DATE: January 30, 2020
MEMO TO: Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Operators
FROM: Your Pennsylvania ARRL Leadership Team (includes Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Sections)
Re: Amendment to HB 37
____________________________________________________________________________________
During a conference this morning with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee, we learned that partly as a result of our efforts, Senator Farnese of Philadelphia will be introducing an amendment to this bill that will exempt Amateur Radio Operators from its prohibition on the use of Amateur Radio equipment while mobile.
The committee’s executive director is unsure of the timing for a future vote on this bill but feels certain that if Amateur Radio Operators in Pennsylvania communicate their support for the amendment, it will contribute to a successful outcome.
Senator Farnese’s staff is currently preparing the language of the amendment following input from your ARRL team. Once the Senate includes this exemption and passes the bill, it will go to a conference committee where the differences in the House and Senate versions must be ironed out. So, your support for this amendment is crucial. Contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to support the amendment to HB37 exempting Amateur Radio Operators.
Use this link https://www.legis.state.pa.us/ to find out who represents you in the Senate and House. Contact them and simply ask them to support the exemption amendment.
We’ll post more updates as the bill progresses.
73,
WT Jones
WN3LIF
ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service
wn3lif@w3luz.org <—
Eastern PA Section Emergency Coordinator
http://www.w3luz.org
