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Legislative roundup: Butler County delegation to state General Assembly gets slow legislative start to year

The Pennsylvania Capitol building is shown in Harrisburg. Associated Press File Photo

Butler County’s representatives to the state General Assembly have had a quiet couple months to start the year on the legislative front.

Here’s a look at legislation introduced by those representatives over the last two months:

Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st

Hutchinson is the primary sponsor of one piece of potential legislation. It’s currently circulating in search of sponsors, but not yet laid on the table.

The proposal would allow PENNVEST — which provides low-income loans for water and sewage projects to municipalities — to refinance loans at a lower interest rate.

Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th

Vogel is the primary sponsor of two pieces of potential legislation currently circulating in search of sponsors, but not yet laid on the table.

■ One aims to improve emergency medical care for those who have undergone a laryngectomy, and must breathe through a stoma in the neck.

The proposed legislation would require licensed ambulances and quick response service vehicles to display a QR code linking to a state Department of Health digital resource with emergency airway management protocols for patients who have had a laryngectomy, a visual guide to stomas and how to care for those with them and contact information for laryngectomy support services.

■ Another would update legislation, known as the seat belt gag rule, prohibiting consideration of whether someone was wearing a seat belt in civil suits.

The proposed legislation would allow evidence of failure to use a seat belt to be admitted when determining comparative or contributive negligence, evaluating failure to mitigate damages or in any other circumstances in which the court deems it relevant.

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th

Bernstine is the primary sponsor of one piece of potential legislation currently circulating in search of sponsors, but not yet laid on the table.

The proposed legislation would provide tax credits of $2,000 per intern, up to $10,000, to small businesses employing Pennsylvania college students in a paid internship role for a full-time, six-week program.

State Reps. Timothy Bonner, R-17th, and Marci Mustello, R-11th

State Reps. Timothy Bonner, R-17th, and Marci Mustello, R-11th, have not introduced any new legislation so far this year.

Former State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba

Former state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, who represented the 12th district until her resignation, effective the beginning of this month, no longer has a reference page on the state House of Representatives website.

A search of her name in the website’s database showed no legislation introduced by her this year.

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