Summary of Legislative Activity | February 2024

Summary Legislation

The best time to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is when you are still a student in engineering school.  Yet surprisingly, relatively few engineering students opt to do that.  It may be the cost of study materials and the exam fee itself, or just the idea of taking one more exam that deters students.  It's also likely that many students don't realize how important it is for their careers.  Now with the assistance of a grant from the PA Department of Labor and Industry, PSPE has launched a new program to assist students with the costs associated with taking the exam as well as educating them on the benefits of getting licensed.

 

PSPE is one of only a handful of organizations to receive an Industry Partnership grant this year.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizes the critical role that licensed engineers play in protecting the public's safety and welfare. Like many professions, engineering is facing a looming shortage of engineers that are qualified to assume responsible charge in industry, government and private practice.  By working with universities, this program aims to get ahead of the shortage before it reaches a critical point.  Expect to hear more about the program in coming weeks.

Senate Bill 403, legislation that updates licensing requirements of Professional Engineer, passed the Senate last month, and was referred to the House Professional Licensure Committee on February 20. PSPE is aware that some organizations with an interest in continuing to skirt the Registration Act will attempt to amend the bill in the House. PSPE opposes these unnecessary amendments.

 

PSPE supports this bill as is and encourages members to now contact their local state House members to ask for their support. Please click here to help with this effort.

On February 6, Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his budget address for 2024-2025 before the General Assembly in the Main Capitol Rotunda. See the Governor’s press release here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-shapiro-unveils-2024-25-budget-proposal-to-get-stuff-done-create-opportunity-and-advance-real-freedom-for-all-pennsylvanians/

 

Gov. Shapiro thanked Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) and the Republican and Democratic leadership in the House and Senate for convening the special session and for the opportunity to present his address. He noted that Rep. Joe Kerwin (R-Dauphin) is currently on deployment with the Pennsylvania National Guard and extended his gratitude to all service members of the Pennsylvania National Guard for their “service to our commonwealth and to our country.” He asserted, “You are the very best of us.”

 

Gov. Shapiro recognized the challenges and successes of his first budget, explaining that Pennsylvania is the only state with a divided legislature, stating, “That means nothing gets done unless it has support from members of both parties,” and emphasizing the need for compromise and bipartisanship. He continued that they have learned to work together to deliver commonsense solutions, which he addressed last year. He listed the accomplishments of last year. “Children are now learning on full bellies, there are more cops on the beat, and we trained an additional 6,000 apprentices last year,” he said. He added that they have helped poultry farmers, made Pennsylvania more attractive to businesses and cut costs for seniors and working families, stating, “Here in Pennsylvania, we get stuff done. Together.”

 

Gov. Shapiro reported that one year after taking office, Pennsylvania is on “strong financial footing,” and that due to sound fiscal management, all three major credit rating agencies improved the outlook and gave Pennsylvania an upgrade. As a result, he indicated, taxpayers are saving nearly $100 million that otherwise would have gone to bigger banks and investment firms as a result of higher interest rates. He added, “Those savings are on top of the nearly $14 billion surplus available to us at the end of the fiscal year.” He asserted that this year’s budget does not include a tax increase and continues to cut taxes. But, he argued, “Now is the time to invest some of that $14 billion surplus squirreled away in Harrisburg.” He agreed that the state needs to be prepared for emergencies and a rainy day but stated that his budget does that. He emphasized, “We need to build a more competitive Pennsylvania that starts in our classrooms, runs through our union halls and our small businesses, through our farmlands and our high rises, our college campuses and leads to a life of opportunity and a retirement with dignity.”

 

The 90-minute speech emphasized education and workforce funding, noting that the two go hand in hand. He referred to the recent Commonwealth Court decision that the current state public education funding system does not meet constitutional requirements, and it will take a number of years to get to that status. He stated that his executive order announced 92 percent of commonwealth jobs do not require a college degree, remarking, “Together we have made record investments in vo-tech, apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training.” He named another executive order that created a first-in-the-nation initiative to train as many as 10,000 new workers in Pennsylvania over the next five years. He indicated that these investments are included in the budget again “because what we did last year is working.” He reported that he is creating a new Career Connect program to connect employers with people and create thousands of internships over the next 10 years but reminded that all paths need to be respected and supported.

 

He added that he signed an executive order to help businesses work with the government and reported progress being made. But, he argued, to create these kinds of opportunities, “Pennsylvanians need to earn a decent wage,” and called for the increase of the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He argued, “It is anti-competitive, and it is hurting our workers,” and that raising the minimum wage “is going to make us more competitive, and it is going to create economic opportunity.” He noted that the House passed a bill to raise the minimum wage and that he is encouraged to see comments of leaders in the Senate that show their willingness to discuss this issue. He called to “get this done.”

 

Gov. Shapiro stated that Pennsylvania is also falling behind in benefitting from the legalized recreational marijuana market, as implemented in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. He argued that the state is losing out on an industry that would bring in more than $250 million in annual revenue, “and our failure to legalize and regulate this only fuels the black market and drains much-needed resources for law enforcement.” He asked the General Assembly to come together and send a bill to his desk that legalizes marijuana but cautioned that the bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly, as well as creates jobs and expunges the record of individuals convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana.

 

Gov. Shapiro explained that while the state is taking steps to be more competitive, it also needs to be mindful to cut costs for the residents. He stated that expanding the childcare tax credit was a step forward last year to cut costs, as 210,000 families will get “hundreds more dollars back to help pay for childcare.” In addition, he said, they also delivered the “largest targeted tax cut for our seniors in nearly two decades by expanding the Property Tax Rent Rebate.” He argued that they can do more to help Pennsylvanians stay in their homes, citing an example of an elderly woman having to use her oven to heat her home, to underscore the fact that demand for the program is there and that it has created waitlists in most counties. He proposed investing another $50 million in Whole Home Repairs to help struggling homeowners and address the high demand. He continued that housing also needs to be more affordable and stated that his budget includes an increase in the cap for the Housing Trust Fund to $100 million over the next four years.

On Tuesday February 13th, a special election was held to replace Democrat Representative John Galloway in the 140th State House district for Bucks County, following Galloway’s resignation after he won a race for Magisterial District Judge in November of 2022.  Galloway’s resignation had led to a 101-101 balance in the House of Representatives for the beginning of 2024.

 

Democratic candidate Jim Prokopiak won the race against Republican Candace Cabanas. This gives the Democrats back a slim majority, which they have essentially held since the 2022 election.  Prokopiak is an attorney and serves on the Pennsbury School Board as well as the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority. Democrats will also likely benefit in the short term due to the sudden resignation of Rep. Joe Adams (R-Wayne). Speaker Joanna McClinton has scheduled the Special Election for this district for the same day at the primary on April 23rd.

 

Speaker McClinton also recently announced that repair work for a water leak that partially led to the delay of the House returning to legislation session is ahead of schedule. Due to the Chamber’s availability, the House Appropriations Committee Budget hearings were shifted to the Chamber, from the Majority Caucus room. Session resumes on March 18.


This Month in the PA Bulletin:


Legislative Activity

The following bills and co-sponsorship memos for bills to be introduced of interest to PSPE were acted on by the General Assembly this past month. 

SB 1072 RE: Capital Budget Act of 2024-2025 (by Sen. Vincent Hughes, et al)

Provides for the capital budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. Effective July 1, 2024, or immediately, whichever is later.

Introduced and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee, 2/23/2024

 

SB 1073 RE: Capital Budget Project Itemization Act of 2024-2025 (by Sen. Vincent Hughes, et al)

Provides for the capital budget for fiscal year 2024-2025; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance, redevelopment assistance projects, flood control projects and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) projects leased or assisted by the Department of General Services (DGS) and other state agencies, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by DGS and other state agencies; authorizing the use of current revenue for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by DGS and other state agencies stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.

Introduced and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee, 2/23/2024

SB 265  RE: Garage Floor Drains (by Sen. Dan Laughlin, et al)

Amends the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act providing floor drains of a garage may be drained into a treatment tank permitted within the act. All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this act.

Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), 2/7/2024

 

SB 1090 RE: Reducing Burdensome Requirements to Meet Federal MS4 Regulations (by Sen. Greg Rothman, et al)

Amends the Storm Water Management Act, further providing for powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources (DEP); and making editorial changes. Provides that on an annual basis, the department shall conduct active water quality testing on surface waters within a watershed storm water plan and stipulates what shall apply.

Introduced and referred to Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, 2/23/2024 

HB 2045 RE: Duplex, Triplex and Quadplex Housing in Single-Family Designated Areas (by Rep. Joshua Siegel, et al)

Amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in zoning, further providing for ordinance provisions to establish what shall apply and to define quadplex housing, single-family residence and triplex housing.

Introduced and referred to House Local Government Committee, 2/20/2024


HB 2052
RE: Tiny House Legislation (by Rep. Darisha K. Parker, et al)

Amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, in Uniform Construction Code, adding a paragraph to further provide for adoption by regulations. Stipulates that within 180 days of the effective date of this paragraph, the department shall promulgate regulations adopting Appendix Q, “Tiny House,” of the 2018 International Residential Code, and the regulations shall only apply to a municipality that elects, by ordinance, to adopt the regulations.

Introduced, 2/21/2024

Referred to House Housing & Community Development Committee, 2/22/2024 

HB 2013 RE: Rebuilding PA With American-Made Products (by Rep. Frank Burns, et al)

Amends the Underground Utility Line Protection Law, requiring the use of steel products produced in the United States. Requires the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, improvement or maintenance of gathering lines to use U.S.-produced steel products. Establishes section applicability upon the construction of gathering lines performed on or after the section effective date. Provides definitions.

Introduced and referred to House State Government Committee, 2/5/2024 


HB 2014
RE: Rebuilding PA with American-Made products (by Rep. Frank Burns, et al)

Amends the Steel Products Procurement Act, further providing for contracts for public works to use or supply steel products and for restrictions on payments by public agencies under certain circumstances. Provides any person initiating a project with construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, improvement or maintenance in which they will receive public funding or tax incentives from a public agency should use steel products as defined if they are used or supplied in the competition of the project and applies to any subcontracts. Provides no public agency should authorize, provide for or make payments to any person with public funds, grants, tax credits or other incentives from a public agency unless unidentified steel products have been supplied with proof of documentation such as invoices, bills of lading and mill certification showing the steel was made in the United States. Provides if steel product is identifiable, the person must submit certification to the public agency in compliance with under Section 4. Establishes any payments made to any person by a public agency which should not have been made, are recoverable directly from the contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer or supplier who did not comply with Section 4.

Introduced and referred to House State Government Committee, 2/5/2024 

 

HB 2015 RE: Rebuilding PA With American-made products (by Rep. Frank Burns, et al)

Amends Title 62 (Procurement), in general provisions relating to general procurement provisions, providing for preference for bid or proposal. Provides a government agency or school entity authorized to enter a contract for procurement should subtract two percent from the bid or proposal submission if the subject of the procurement involves American-made supplies, services or construction and award the contract based on the revised bid or proposal. Requires the government agency or school entity to confirm a person qualifies for the two percent preference. Provides definitions for American-made supplies, contract, person, procurement, school entity and United States.

Introduced and referred to House State Government Committee, 2/5/2024 

 

SB 1082 RE: Worker Protection and Labor Law Non-Compliance List (by Sen. James Dillon, et al)

Amends Title 62 (Procurement), providing for a commonwealth agency in collaboration with the department, to review and develop grant-making and contracting processes to ensure an employer receiving a grant or contract from the commonwealth has certified that the employer is in compliance with applicable labor and workforce safety laws. Directs the Department of Labor and Industry to maintain a list of each employer that violates the labor law, misclassifies workers, owes unemployment compensation or fails to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Directs the Department of Labor and industry to remove an employer that has remedied the infraction.

Introduced and referred to Senate Labor & Industry Committee, 2/23/2024

SB403 RE: Licensing Updates of Professional Engineers (by Sen. Lisa Baker, et al)

An Act amending the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), known as the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, further providing for definitions, for general powers of board, for procedure for licensing as professional engineer, for procedure for licensing as professional land surveyor, for continuing professional competency requirements, for fees and for penalties.

Referred to House Professional Licensure Committee, 2/20/2024

 

Cosponsor memo filed

 

SCO1416 (Coleman) - A Clean Slate for Licensed Professionals Impacted by COVID-19 Disaster Declaration

Directs the Department of State to reinstate any license, registration, certificate or permit that was suspended or revoked specifically for failure to comply with COVID-19 protocols set forth by former governor Tom Wolf and the Secretary of Health during the disaster emergency related to COVID that began on March 6, 2020.

Filed, 2/15/2024

HB 2011 RE: Safe Schools Drinking Water (by Rep. Gwendolyn Roni Green, et al)

Amends the Public School Code, in grounds and buildings, providing for certified point-of-use filter required; establishing the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund; and making an interfund transfer. Requires school entities to equip drinking water outlets with certified point-of-use filters. Requires school entities to remove and replace existing drinking water fountains without such filters with bottle-filling stations or fountains with such filters at a rate of at least one per 100 students and staff. Requires school entities to set up filter maintenance and oversight and to ensure all new drinking water outlets do not leach more than one microgram of lead for test statistic Q or R under certain conditions. Allows school entities to seek the assistance of a local board of health or public water system or apply for a grant to comply with provisions. Requires the department to develop a grant program for the replacement of current drinking water fountains and for the installation of certified point-of-use filters on drinking water outlets. Requires the department to issue guidelines on the grant program to be publicly available within three months of the effective date. Details school entities that shall receive grant preference. Establishes information to be submitted by a school entity in a grant application under this subsection. Establishes regulation to be followed by school entities receiving a grant under this subsection, especially regarding publicly available information, communication contacts for installation projects, maintenance logs and signage. Requires school entities receiving grants under this subsection to report to the Department of Education (PDE) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) within 18 months that the work has been completed. Requires school entities to submit to PDE and DEP a report containing a plan to comply with the section by August 1, 2024. Allows the department to award up to $10,000,000 in grants each fiscal year for the three fiscal years following the section’s effective date. Directs the department to develop technical guidance, promulgate rules and regulations and share information and risk assessment tools. Provides definitions. Transfers the sum of $30,000,000 from the General Fund to the Safe School Drinking Water Fund.

Introduced and referred to House Education Committee, 2/5/2024


Upcoming Meetings of Interest

Some House Committee meetings and session can be viewed online at: http://www.pahousegop.com/
Senate Committee meetings and session can be streamed at: http://www.pasenategop.com/

House Professional Licensure

10:00 AM Room 515, Irvis Office Building

Voting Meeting (followed by a public hearing on HB 1364 (Greiner) - An Act amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in powers and duties, further providing for civil penalties. Providing additional power to issue an advisory opinion concerning the meaning or interpretation of an act or regulation pertaining to the license, registration, certificate or permit issued by the licensing board or commission

https://houseappropriations.com/files/Documents/Budget%20Hearing%202024-25.pdf

March                   18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

April                      8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30

May                       1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22

June                       3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

March  18, 19, 20

April  8, 9, 10, 29, 30

May  1, 6, 7, 8

June  3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

PUBLIC WELCOME 

All Board meetings are held in person and remotely via Teams. In-person meetings will be held at a new location: 2525 N. 7th Street, Harrisburg, PA

https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/EngineersLandSurveyorsandGeologists/Pages/General-Board-Information.aspx#.VHNkfFZOk5s

2024 meeting dates: March 13, May 29, July 24, September 25, November 13

2025 dates: January 30, March 27, May 15, July 24, September 18, November 13

State Geospatial Coordinating Board

1 Technology Park, Commonwealth Technology Center (CTC), Harrisburg, PA 17110

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

2024 Meeting Schedule: March 14, June 13

https://www.oa.pa.gov/Programs/Information%20Technology/Pages/geoboard.aspx

March 28, 2024 Meeting

The Department of Labor and Industry Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council announced it would be holding a meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 28 by means of Zoom. Interested individuals may contact Kristen Gardner at 717-346- 1497. The Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council will hold a meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Individuals may join the meeting by using the following information:

Dial by individual's location:
(929) 205-6099 US (New York)
(301) 715-8592 US (Washington DC)
(312) 626-6799 US (Chicago)
(669) 900-6833 US (San Jose)
(253) 215-8782 US (Tacoma)
(346) 248-7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 361 131 6502

Passcode: 259161

Take Action

PSPE PAC

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Download the PAC contribution form to support the PSPE Political Action Committee.


Contact Your State Rep and Ask them to Support Senate Bill 403

Senate Bill 403, formerly House Bill 1801, amends the Registration Act for Professional Engineers to address several cumbersome provisions that impede licensing.  Currently, an applicant to be granted licensure as a professional engineer must hold an engineer-in-training certificate and show proof of four or more years of experience in engineering work performed after the issuance of their engineer-in-training certificate.  In some cases, an individual may have the years of required experience and training, but it may have occurred prior to them obtaining their engineer-in-training certificate in Pennsylvania.  This bill allows for the experience earned prior to the passage of the EIT to apply as well as some other updates to the Act that more closely align with the national model law adopted by NCEES.  It also clarifies that the “practice of engineering” is not limited to only those projects that involve a “design”.  Take Action Now.


Advocate to End Licensing Exemptions

Call your members of Congress and support ending licensing exemptions on public utility pipelines. The National Transportation Safety Board’s report on the deadly pipeline explosion in Massachusetts in September 2018 calls for a significant legislative change that NSPE has strongly advocated for years: elimination of professional engineer licensure exemptions. Take action now.


Legislative Summary Archive

Industrial Exemption