HB 327, PN 3678 (Warren) – Amends the act of April 12, 1951, also known as the Liquor Code, to provide for the temporary sale of prepared beverages and mixed drinks for off-premise consumption by licensees during the COVID-19 disaster emergency. A vote of 48-0 was recorded.
HB 1522, PN 1917 (Ecker) – This Bill would amend the Child Labor Act to eliminate the requirement that Junior Firefighters complete Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) training before they can engage in firefighting activities. A vote of 48-0 was recorded.
HB 2388, PN 3719 (Mihalek) – This bill requires the Secretary of DCED to immediately grant business waivers to all vehicle dealer activities. Senator Fontana offered amendment A05585 which authorizes the DOH in consultation with DCED to publish regulations, guidelines and orders as necessary to govern business reopening during disaster declaration related to COVID 19. Requires opening businesses to file a report with the department detailing how it will comply with CDC guidelines and guidelines of DOH for the purposes of employee safety by May 15, 2020. Provides sanctions and penalties for noncompliant businesses including business closures for up to a period of 30 days. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. Senator Schwank offered amendment A05572 which amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to add an article that protects, for the period a non-life sustaining business operates under a yellow (intermediate} reopening phase, the unemployment compensation eligibility of a business employee, who does not return to work at the business due to concerns that doing so would place the employee’s health at risk. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. Senator L. Williams offered amendment A05600 which makes it unlawful for businesses operating under a waiver to retaliate or discriminate against an employee related to compensation or terms/conditions of employment because the employee makes a complaint about the business’s failure to comply with guidance of the CDC, DoH or DCED, or participates in an investigation regarding failure to comply with CDC or DoH guidance. Violations are subject to civil actions by such employees in the courts of common pleas within 3 years of discovery of the retaliation or discrimination. Relief includes reinstatement as an employee; restitution of 3 times the employee’s wages and fringe benefits; reasonable attorney fees and costs of litigation; and other appropriate legal and equitable relief as determined by the court. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. Senator A. Williams offered amendment A05617 which prohibits employer retaliation against employees of a business granted a waiver to operate in a county with a stay-at-home order if the employee refuses to return to work due to a concern for the employee’s health. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. The bill was approved by a vote of 31-17.
HB 2412, PN 3720 (Polinchock) – This bill requires the Secretary of DCED to immediately grant business waivers for all real estate activities of brokers, sales persons, and licensees, residential home inspection providers, video or virtual tour creators, and settlement service providers. The bill also suspends Municipal use and occupancy or code enforcement actions and requires taxing authorities and public utilities to provide alternative means for residential homebuyers or title insurers to ascertain the current status of tax payments or overdue utility obligations. Senator Costa offered amendment A05591 which provides the following protections for employees of life-sustaining businesses who contract COVID-19 or any other infectious disease during a disaster emergency: A presumption of work-related hazardous duty. No requirement for the employee with the disease to use sick, vacation or personal time while unable to work. Eligibility for unemployment compensation and workers compensation while unable to work. Provides employees subject to an isolation or quarantine order with protection from termination, retaliation or discrimination by an employer; provides for reinstatement to employment; and provides for penalties. Provides for public health emergency leave by requiring all employers in PA to notify and provide employees with paid sick time in addition to any other leave benefits; provides for enforcement by the Department of Labor and Industry; and provides for additional employee protections. Requires employers in PA to provide appropriate PPE, including face masks, to employees who are unable to work remotely; provides employee protections from retaliation or discharge due to reporting noncompliance; and provides for penalties. The amendment failed by vote of 20-28. Senator Fontana offered amendment A05586 which authorizes the DOH in consultation with DCED to publish regulations, guidelines and orders as necessary to govern business reopening during disaster declaration related to COVID 19. Requires opening businesses to file a report with the department detailing how it will comply with CDC guidelines and guidelines of DOH for the purposes of employee safety by May 15, 2020. Provides sanctions and penalties for noncompliant businesses including business closures for up to a period of 30 days. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. Senator Schwank offered amendment A05583 which amends the Administrative Code of 1929 by adding an article that protects, for the period a non-life sustaining business operates under a yellow (intermediate} reopening phase, the unemployment compensation eligibility of a business employee, who does not return to work at the business due to concerns that doing so would place the employee’s health at risk. The amendment failed by a vote of 20-28. The bill was approved by a vote of 33-15.
SB 327, PN 1655 (Argall) – Amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to require the Department of General Services (DGS) to conduct an annual survey of state building/facility usage and adds new sections regarding emergency COVID-19 provisions. Senate concurred in House amendments. A vote of 28-20 was recorded.
The Senate confirmed the following executive nominations by a vote of 48-0:
Camilla L. Greene, Pennsylvania Council on Aging (new appointment)
Elaine B. Jenkins, Pennsylvania Council on Aging (new appointment)
Sherrie L. Shade, Pennsylvania Council on Aging (new appointment)
John F. Vogel II, Pennsylvania Council on Aging (reappointment)
Deborah A. Wisinski, Pennsylvania Council on Aging (reappointment)
Dan A. Klingerman, Council of Trustees of Bloomsburg University (new appointment)
Sandra K. Guthrie, Council of Trustees of California University of Pennsylvania (new appointment)
Justin R. Nwokeji, Council of Trustees of California University of Pennsylvania (new appointment)
Danny J. Jones, Council of Trustees of Edinboro Universtiy (new appointment)
Joyce R. Fairman, Council of Trustees of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (reappointment)
Owen J. Cooks, Board of Trustees of Lincoln University (new appointment)
Krystjan K. Callahan, Council of Trustees of Lock Haven University (reappointment)
Albert W. Jones, Council of Trustees of Lock Haven University (new appointment)
Max P. Gannon II, Council of Trustees of Mansfield University (reappointment)
Karen J. Russell, Council of Trustees of Mansfield University (reappointment)
Saul W. Fink, Council of Trustees of Millersville University (new appointment)
Richard L. Frerichs, Council of Trustees of Millersville University (reappointment)
Rick Rodgers, Council of Trustees of Millersville University (new appointment)
William C. Barrett, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (new appointment)
Jason D. Brinker, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (new appointment)
Bart E. Burne, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (reappointment)
Anthony C. Clements, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (new appointment)
Kristen L. Denne, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (new appointment)
Patricia B. Dombrowsky, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (reappointment)
Corey B. Meyer, Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (new appointment)
Michael S. D’Agostino, Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries (new appointment)
William F. Keller III, Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries (new appointment)
Sean D. Schafer, Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries (new appointment)
Matthew G. Sullivan, Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries (new appointment)
Khadija T. Diggs, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (new appointment)
Charles James Fox III, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (reappointment)
William A. Gindlesperger, Council of Trustees of Shippensburg University (reappointment)
Alfonso Angelucci, Council of Slippery Rock University (reappointment)
Dan C. Lavallee, Council of Trustees of Slippery Rock University (new appointment)
William L. McCarrier, Council of Trustees of Slippery Rock University (reappointment)
Thomas T. Baldrige, Board of Trustees of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (reappointment)
Patricia Hopson-Shelton, Board of Trustees of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (reappointment)
Christopher H. Franklin, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)
Jonathan Ireland, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)