Chris Ross was sworn into his seventh term in the House of Representatives on Jan. 6, 2009. His legislative efforts have focused on protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources and making government more accessible and accountable.
This session, he serves as Minority Chairman of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and is a member of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. He is also a member of the Local Government Commission.
Ross serves on the Council of State Governments, National Executive Committee, Suggested State Legislation Committee and the Energy & Environment Task Force. Also, he serves on the Council of State Governments, Eastern Regional Executive Committee, Energy and Environment Committee.
In his first term, Ross sponsored legislation which established the Self-Employment Assistance Act. He also proposed, and the House adopted, a resolution that called on the Local Government Commission to study ways to improve local law enforcement. In October 1999, a report issued by the Commission made recommendations for reforming a number of statutes.
In 2004, Ross spearheaded legislation that was signed into law creating the Alternative Energy Act. The act mandates that 18 percent of energy sold by electric energy suppliers in Pennsylvania will be from alternative energy sources such as wind power, solar power, and cogeneration. The Alternative Energy Act was designed to gradually adapt the new sources into the current electric infrastructure. Ross is currently proposing legislation to insure that electronic waste is properly recycled and that Pennsylvania takes advantage of carbon sequestration.
Also in 2004, Ross prime sponsored legislation, Act 33 of 2004, which helps local municipalities cooperate more effectively with non-profit environmental groups to save open space.
In an effort to assist municipalities in their efforts to preserve open space, Ross sponsored Act 154 of 2006, which amends Act 442 of 1967 to authorize the creation of municipal land trusts and establishes their powers and limitations.
Act 144 of 2006 - Thanks to this law, an important new diagnostic tool for early detection of kidney disease is in wider use. Act 144 requires testing laboratories to run an additional calculation known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which gives warning of early kidney disease even before a patient experiences any symptoms. This legislation, sponsored by Ross and supported by the National Kidney Foundation, could have significant implications for better treatment and more successful outcomes for those who suffer from kidney disease.
Act 110 of 2008 - Ross proposed this law to further clarify duties of the County Recorder of Deeds Office concerning recording of deeds without any prior requirement of registration with the municipality.
Additional legislation introduced by Ross in 2009 would:
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Recodify the Consumer Credit Code relating to Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act and Goods and Services Installment Sales Act
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Change the requirements for prevailing wage on school construction
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Create a summary offense for distracted driving
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Update Tax Reform Code regarding unexpected income
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Adopt changes relating to agricultural easements
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Allow for municipal electronic auctions
Ross’ additional legislative efforts have helped to increase the state police trooper cap by 100 troopers.
Ross is a 1974 graduate of Harvard, A.B. History, Cum Laude. His career in public service was launched shortly after graduation. He worked on the successful campaigns of the late U.S. Sen. John Heinz in 1976 and former Gov. Dick Thornburgh in 1978.
He served seven years as Chairman of the London Grove Township’s Board of Supervisors. Ross was also a former board member of the Upland School, where he chaired the school’s Education Committee and was chairman of the board of directors of the Fairville Early Learning Center (now known as Fairville Friends School). In 2002, he was selected as a Henry Toll Fellows member. He is currently a member of the board of trustees of the Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, MD.
Before his election to the legislature, Ross was a business owner of Rox Industries, Inc.
Rep. Ross and his wife, Cecilia, reside in East Marlborough Township and are the parents of two children.