Legislative Update

HB 1653 known as Act 171 of 2016 (the “Amendment”) amends the Pennsylvania Procurement Code (the “Code”) to require the Department of General Services of the Commonwealth (the “Department”) to establish a process to verify a Pennsylvania business, either minority-owned, women-owned or veteran-owned (each a “Diverse and Disadvantaged Business”) as “Pennsylvania home state-certified for the […]

HB 380 known as Act 102 of 2016 (the “Amendment”) amends the Pennsylvania Domestic Relations Code (the “Code”) to authorize Courts of Common Pleas to enter divorce decrees on showing that (1) the marriage of parties is irretrievably broken and (2) the parties have lived separate and apart for at least one year. The Amendment

THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA act Senate Bill No. 3, known as the Medical Marijuana Act (the “Act”) authorizes the growth, processing, dispensing and consumption of marijuana for medical purposes in Pennsylvania.  The Act is “a temporary measure, pending federal approval of and access to medical marijuana through traditional medical and pharmaceutical avenues.”  Section 102.4.  The Act establishes a

On April 7, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed two Executive Orders to further non‑discrimination in state government regarding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity and expression” (collectively, “Gender Factors” ).  Executive Order No. 2016‑04 (the “Equal Employment Opportunity Order”) prohibits discrimination, affirms equal employment opportunity programs and prohibits sexual harassment or harassment in agencies of the Governor’s jurisdiction

SB 166, known as Act 5 of 2016 (the “Amendment”) amends the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (the “Code”) to authorize Courts of Common Pleas, upon petition, to issue orders of limited access to criminal records of individuals convicted of a second degree or third degree misdemeanor or an ungraded offense with a maximum penalty of incarceration

On February 9, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf proposed a 2016-2017 budget (the “Current Proposal”) with about $2.72 billion in new or increased taxes and totaling $33.3 billion without having a final 2015-2016 budget and fiscal code. Pennsylvania has only the Republican House crafted $30.3 billion spending plan which the Governor line-item vetoed to release approximately

SB 678, known as Act 41 of 2015 (the “Amendment”) amends Act 14 of 1949 (the “Public School Code”) to authorize campus police officers employed by any of the 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education (“SSHE”) to have arrest powers “on all highways, trafficways and bicycle and pedestrian facilities that traverse or

HB 1276, known as Act 15 of 2015 ((the “Amendment”) amends Act 153 of 2014 (the “Act”) regarding background checks for employees and volunteers who provide services to children. Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Buck), the Amendment clarifies the Act as to which volunteers must get clearances, the renewal period for clearances of volunteers and employees, the

House Bill 316, introduced as the Municipal Sustainability Act (the “Pension Bill”) by Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Lancaster), would change the defined benefit pension plan for new municipal employees to a cash-balance system and require them to contribute 6% of their salary, if they participate in Social Security, or 9% if they do not participate in

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted the Rules of Professional Conduct (the “Rules”) in 1988, setting minimum ethical standards for attorneys admitted to practice in Pennsylvania. By Order dated December 30, 2014, the Supreme Court amended the Rules (“Amendment”) to create financial guidelines including Rule 5.8(a) which states, “A lawyer shall not broker, offer to sell,