Pa. House passes bill seeking to keep state on daylight saving time

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation urging Congress to do away with the semi-annual clock changing ritual and authorize states to make daylight saving time permanent.

By a vote of 103-98, the House chose to join 15 other states that have passed legislation asking for this change that is currently not allowed by federal law.

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh County, who sponsored the bill, said studies show that staying on daylight saving time will save energy, reduced traffic crashes, reduce crime, and lead to healthier lifestyles.

The bill, which passed the House State Government Committee by a vote of 23-2, now moves to the state Senate for consideration.

“In the future, I think this is a very positive reform for Pennsylvania, changing time twice a year is incredibly inefficient and an outdated practice,” Mackenzie said.

He noted less than 40% of the countries around the world recognize some form of daylight saving timeand that number is decreasing.

“I think there is a movement afoot to go toward some type of permanent time and I want to be a part of that,” Mackenzie said.

Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-Philadelphia, pointed out that making this change would mean on Dec. 21 sunrise in Philadelphia would be at 8:19 a.m. and in Pittsburgh, at 8:39 a.m. He indicated this could be “very consequential legislation” that in retrospect they come to regret much like some now regret passing the legislation that legalized fireworks that draws numerous complaints to their offices.

“I don’t think that this is properly appreciated by the members of this body,” Boyle said. “I think we need more time to consider this legislation.

To that, MacKenzie said, “This legislation does not increase or decrease the amount of daylight that is going to be available for residents of Pennsylvania but what it does do is shift those daylight hours to be more consistent with the working and living hours which people are utilizing in today’s economy.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, has been pushing his own bill that achieves the same goal of ending the need to change clocks twice a year but would keep Pennsylvania on standard time. That is a change the federal government allows states to make on their own.

Diamond has said one reason he prefers making standard time permanent is because daylight saving time would leave school children in the dark during the winter months when they are walking to school or waiting for the bus.

His bill remains in the House State Government Committee for consideration.