Pennsylvania State Capitol. Photo: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action for the week of Feb. 3. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time, and the Pennsylvania Senate and state House of Representatives were scheduled to return to session March 16.

Juvenile Justice

The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force held its first meeting Feb. 5 to review the strengths and weaknesses of the current juvenile justice system and determine the next course of action for the group.

"My thanks to the members of the task force for sharing their time and expertise to begin the process of designing a juvenile justice system that works for all Pennsylvania youth," Gov. Tom Wolf said. "I look forward to seeing the progress of the Task Force—what they learn, gather and share during this process."

Wolf, judicial and legislative leaders announced the task force as part of a larger effort in partnership with Pew Charitable Trust to deliver a report with data-driven findings and policy recommendations to strengthen Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system to leaders by Nov. 30.

The bipartisan and interbranch task force members were selected for their expertise in various areas surrounding the juvenile justice system, including youth members who bring a unique perspective and experience to this timely topic.

In addition to Wolf's appointees, the task force is co-chaired by Pennsylvania Sens. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, and Jay Costa, D-Allegheny; state Reps. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne, and Mike Zabel, D-Delaware. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts appointed Lehigh County Judge Douglas Reichley and Allegheny County Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.

Human Trafficking

Wolf signed a new state law Feb. 5 to increase penalties for certain human trafficking offenses and direct some of the money from the criminal fines to help sexually exploited children.

The legislation will take effect in two months.

It makes it the most serious category of felony to recruit, harbor, transport or obtain someone, knowing the victim will be subject to sexual servitude.

It also makes it a first-degree felony to financially benefit or get anything of value from any act facilitating that behavior.

The bill also defines "child" in the anti-trafficking statute as anyone under age 18, up from age 16.

Legislative records indicate fewer than a dozen people were convicted of human trafficking or sexual servitude offenses in 2018. The bill was part of a wider package of legislation designed to combat human trafficking.

Natural Gas

Wolf will veto a bill that would provide millions in tax breaks for new construction of facilities that use natural gas extracted in the state to produce fertilizer and other chemicals, his spokesman said Feb. 5.

The bill, which passed both legislative chambers last week by veto-proof majorities, authorizes the "energy and fertilizer manufacturing tax credit" for projects that require at least $450 million in construction and startup costs and that create at least 800 jobs.

The Revenue Department estimates the tax credit would be worth about $22 million annually per plant. The tax break would expire at the end of 2050.

Wolf "believes such projects should be evaluated on a specific case-by-case basis," said spokesman J.J. Abbott. "However, if there was a specific project, he would be open to a conversation."

The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne, said the fact that the bill is not specific to a single business makes for better policy.

"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if we don't take advantage of our natural resources in northeastern Pennsylvania, we're missing out on the opportunity," Kaufer said Feb. 5.

Eligibility will also require payment of prevailing wage rates and an effort to hire local workers during construction.

A 2012 state law provides a tax credit for turning ethane, found in "wet" natural gas from southwestern Pennsylvania, into ethylene. It was used to lure an enormous cracker plant, Shell's Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex, now under construction in Monaca, in Beaver County.

The new legislation aims to develop manufacturing from "dry" natural gas, which in Pennsylvania is found mostly in the north-central and northeastern parts of the state.

It's unclear whether Democrats in the House and Senate will remain behind the legislation if it means voting against a veto from fellow Democrat Wolf.

A spokeswoman for Senate Democrats offered no immediate comment. Bill Patton, spokesman for the House Democrats, said his members would "take things as they come."

"We'll need to read the governor's veto message, to learn more about his reasoning," Patton said.