Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Photo: Shutterstock

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action from the week of Oct. 14. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time. They were scheduled to return to session Monday.

Marijuana Legalization

A Pennsylvania senator from Pittsburgh is calling for a ballot measure on the issue of whether to legalize marijuana for adult use.

Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny, introduced legislation, Senate Bill 527, to put a referendum on the ballot so that Pennsylvanians can express themselves on the issue. Brewster said a vote would spur citizen engagement on the matter.

"It is critically important that citizens have a chance to let lawmakers know their views on the legalization of marijuana," Brewster said in a statement Oct. 16. "If marijuana is approved and significant funds generated, we must ensure that the dollars are put to good use."

Brewster pointed to a 2018 report issued by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale estimating that legalization and taxation of marijuana would produce an estimated $580 million. SB527 is currently under consideration in the Senate State Government Committee.

Health Care

In an effort to protect the health care rights of Pennsylvanians in the event the federal Affordable Care Act is overturned through judicial action, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania senators announced their plan to introduce legislation that allows young adults to remain covered on their parents' health insurance until age 26 and that prohibits health insurance policies from imposing either an annual or lifetime limit.

The sponsors of the measure are Sens. Michele Brooks, R-Mercer; Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia; Pam Iovino, D-Allegheny; and Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks.

The new proposals follow on bills introduced earlier this year that would protect insurance coverage for Pennsylvanians with preexisting conditions and protect essential health benefits for insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania.

"This legislation will send a clear message to Pennsylvanians and the nation that we value the health care rights provided in the Affordable Care Act," Santarsiero said.

Commission for Women

Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 17 announced the appointment of nine business, civic and community leaders to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. The new commissioners, along with 25 returning commissioners, were sworn in by Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar at the Governor's Residence.

The new members are Pennsylvania Sens. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, and Pam Iovino, D-Allegheny; Itha Cao, a policy analyst with the Pittsburgh mayor's office; Blayre Holmes Davis, director of community relations for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Catherine Domanska Elliott, a women's health nurse practitioner in Kennett Square; Caitlin Handerhan, executive director of the Behrend Policy Fund at Penn State Erie; Sara Manzano-Diaz, the former executive deputy attorney general for the Public Protection Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General; Nabila Taha of Dauphin County; and Stefanie Valar, a retired development executive at Franklin & Marshall College.

The 34-member commission, a volunteer body, was created by executive order and, among other tasks, advises the governor on public policy impacting women.

"Now, more than ever, women need to be active and engaged so that our interests are represented," said commission chairwoman Randi Teplitz. "I am proud that the Commission for Women has been a leader on issues such as campus sexual assault prevention and pay equity. We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Wolf and other policymakers on behalf of women and girls in Pennsylvania."

At-Risk Youth

State Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, was appointed as a member of the National Guard Youth Challenge Advisory Board, according to a statement from his office in the state House of Representatives on Oct. 16.

Saylor was the prime sponsor of Act 51 of 2018, which established the National Guard Youth Challenge program.

The program, which operates under the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is designed to help at-risk youth earn high school-level diplomas and prepare them for higher education, employment or military service.

"This program has been a passion project for me, and I believe that it will help turn around the lives of at-risk youths throughout our great state," Saylor said. "This will be one of the most impactful programs that I have had the honor of helping establish."

Stormwater Management

House Democrats on Oct. 15 conducted a hearing on severe weather's impact on infrastructure and stormwater management. The House Democratic Policy Committee heard from zoning officials and research scientists among other witnesses.

State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, the committee chairman, said public safety is implicated by infrastructure's ability to handle major storms.

"It's not just a regional or transportation issue, it's a statewide issue and a safety concern," Sturla said. "We need to make sure our roads and bridges are updated and able to accommodate this increase in stormwater."

State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, played host to the hearing.

"I have heard from officials and done numerous site visits this year. Our local governments are struggling to address the cost of damage inflicted by the increasing severe storms in our region on our already failing infrastructure, and we need to address this," Sappey said.

Water Quality

House Democrats scheduled a hearing for Monday to discuss water quality issues impacting rivers and dams, and how it affects Pennsylvania agriculture, fishing and outdoor recreation industries.

Sturla and state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, were set to co-host the session, where lawmakers are expected to hear from three panels, including officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources and the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions. They were also scheduled to hear from a regional vice president of Trout Unlimited and a member of the U.S. national open-water swimming team.

The hearing is part of a series intended to outline the Plan4PA infrastructure plan backed by House Democrats.

Liquor Distribution

DePasquale on Oct. 17 urged the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to use competitive bidding to award a $475 million contract for distribution services in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The board is considering to award that long-term contract without seeking bids.

"Competitive bidding helps to ensure that state agencies receive the best possible price for goods and services," DePasquale said. "I share the concerns of legislative leaders who feel this deal is just too large to be a sole-source contract."

According to news reports, the proposed 10-year contract would cover approximately half of the PLCB's total distribution.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages, operates a network of more than 600 retail stores.