SB 703 PN 1638 (McGarrigle): This bill creates the Plumbing Contractors Licensure Act and creates the State Board of Plumbing Contractors for the purpose authorizing plumbers to perform services and supervise apprentices and journeyman plumbers. Senator McGarrigle offered Amendment A09186, which adds provisions to prohibit the State Board of Plumbing from soliciting municipalities to require a plumbing license for individuals performing plumbing services in certain jurisdictions. The amendment was agreed to unanimously. Senator McGarrigle offered Amendment A09187, which changes the application deadline from 18 months to 24 months. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
SB 1221 PN 1884 (Costa): This bill amends Act 11 of 2004 (Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Act for Cities of the Second Class) to create more transparency by requiring record keeping that meets the standards of other state agencies and addressing governance issues that were raised by the Auditor General’s recent audit. The bill was approved 50-0.
SB 1311 PN 1925 (Vance): This bill amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) and Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to address grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights, definitions pertinent to child protective services, and definitions pertinent to juvenile matters. The bill was approved 50-0.
HB 1877 PN 3321 (Barrar): This bill extends the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VFEMS) grant program until June 30, 2020. The bill was approved 50-0.
SB 1324 PN 1980 (Williams): This legislation amends Title 4 (Amusements) to provide for consumer protection for participants of fantasy sports and will grant the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board authority over fantasy sports regulations in Pennsylvania. Senator Reschenthaler offered Amendment A09185, which would change the fantasy sport tax rate from 18% to 12%. The amendment was approved 32-18 and the bill was rereferred to the Senate Appropriation Committee.
HB 1500 PN 2343 (Caltagirone): This bill amends Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) that directs land banks to use a portion of their acquired blighted properties towards homeless housing facilities. Senator Wagner offered Amendment A09155, which would exempt property transfers to or from the state and local realty transfer tax. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over as amended.
SR 7 PN 1982 (Hughes): This resolution requires the study of student suicide rates, specifically in higher education. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
SR 398 PN 1972 (Browne): This resolution provides for a temporary rule of the Senate, which would rule out of order certain amendments to General Appropriation Bills for the fiscal year 2016-2017. The resolution was adopted 50-0.