4211 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (717) 761-0702 Fax (717) 761-4315

Legislative Position Paper

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its October 8, 2009 meeting –

Opposed HB 80, amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act further providing for definitions and for alternative energy portfolio standards; and providing for carbon dioxide sequestration network.

Supported HB 1149, amending the Keystone Opportunity Zone, Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone and Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone Act by adding that the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act would not apply to a project in a keystone opportunity zone for construction, reconstruction or alteration.

Positions adopted by Board July 9, 2009.

The Committee opposes any raise, temporary or otherwise, in the State Personal Income Tax.

The Chamber supports passage of HB 112, establishing a Nutrient Reduction Tax Credit Training Program, the Nutrient Reduction Credit Training Program Board & Chesapeake Bay Advisory Council; and providing for powers & duties and for improving energy efficiency in agricultural operations.

The Chamber opposes passage of HB 1682, authorizing counties to impose sales, use and occupancy taxes; & providing for the levying, assessment and collection of taxes and for the powers and duties of the Department of Community and Economic development or any successor agency, the Department of Revenue and the State Treasurer.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 8, 2008 meeting.

Supported HB 1351, an act relating to (not complying) with the Federal REAL ID Act of

2005.

The State Government Committee voted unanimously to send to the floor a proposal

to increase pension benefits for state government and public school retirees.  The bill

would provide increases ranging from about 2.7% to 25%, costing an estimated $10.4

billion over twenty years.  The Board voted to strongly oppose this proposal.

 The West Shore Chamber of Commerce opposes amending the Keystone Opportunity

Zone (KOZ) Program to apply prevailing wage to all projects within KOZ s (HB 2297). 

Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its April 10, 2008 meeting.

Supported SB 1320, prohibiting employers from making employment conditional on

certain labor organization status; and providing remedies and penalties.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its March 13, 2008 meeting.

Supported HB 787, HB 1542 and HB 1831, amending the Unemployment Compensation

Law.

Supported SR 224, directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the

cost for wastewater treatment plants to comply with Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay

Tributary Strategy.

In reference to SB 1063, the West Shore Chamber supported privatizing the collection of

local wage taxes, and consolidating local wage tax collection on the county level.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its February 14, 2008 meeting.

Opposed HB 2146, mandating that instruction in conflict, media, and financial literacy

be integrated in the high school curriculum as a core subject.

In reference to HB 1641, the West Shore Chamber supported a legislative agenda in

favor of lowering taxes through such means as establishing a single sales factor, and

the expansion of net operating losses.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its June 14, 2007 meeting.

Supported SB 707, an act establishing spending limitations on the Commonwealth,

providing for the disposition of surplus funds, establishing the Taxpayer Protection

Fund, and repealing provisions of the Fiscal Code regarding the funding of a

stabilization reserve.

Supported SB 7, a constitutional measure to create safeguards in the budget process

to keep government spending in line with personal income growth.

Opposed HR 321, which would eliminate secret ballots for unions.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 10, 2007 meeting.

Supported SB 811 that requires the Department of Aging to create a website with

licensing and certification information on nursing homes, personal care homes, and

domiciliary care homes, including information on violation and any corrective action

taken.  The bill will also place additional duties on the Departments of Aging, Health

and Public Welfare.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its September 14, 2006 meeting.

Supported SB 1305 (sine die) that amends the Administrative Code by including

appropriations of state funds must be made only as authorized by law.

Supported HB 807 that would require a 2/3 vote of all legislators to avoid frivolous

spending of taxpayers’ money.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 11, 2006 meeting.

Supported SB 884 (sine die), a proposal for an amendment to the Pennsylvania

Constitution that would set spending limitations on the state and direct additional

funds’ allocation.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its November 10, 2006 meeting.

Supported HB 2054 (became Act 34) and SB 881 (became Act 35) relative to Eminent

Domain Amending Title 26 (Eminent Domain) adding a chapter entitled the Property

Rights Protection Act. The legislation prohibits the exercise by any condemner of the

power of eminent domain to take private property in order to use it for private

enterprise.

Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its October 11, 2005 meeting.

Opposed any increase to the minimum wage.  HB 257, PN 3872  Amends the Minimum

Wage Act by increasing the minimum wage to $6. 25 per hour beginning January 1, 2006,

and to $7.15 per hour beginning January 1, 2007.  Passed the PA House 146/50 on April 5, 2006.  Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Labor and Industry Committee on

4/17/06.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its July 14, 2005 meeting.

Supported HB 423,PN 462 (sine die), HB 138, PN 139 (sine die), HB 1182, PN 1388

(sine die), HB 670, PN 2276 (sine die) and HB 1716, PN 2186 (sine die) furthering

efforts towards tort reform.

Opposed HB 1128, PN 1334 (re-introduced in 2007 as HB602) referring to insurability

based on an insured’s credit history.  Referred to the PA House Insurance Committee March 29, 2005.

Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its May 12, 2005 meeting.

Supported SB 69, prime sponsor Senator Patricia Vance (became Act 3) - Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) providing for employer immunity from liability for disclosure of information regarding former or current employees.   Signed in the PA House and PA Senate on June 6, 2005; approved by the Governor on June 15, 2005.

Position adopted by the Board of Directors at its April 14, 2005 meeting.

Supported HB 50, PN 1507 (sine die) – Right to Work Law.  Act providing that

employment shall not be conditional upon membership or non-membership in,

nor upon the payment or nonpayment of money to, a labor organization; & providing

for bargaining, penalties & remedies.  Referred to PA House Labor Relations

Committee April 2005.

Supported HB 51, PN 1508 (sine die) – Agency Shop Repeal over Education Employees. 

Amends The Administrative Code eliminating authority for the fair share fee for

employees of school entities; and relieving certain employee organizations of certain

duties and obligations. Referred to PA House Labor Relations Committee April 2005.

Supported HB 52, PN 1467 (sine die) – Agency Shop Repeal over State Employees. 

Amends the Administrative Code, eliminating authority for the fair share fee for

employees of Commonwealth entities; and relieving certain employee organizations

of certain duties and obligations. Referred to PA House Labor Relations Committee

March 31, 2005.

Supported HB 53, PN 1509 (sine die) – Agency Shop Repeal over Local Employees. 

Act repealing the Public Employee Fair Share Fee Law relieving certain employee

organizations of certain duties and obligations. Referred to PA House Labor Relations Committee April 2005.

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its March 10, 2005 meeting.

Supported the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative (KMI II) relating to:

    Workers Compensation Reform (HB 668, sine die, and HB 961, re-introduced

    2007 as HB 514)

               Unemployment Compensation Reform (HB 458, sine die, HB 781, sine die, HB 862,

               sine die)

               Business Tax Structure Reform (HB 220, sine die, HB 650,sinedie, HB 797, sine die,

               HB 515, vetoed and sustained 1/30/06, HB 615, sine die)

               Regulatory Reform (HB 236, vetoed and sustained 11/20/06)

               Healthcare (HB 107, became Act 48 7/14/05, HB 738, re-introduced as HB 165 2007,

               HB 734, sine die)

               Tort Reform (HB 735, re-introduced as HB 123 2007)

Positions adopted by the Board of Directors at its February 12, 2004 meeting.

Support HB 2327, PN 3248 (sine die), amending the Workers’ Compensation Act

by adding that an employee must visit the same physician for a period of 180 days.

Oppose HB 2317, PN 3238, (sine die) establishing the Gambling Impact

Commission.

For further information on positions of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce,

please call Kathleen Mangan, President & CEO, at 761-0702.