Pa. House Passes Controversial COVID-19 Proposals to Begin to 'Reopen' Businesses
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Republicans and Democrats in the Pa. House once again spar over COVID-19 bills that would allow businesses to reopen in Pennsylvania.
The House also positioned additional bills dealing with reopening specific industries amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. This includes
House Bill 2400, introduced by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, that would allow for a
blanket exemption to the governor's order for all public and private construction activities if they adhere to mitigation measures set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and
House Bill 2376, which would open all retail stores in the Commonwealth if they allow only one customer and one employee in the store, or of they operate contact-less or curbside business operations. These bills are ready for a full vote of the House when the chamber returns to session, which has not yet been determined.
Also on Tuesday, the House passed legislation that would allow for notary services and local government activities to continue during the pandemic.
Senate Bill 841 would allow notaries to operate and conduct their operations remotely, and also provides municipalities with the ability to govern during “stay-at-home” orders, social distancing and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The legislation also reauthorizes the
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, an independent agency tasked with collecting and disseminating health care cost data. The bill now goes to Gov. Wolf for his signature.
The House also passed
House Bill 1189, which would create the Volunteer Emergency Responders Employer Tax Credit. The bill also would extend benefits of the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law to those enforcement officers who contract or are diagnosed with COVID-19; institute health care professional reporting requirements related to controlled substances; and, extend vehicle registration, drivers license and handicap placard expirations for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
Other measures passed by the House on Tuesday include:
House Bill 896, which would expand the eligibility criteria of the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) authorized under the state's Tax Code; and,
House Bill 2233, which would permit tax free motor fuel entities, such as a volunteer service companies, political subdivisions or schools to commingle their purchased tax-free motor fuels in a joint storage tank.
As already mentioned, the state Senate is expected to return to session on Wednesday.
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Daily COVID-19 update for Pennsylvania
The state Department of Health reported nearly 1,150 new positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide, bringing the state total to 25,345. In addition, 584 Pennsylvanians have died directly from complications from the virus. To date, there have been more than 108,000
negative cases across the state.
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AARP provides information, resources about COVID-19 to help older Pennsylvanians and their families.
To help protect older Pennsylvanians living in nursing homes from novel coronavirus and prevent it from spreading to others, AARP has
consulted with leading nursing home experts to provide information and resources
during this historic crisis. AARP has developed key questions that individuals who are worried about a loved one's safety and well-being can ask of nursing homes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Unprecedented times, but McNees is here to help
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The situation surrounding COVID-19 is changing by the hour.
Capitol Buzz
will do its best to keep our readers as up-to-date as possible as to local, state and federal actions relating to the virus.
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2020 SENATE SESSION SCHEDULE
Senate is in recess until the call of the President Pro Tempore.
May
4, 5, 6, 18, 19, 20
June
1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
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2020 HOUSE SESSION SCHEDULE
House is in recess until the 12-hour call of the Chair.
May
4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18(NV)
June
1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
September
15, 16, 17, 29, 30
October
1, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21
November
10
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