[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6367901,"mediaKeyId","2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1","parentId",2158299,"title","Committee advances bill to simplify hearing checks for school bus drivers who use hearing aids","audioSeconds",75,"startMs",606000,"endMs",681000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1&start=606&end=681","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1/thumbnail_606000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367901/Pennsylvania/Committee-advances-bill-to-simplify-hearing-checks-for-school-bus-drivers-who-use-hearing-aids","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367901-8cc6654ce9d71836a6966060609c8a38/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173990&Signature=aepK0cgjbg06NEIc4ndGHoVXDbEvcLUwPWI5OJUOGDtGhucvoOxhJloiRH2ZINBzEa1sBA3DyzVyzlpi7zmW2NmCwGvcURf~AwgqUMTrK~F~JVQLbQtRiEBnYdoBGD~Nfab4MdFqwp1WJn7paOIjuGij0rghbetQ3FGZpAcppzoUFJV7bF74yFl8lopfXH3Y8UNNCJrhiTzEgnmdAe0WrwEgh9uMmGKHZiUuPdRj9qeBvGhmu4au6oFKU9jyKXZaJTPyjlpZesfoYGB~EUtukrz5Ax2oMbri6FAQsRFGmq0g3bnVGEP1CWzxIPrZEw-o3xmsF~t78VNmHSd5HduU1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-01-28T04:18:39Z","article","Representative Benninghoff, sponsor of House Bill 240, told the House Transportation Committee the measure aims to remove a redundant test for school bus drivers who use hearing aids and make testing quicker and more efficient.

Committee staff summarized the bill: it \"eliminates the hearing aid electro acoustic analysis test for school bus drivers that require a hearing aid. In lieu of this, the bill requires school bus drivers with a hearing aid pass a hearing test with a hearing aid to ensure proper function.\" The staff summary also noted support from PennDOT and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association and that no amendments were filed.

Why it matters: The sponsor said the change reduces redundancy and speeds processing for drivers who already pass a hearing test while wearing an aid. \"If somebody passes a test wearing a hearing aid, you would think that the hearing aid was working and therefore, does not need to be having an acoustic person testing it subsequently. It's just making government a little bit more efficient and people's lives better by letting them get these tests done quicker,\" Representative Benninghoff said.

Action taken: After discussion, the committee recorded no negative votes in the transcript and reported House Bill 240 as committed.

Context and next steps: The transcript recorded committee support from PennDOT and the PA School Bus Association but did not provide implementation dates, numbers of affected drivers, or budget impacts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation Committee -- January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 240 would replace the electro-acoustic analysis requirement with a standard hearing test conducted while the driver wears a hearing aid; the committee reported the bill as committed with support from PennDOT and the PA School Bus Association.","taxTitle","Transportation, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29248,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367905,"Committee advances bill to add work-zone safety question to junior driver test",87,365000,452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1&start=365&end=452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1/thumbnail_365000.jpg","/articles/6367905/Pennsylvania/Committee-advances-bill-to-add-work-zone-safety-question-to-junior-driver-test","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367905-9f4b2b918007b38c51c0798850a2537a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173990&Signature=AyK2XqaQYfdIxKP1t2E4NfgRlo9-0whgQnavfZPiCTgesSrml~eyiSVdxIUtYp88mrZol9EsSbs1MrmOZ1YDZxwLOarjPM~8VUsRLOcZmOTStnJ7yr1fEuh-e4iTVUeryn-xBXo~v4IaDzzZyzQswznoSDbXKbdWtsoRfV~ui6AUxl6T5wek8Zo-PbFCR16t-vv4cLKZvOFm05Oc0TcAy5MwzOM~HAqDYJoq2k4t5omPuzOTMvmg6XE995bVwDkvlP17Es2VrRQ8PQ1zv324sQCtlpV3oZgoNr4Vy0kscGVzgcEgb0GlDrm1nrOSPLAxsb-ZKovqmfdkFN6PGYvYKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Ed Nielsen said the House Transportation Committee reported House Bill 257 as committed after a staff summary explaining the bill seeks to add work-zone safety education to driver testing requirements.

The staff summary said the bill requires PennDOT to include at least one question on the written driving test about how to drive safely in a work zone and requires a minor to view educational materials on the dangers of unsafe driving in work zones prior to testing for a junior driver's license. \"A certification form signed by the parent, guardian, or spouse must be submitted to PennDOT certifying that this requirement has been met,\" the staff summary said. The driver's manual would also include a section related to driving safely in a work zone, along with penalties.

Why it matters: The sponsor framed the bill as an education measure to reduce unsafe driving in work zones. Committee discussion as recorded in the transcript was limited to the staff summary and the sponsor's request for an affirmative vote.

Action taken: Committee members recorded no amendments and no known opposition in the transcript. After asking for negative votes and recording none, the committee reported House Bill 257 as committed.

Context and next steps: The transcript contains no roll-call tally. The bill would direct PennDOT to change written testing and materials; the transcript did not include implementation timing or penalty details.","House Bill 257 would require PennDOT to include at least one question on the written driving test about safely driving in work zones and require minors to view educational materials before junior license testing; the committee reported the bill as committed with no recorded opposition.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":44,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367906,"House Transportation Committee advances bill letting cities install pedestrian plazas and parking-protected bike lanes",152,454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1&start=454&end=606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158299-55d572064199c182a2d001a0020277c1/thumbnail_454000.jpg","/articles/6367906/Pennsylvania/House-Transportation-Committee-advances-bill-letting-cities-install-pedestrian-plazas-and-parking-protected-bike-lanes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367906-ac1ab2329d03fd79545ac79e721b191d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173990&Signature=L3DtaaKmiw83KM0wKUyQPUFsfUFkyBCHNiIsXud-q4FoQZS7COwJwjkKKMLrXUC4BVkQ29hOGCrWxtQdx0CFHwognoRjc2hSlrMsyHvIaT~Mdz53HEVi4OzN3w2XNhryIwBoK2z6FPkg9jATnvjuTuPBtRbS1ZXAO5PtS5fOrI7AiHyT9QgFKZioeVqWrSA3S4aNKyQsFEiahS~HTkiyeKes0W42gJw0jyzppB9kk1RrLRY6F8Z9Pg-lLZKkR5y-kVTkk~QdG22MGL0je1hArSW71Wl~oPv1gWhUmNR6kVITQaK56LZtP~lt3Z9G3DcOtfx-9kfcqAuMdWrtBFF~jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Ed Nielsen of the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee on Wednesday said the committee reported House Bill 291 as committed after a staff summary and brief remarks urging support.

The bill, introduced by Representative Mary Jo Daley and Representative David Maloney, would allow local authorities to install pedestrian plazas and parking-protected bicycle lanes and permit vehicles to park ‘‘within 12 inches of the buffer area of a pedestrian plaza or bicycle lane,’’ according to the committee staff summary. The measure also clarifies that a school bus or school vehicle may ‘‘stop or stand as close as practical to the curb or shoulder when receiving or discharging students.’’

Why it matters: Supporters told the committee the bill would give municipalities the authority to create protected bike lanes and pedestrian plazas without mandating their installation. Chairman Ed Nielsen framed the bill as a safety measure, saying it could save lives: \"This legislation passed this house 4 times. I can't imagine the amount of lives that we've cost by not having this on the second floor. Our life could have been saved if this was a protected bike lane. We could save lives,\" he said.

Committee discussion and background: Committee staff informed members that under current law vehicles must park within 12 inches of a curb and that the existing rule ‘‘does not take pedestrian plazas or bicycle lanes into consideration.’’ The staff summary noted the bill had unanimous committee approval in the last session and carried in the full House by a 198–5 vote last session. Committee members recorded no opposition and no amendments were filed.

Action taken: After the summary and member remarks, the committee chair asked for negative votes; none were recorded and the committee reported House Bill 291 as committed.

Context and next steps: The bill leaves installation decisions to local authorities rather than imposing a statewide mandate. The transcript did not record a roll-call vote in committee; committee action was recorded as \"reported as committed.\" The bill will proceed through the legislative process as directed by House rules.","The House Transportation Committee reported House Bill 291 as committed after members heard a summary that the measure would allow vehicles to park next to the buffer of pedestrian plazas and parking-protected bicycle lanes and would clarify school-bus stopping rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill to simplify hearing checks for school bus drivers who use hearing aids

Committee advances bill to add work-zone safety question to junior driver test

House Transportation Committee advances bill letting cities install pedestrian plazas and parking-protected bike lanes