Pa. Senate passes 1st virus legislation

In response to the unprecedented COVID-19 emergency, the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a package of emergency-related bills, said state Sen. Tom Killion, R9th, of Middletown, who voted remotely.

“In a time of so much uncertainty, it’s critical Pennsylvanians know state government will do all in its power to protect them and ease the economic hardships created by this emergency,” said Killion. “The legislation passed today is crucial to our response as a state to this public health and economic crisis.”

The Senate passed three noteworthy pieces of legislation. Senate Bill 422 delays the 2020 Primary Election to Tuesday, June 2, allows counties to consolidate polling places and creates other COVID-19 emergencyrelated provisions.

House Bill 68 updates Unemployment Compensation laws to extend relief to employees affected by closures and Senate Bill 751 change provisions of the PA School Code to address missed instructional time for students.

The author of Senate Bill 1906 which would create a zero-interest disaster loan program for small businesses, Killion noted there will be more legislation related to the COVID-19 emergency considered by the Senate in coming days.

“The situation is very fluid,” Killion noted. “Senate

leadership, both Republican and Democratic, is in constant communication with each other, their counterparts in the House and Governor Wolf.

“With remote voting in place, my colleagues and I are ready to act swiftly and decisively to protect the health of Pennsylvanians and mitigate the economic effects of this once-in-a-lifetime challenge.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9th, of Middletown, uses his laptop to vote remotely on coronavirus legislation.