Gov. Wolf Signs 26 Bills Into Law: See Them Here

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf this week signed several bills, including the Clean Slate law, legislation to bolster mental health care throughout the state, and a bill that protects survivors of rape or incest.

The following bills were signed Thursday:

House Bill 440: Expands on the state’s historic Clean Slate law by removing an obligation to pay any outstanding court-ordered financial obligations before eligible cases can be sealed. Any restitution owed for convictions committed is not waived. The bill also requires that when a person receives a pardon, that record is automatically sealed and if they receive a not-guilty verdict the record is expunged.

Wolf called Pennsylvania "a national model for commonsense, bipartisan criminal justice reforms by removing a significant barrier from obtaining a clean slate due to failure to be able to pay court costs."

Clean Slate also expands the number of misdemeanor convictions that can be sealed after a petition is filed in court. "Clean Slate is allowing thousands of Pennsylvanians to move past their old, minor criminal records, and even more people can take advantage of this second chance with the passage of HB440," the governor's office said in a statement.

House bills 1439 and 1696: These new laws require health insurers that want to offer comprehensive health insurance coverage in Pennsylvania to verify that they have completed and fully documented analyses of their efforts to provide mental health and substance-use coverage that is comparable to physical health services with respect to cost sharing, in- and out-of-network coverage, and other treatment limits.

Documentation must also be available to policyholders and providers upon request.

Gov. Wolf said it's part of his anti-stigma campaign, Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters. The effort is dedicated to expanding resources in support of mental health.

House Bill 1984: This law provides protection for survivors of rape or incest, and their children who are conceived as a result of the offense. The bill, which passed the legislature unanimously, allows the victim of rape or sexual assault to terminate the parental rights of the person who committed the offense that resulted in the child's birth.

Senate Bill 1076: Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs), in military leave of absence, further providing for military family relief assistance.

House Bill 81: Provides for certification of central service technicians; imposes continuing education requirements; provides for duties of health care facilities and the Department of Health; and regulates the practice of surgical technology and surgical technologists.

House Bill 86: Amends the act granting the Governor of the Commonwealth the sole authority for regulating the display of the flag of the United States from any public ground or building, further providing for the display of the official POW/MIA flag.

House Bill 375: Amends the State Lottery Law, in pharmaceutical assistance for the elderly, further providing for definitions.

House Bill 703: Amends the Public School Code, in school directors, providing for publication of e-mail addresses for school directors; and, in charter schools, for publication of e-mail addresses for board of trustees & for applicability.

House Bill 716: Amends the Administrative Code, in powers & duties of the Dept. of Labor & Industry, its departmental administrative & advisory boards & officers, for task force on misclassification of employees.

House Bill 885: Amends the Public Works Contractors' Bond Law, further providing for duty of prime contractor to provide financial security in certain contracts involving public works and public improvements.

House Bill 1032: Amends the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act, further providing for definitions and for State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers.

House Bill 1033: Amends the Assessors Certification Act, providing for definitions and for duties of board; repealing provisions relating to qualifications; providing for certification; for employees of political subdivisions; and/or disciplinary measures.

House Bill 1584: Amends Title 30 (Fish), in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, repealing provisions relating to waterways patrolmen and employees.

House Bill 1673: Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety), in commonwealth services, for scope of subchapter, legislative findings and declaration of purpose, for definitions, for assistance to volunteer fire companies, ambulance service and rescue squads, for loan fund.

House Bill 1838: Amends Titles 35 (Health and Safety) and 75 (Vehicles), in emergency medical services system, further providing for support of emergency medical services; for EMS costs; and for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition.

House Bill 1961: Amends Title 71 (State Government), in state employees' defined contribution plan, for individual investment accounts, for participant contributions, for employer defined contributions, for vesting, for powers and duties of board.

House Bill 2073: Amends the First Class Township Code, for taxation and legal advertising, relating to elections and population ascertainment, the construction of boundaries, public official salaries and pensions, the filling of vacancies, repealing provisions.

House Bill 2370:Amends Title 57 (Notaries Public), in Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, for authority to perform notarial act, for notarial act performed for remotely located individual & for notification regarding performance of notarial act.

House Bill 2438: Amends Title 68 (Real and Personal Property), providing for broadband services.

House Bill 2561: Amends the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act, further providing for definitions, for approval of drugs, for exemptions and exceptions and for violations and penalties.

Senate Bill 273: Amends the Community-Based Health Care Act, in health care assistance, further providing for Community-Based Health Care program.

Senate Bill 940: Provides for filing and recording by municipalities of condemnation orders and for statements of vacated condemnation orders.

Senate Bill 952: Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs), in veterans' preference, repealing provisions relating to soldier defined, for purpose and definition, repealing provisions relating to credits in civil service exams, for preference in appointment or promotion.

Senate Bill 995: Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in general provisions, further providing for definitions.

Senate Bill 1281: Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in licensing of drivers, for schedule of convictions & points; in rules of the road, for duty of driver in emergency response areas; and in offenses, for homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle.