The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Following is a listing of legislative and executive action for the week of Nov. 12. Both houses of the General Assembly are in recess, with no session days scheduled for the remainder of the year. Members of the new Pennsylvania Senate and state House of Representatives are set to be sworn into office on Jan. 1.

Domestic Violence

Gov. Tom Wolf on Nov. 14 thanked advocates for their ongoing support of victims of domestic violence during a ceremonial bill signing of Act 79 of 2018, the first bill to truly take guns away from the dangerous abusers who use them to kill, terrorize and control. Because of the urgency of enacting the legislation, Wolf officially signed the bill into law immediately after receiving it Oct. 12.

“Domestic violence is a scourge on our society and this bill and its reforms will go a long way to protect victims, hold abusers accountable and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” Wolf said. “I want to personally thank the hundreds of advocates and everyday citizens who made their voices heard and got this bill to my desk. Pennsylvania did the right thing with House Bill 2060 to protect victims of domestic violence.”

In taking this important step forward toward protecting women, families and communities against violent domestic abusers, Wolf was joined by bill sponsors state Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-Bucks, Sen. Tom Killion, R-Delaware, and the leaders of several civil-society groups that pressed for the measure, including executive director of Ceasefire PA Shira Goodman, and executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Susan Higginbotham.

The new law includes additional safeguards to help protect victims of domestic violence, including:

• New requirements around prohibiting abusers who have been issued a final protection from abuse order after a contested hearing or conviction for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence from possessing firearms and requires them to turn in their guns to law enforcement agencies within 24 hours while the order is in effect.

• Eliminates the concern about simply relinquishing a firearm to a family member or friend.

• Allows for the time that an individual is incarcerated not to be counted for the 90 days of a temporary PFA.

He urged the General Assembly to continue acting in bipartisan fashion to pass common-sense gun safety reforms, such as requiring anyone purchasing a firearm to go through a State Police background check.

Neighborhood Assistance

Wolf held a ceremonial bill signing on Nov. 13 for legislation authored by state Rep. Bernie O'Neill, R-Bucks, which expands the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Wolf officially signed the bill into law Oct. 24.

Created in 1967, the NAP incentivizes businesses to invest in affordable housing programs, community services, crime prevention, education, job training or neighborhood assistance. House Bill 645, which is codified as Act 100 of 2018, doubles the NAP's funding from $18 million to $36 million.

This is the first time allocated funding for the program has been increased since its inception.

Campaign Contributions

Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella on Nov. 13 announced that he will continue the practice of not accepting campaign contributions from gaming interests, despite a September federal ruling that lifts the statutory ban on such contributions in state elections. As treasurer, Torsella serves a unique role as an ex-officio member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and is the only elected state official to sit on the board.

“Following this ruling, I want to be perfectly clear: I won't take a dime from gaming interests, despite this federal ruling. As the only elected official on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, it may now be legal for me to accept campaign contributions from the gaming industry, but it is still not ethical. Pennsylvanians should have trust that the best decisions are being made, not being bought.”

In September, U.S. District Judge Sylvia Rambo of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in a memorandum decision in Deon v. Barasch, struck down Section 1513 of the Pennsylvania Gaming Act, which banned campaign contributions from gaming interests in state elections, as a violation of the First Amendment.

Torsella urged the legislature to impose a limit on contributions from gaming interests to prevent reoccurrence of criminal conduct, noting the extensive opportunity to influence gaming policy and licensing decisions.

“The court's ruling suggests the General Assembly could rewrite the ban to pass constitutional muster, and I urge legislative leaders to do so as soon as possible,” he said.

Currently, there are approximately 30 licenses or certificates pending approval or renewal before the Gaming Control Board, in the form of applications for casino operator renewals, mini-casino licenses, sports wagering operators, fantasy sports operators, manufacturer license renewals, iGaming operators and video gaming terminal licenses.

Disabled Persons' Savings

Torsella on Nov. 15 announced that the Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE) has surpassed $10 million in assets, and more than 1,700 accounts opened since its launch in April 2017. The program provides tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with qualified disabilities and their families.

“Less than two years ago, following the hard work of many, the financial future for Pennsylvanians with disabilities was forever changed,” Torsella said. “Through the PA ABLE Program—for the first time—people with disabilities have the opportunity to build real wealth. More importantly though, it is helping empower people to dream and plan for the future.”

Launched in April 2017, the PA ABLE Act was passed following federal legislation by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, authorizing states to create savings programs for disabled individuals.

Pennsylvania Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, and state Rep. Bernie O'Neill, R-Bucks, authored legislation, modeled after 529 college savings accounts, to create ABLE accounts.

The accounts allow people with qualifying disabilities and their families to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses tax-free and provide investment options offered to encourage saving private funds to support health, independence and quality of life.