PSBA Legislative Report

November 13, 2020

General election recap

Results from the 2020 general election are near to finalization, marking the end of a long campaign season.
Here is an overview of the state's election results:

Pennsylvania Delegation to the U.S. Congress
Based on elections results from the Department of State, no incumbent member of Congress from Pennsylvania lost this election cycle. The delegation has 18 members, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats. Below is a look at the close matchups:
PA1: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) defeated Democratic challenger Christina Finello.
PA6: Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) defeated GOP challenger John Emmons.
PA7: Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) declared victory over GOP challenger Lisa Scheller.
PA8: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) was declared the winner over GOP challenger Jim Bognet.
PA10: Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) defeated Democratic challenger and state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
PA16: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) defeated Democratic challenger Kristy Gnibus.
PA17: Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) declared victory over GOP challenger Sean Parnell.

Statewide row offices
In statewide row offices, voters elected the first state Republican auditor general in many years and have thrown in a few more surprises that were not predicted. Democrat Josh Shapiro was reelected as the state's attorney general while auditor general and treasurer seats changed parties. Dauphin County Controller, Republican Tim DeFoor is the winner of the auditor general seat vacated by Eugene DePasquale and Republican Stacey Garrity has been elected as treasurer, winning over incumbent Joseph Torsella.

Pennsylvania General Assembly
In the Pennsylvania General Assembly, all 203 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election and in Senate, one-half of the 50 seats were up for election (the odd-numbered seats). According to the results from the PA Department of State, there are six incumbents defeated (3 Democrats on the House side; and possibly 2 Democrats & 1 Republican on the Senate side) and two open House seats flipped. The House Republicans will grow their majority to 112 seats, up from 110. On the Senate side, Republicans could expand their majority one seat to 29, up from 28 depending on the outcome of the Sen. Brewster (D-Allegheny) race. However, as of publication Sen. Brewster is currently winning his race by 42 votes. For the 2021-2022 session of the General Assembly, the Republicans will hold the majority in both chambers.

32 new state legislators to take office in 2021
This election could pave the way for 32 freshmen members, as follows, based on the results known at this time. Following is a list of the newly elected legislators, with their legislative district number and party affiliation, in order by district number. Please note that some results are not final.

Seat	Not Seeking Reelection/Lost in Primary/Lost or Trail in General	Member-Elect Based on Unofficial Results
House District 20 (Allegheny)	Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (D) - Lost Primary	Emily Kinkead (D)
House District 28 (Allegheny)	Rep. Mike Turzai (R)	Robert Mercuri (R)
House District 33 (Allegheny)	Rep. Frank Dermody (D)	Carrie DelRosso (R) - Flipped
House District 36 (Allegheny)	Rep. Harry Readshaw (D)	Jessica Benham (D)
House District 38 (Allegheny)	Rep. Bill Kortz (D)	Nickolas Pisciottano (D)
House District 55 (Westmoreland)	Rep. Joe Petrarca (D) - Trailing in General	Jason Silvis (R) - Likely Flip
House District 66 (Jefferson)	Rep. Chris Dush (R)	Brian Smith (R)
House District 75 (Clearfield County)	Rep. Matt Gabler (R)	Michael Armanini (R)
House District 84 (Lycoming)	Rep. Garth Everett (R)	Joseph Hamm (R)
House District 86 (Perry)	Rep. Mark Keller (R)	Perry Stambaugh (R)
House District 123 (Schuylkill)	Rep. Neal Goodman (D)	Timothy Twardzik (R) - Open Seat Flipped
House District 125 (Schuylkill)	Rep. Mike Tobash (R)	Joseph Kerwin (R)
House District 127 (Berks)	Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D)	Manuel Guzman (D)
House District 131 (Northampton)	Rep. Justin Simmons (R)	Milou Mackenzie (R)
House District 138 (Northampton)	Rep. Marcia Hahn (R)	Ann Flood (R)
House District 143 (Bucks)	Rep. Wendy Ullman (D) - Lost General	Shelby Labs (R) - Flipped
House District 147 (Montgomery)	Rep. Marcy Toepel (R)	Tracy Pennycuick (R)
House District 152 (Montgomery)	Rep. Thomas Murt (R)	Nancy Guenst (D) - Open Seat Flipped
House District 154 (Montgomery)	Rep. Steve McCarter (D)	Napoleon Nelson (D)
House District 156 (Chester)	Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D)	Dianne Herrin (D)
House District 160 (Delaware)	Rep. Stephen Barrar (R)	Craig Williams (R)
House District 185 (Philadelphia)	Rep. Maria Donatucci (D)	Regina Young (D)
House District 188 (Philadelphia)	Rep. Jim Roebuck (D) - Lost Primary	Rick Krajewski (D)
House District 190 (Philadelphia)	Rep. G. Roni Green (D) - Lost Primary	Amen Brown (D)
House District 198 (Philadelphia)	Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D)	Darisha Parker (D)
Senate District 1 (Philadelphia)	Sen. Larry Farnese (D) - Lost Primary	Nikil Saval (D)
Senate District 9 (Delaware)	Sen. Tom Killion (R) - Lost General	John Kane (D) - Flipped
Senate District 17 (Montgomery)	Sen. Daylin Leach (D) - Lost Primary	Amanda Cappelletti (D)
Senate District 19 (Chester)	Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D)	Carolyn Comitta (D)
Senate District 25 (Jefferson)	Sen. Joe Scarnati (R)	Chris Dush (R)
Senate District 37 (Allegheny)	Sen. Pam Iovino (D) - Lost General	Devlin Robinson (R) - Flipped
Senate District 45 (Allegheny)	Sen. Jim Brewster (D) - Ahead by a small vote margin	Nicole Ziccarelli (R) - Not determined

Latest News

New laws signed by the governor

• Compliance Update: Publication of school director email addresses
• Act 98 of 2020: Broadband expansion
• Act 110 of 2020: Protections for student assault victims

PSBA News

• Delegate Assembly adopts 2021 Legislative Platform

	New laws signed by the governor
	Compliance Update: Publication of school director email addresses
	Under the new Act 84 of 2020, recently approved by the Governor, school districts must publish on their websites an email address for each school director that can be used by students, staff or members of the public to communicate with members of the school board about school district governance matters. As the legislation was moving through the General Assembly, PSBA worked to have the bill amended to also make the provisions applicable to charter school and cyber charter school board trustees. The email addresses must be available on an easily found public area of each district's website no later than June 26, 2021. The legislation imposes the same requirement for members of charter school boards of trustees. This new mandate adds one more reason for PSBA's recommendation that school board members use only district-provided email accounts to communicate via email regarding school district matters. To learn more about recommendations for using email and other electronic community engagement tools, watch "Best Practices in Digital Communications," one of the many e-learning courses available in the online learning area of the MyPSBA website.
	Top

	Act 98 of 2020: Broadband expansion
	House Bill 2438 (Rep. Owlett, R-Tioga), now Act 98 of 2020, provides new definitions and allows electric cooperative corporations or an affiliate to use existing infrastructure facilities to deploy fiber optic lines for broadband through an existing easement owned, held or used by the cooperative corporation. PSBA supported the movement of the bill across the finish line.
	Top

	Act 110 of 2020: Protections for student assault victims
	Senate Bill 530 (Sen. Martin, R-Lancaster) protects student victims of sexual assault. PSBA worked with the bill's sponsor, leadership and other stakeholders so that schools have flexibility in protecting and ensuring that students who are the victim of a sexual assault by another student at their school are not re-victimized by seeing their attacker every day at school.
	Top

	PSBA News
	Delegate Assembly adopts 2021 Legislative Platform
	On November 7, voting delegates from member school entities across the state came together virtually for the Delegate Assembly meeting to adopt PSBA's 2021 Legislative Platform. The platform serves as PSBA's official record of positions on legislative issues and is the guide for the association's advocacy efforts. The Delegate Assembly also adopted PSBA's priority issues for the upcoming 2021-22 legislative session. The priorities, which are considered as part of PSBA's platform, call for the association to press for action to: Enact Meaningful Charter School Reforms Provide a Significant, Continued Financial Investment for School Districts Address Pennsylvania's Pension Funding Crisis Provide for the Safety and Mental Health Needs of Students Click here to read the text of the 2021 platform and here for a pdf booklet.
	Top