than optional. The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Monday, May 05, 2014 to consider the following:
HB 2081, PN 3195 (Adolph) – This bill amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to exclude employees covered under the U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act or the U.S. Merchant Marine Act of 1920 from coverage under the Act. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
The committee also unanimously approved the nomination of Albert Mezzaroba, Esq., to the Labor Relations Board.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 to consider the following:
SB 1023, PN 1234 (McIlhinney) – This bill amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to require the state Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council to re-review the 2012 codes adopted by the International Code Council (ICC) and report to the Department on codes that it rejects. The legislation also adds two additional members to the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council and provides for per diem expenses. Senator McIlhinney offered amendment A05280 to make additional changes to the code process, increase the building permit fee by $1, and eliminate the proposed one of the two additions to the council. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended.
HB 403, PN 1389 (Grove) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to increase fines and penalties resulting from fraudulent activity by employees, employers and incarcerated individuals under the Act, and to allow the Department of Labor & Industry to take additional steps to prevent fraudulent payments to incarcerated individuals. Senator Gordner offered amendment A05107 to ensure that workers will not be deemed ineligible for benefits because of overtime earnings accumulated during their high quarter/busy season. Senator Gordner stated that this will affect close to 3,000 workers. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended.
The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 to considering the following:
SB 1195, PN 1613 (Gordner) – The bill amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to make changes to the claims process for the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund (UEGF) and authorizes the Fund to create lists of designated health care providers to provide treatment to injured workers. The bill also transfers $4 million to the Fund, allows the Secretary to limit payments during times of projected insolvency, and establishes new penalties. This bill was unanimously reported as committed.
The nomination of Keren Putman to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review was unanimously reported out of committee.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 to consider the following:
HB 26, PN 1944 (W. Keller) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to establish the Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund and provide for contributions to the Fund. This bill is similar to SB 928 (Gordner) which passed the Senate unanimously on June 11, 2013. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).
HB 421, PN 1125 (C. A. Harris) – The bill would amend the Unemployment Compensation Law to prevent an individual from collecting unemployment compensation if they leave work to preserve their pension. This bill is similar to SB 297 (Vance), which passed the Senate unanimously on April 30, 2013. Senator Tartaglione offered amendment A02128 on behalf of Senator Stack. The amendment, which is the same as language contained in SB 912 (Stack), changes the way unemployment compensation amounts are calculated. The Committee tabled the amendment by a vote of 7-4. The bill was ultimately reported as committed.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 to consider the following:
SB 928, PN 1054 (Gordner) – This bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to establish the Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund and provide for contributions to the Fund. Senator Tartaglione offered amendment A01530, which prohibits the Department from using money in the Fund to contract out unemployment services in violation of merit staffing requirements under current Federal law. The amendment was approved and the bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met on Tuesday, May 07, 2013 to consider the following:
SB 802, PN 842 (Corman) – This bill amends the Boiler and Unfired Pressure Vessel Law to modernize the Law, allow for private inspections and allow the Department to update codes through regulation. Senator Gordner offered an amendment to the bill, which was mostly technical in nature. The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 to consider the following:
SB 145, PN 99 (Ward) – This legislation amends the Mechanics’ Lien Law, providing for exceptions for liens filed by subcontractors and for court discharges of lien payments. Senator Gordner offered amendment A00788, which amends the language pertaining to priority of lien, and the definition of “costs of construction.” The bill was reported as amended.
SB 297, PN 211 (Vance) – The bill amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to prevent so-called “triple-dipping” by state employees. Senator Gordner offered amendment A00626 to address concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Labor that the bill singles out state annuitants. The amendment provides that any employee is ineligible for unemployment compensation due to separation from work in order to preserve the claimant’s pension. The bill was reported as amended.
The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 to consider the following:
HB 124, PN 111 (Aument) – This bill amends the Industrialized Housing Act to require the Department of Community and Economic Development to create regulations for a certification program to regulate the construction, installation and inspection of commercial modular buildings. The bill was reported as amended (unanimous).