Accomplishments

Senate – 2005-06

Bills

Senate Bill 240 - Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association Act – Authorizes funds of volunteer firefighters' relief association in Second Class A counties to be spent on qualified retirement plans. 

Senate Bill 241 - Life Valuation Fees - Returns the "life valuation fee" imposed on domestic life insurance companies from $.015 per thousand dollars of life insurance to $.01.  This tax was increased during the 2003-04 budget cycle.  It has not brought in the revenue the Administration expected, namely because a few life insurance companies have ‘redomesticated,’ or moved their main businesses, out-of-state.  Tax policy should encourage businesses to locate here, not penalize them from doing so. 

Senate Bill 290 - Energy Efficiency Standards Act - Establishes energy efficiency standards for certain appliances and equipment sold or installed within the Commonwealth. 

Senate Bill 291 - Watershed Protection – Amends the Municipalities Planning Code to provide for watershed protection areas.  This bill would add watersheds as appropriate entities for joint municipal zoning.  Municipalities that joint zone by watershed will receive preference in grant applications to be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. 

Senate Bill 598 - Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program – Codifies into law and expands the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program established by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). 

Senate Bill 674 - Campaign Finance Reform – Amends the Election Code by further defining the term "independent expenditure" and setting contribution limits.  The bill also addresses contribution filing procedures and provides for the creation of an electronic database that will track fillings and allow public access. 

Senate Bill 675 - Handheld Cell Phone Prohibition – Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to prohibit drivers from using handheld cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.  A violation results in a summary offense with a fine of $250. 

Senate Bill 676 - School Health Amendments – Amends the out-of-date School Health Services section of the Public School Code.  This bill revises current student medical and dental examination processes, bringing them up to current standards and practices.  This bill also updates school health record requirements and encourages parents to take their children to their primary care provider for their examinations.  The bill also shifts the timeline for medical exam requirements from "entry into school", 6th and 11th grades to "entry", 4th, 8th, and 11th grades. 

Senate Bill 687 - Financial Aid for the Council of the Arts – Imposes an emergency State tax for a limited period of time on liquor, with funding to be transferred to DCED and the PA Council of the Arts. 

Senate Bill 699 - Medicaid Fee-For-Service program -- Amends the Medicaid law to ensure that patients in Medicaid’s fee-for service program retain appropriate access to necessary and life-saving medications.  The Medicaid fee-for-service program covers the disabled, blind, elderly and children.   This legislation establishes patient safeguards with regard to access to medications under Medicaid. 

Senate Bill 810 - Annual Reports of Financial Condition of Local Governments – Amends the Administrative Code in regards to financial reporting filed by municipalities to the Department of Community and Economic Development. 

Senate Bill 821 - Small Group Insurance Market Reform – Regulates the rating format specific insurance carriers may use and the percentage a premium may be increased in any year.  Insurers with a dominant market share of 50% or more in their respective region would be required to write small group insurance using a community rating format, with no more than a 10% increase or decrease allowed from their approved base rate without prior PA Department of Insurance approval.  Carriers with a regional market share of between 11%-50% may use a modified community rating format as approved by the Department, while carriers with a regional small market share of less than 11% may use any rating methodology in writing small group insurance without approval from the Department. 

Senate Bill 824 - MTBE Ban. – Calls for the five-year complete phase-out of the use, sale and storage of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline within this Commonwealth.

Senate Bill 932

"An Act amending the act . . . authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Governor, to grant and convey to the Borough of Doylestown certain lands situate in the Borough of Doylestown, Bucks County," further providing for conveyance to the Borough of Doylestown, Bucks County. (Armory bill).

Resolutions

Senate Resolution 22 - A resolution proclaiming February 14, 2005 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in Pennsylvania.  The resolution will provide an opportunity to share experience and information with the public and the media, in order to raise public awareness about congenital heart defects which each year affect thousands of babies and young children in Pennsylvania. 

Senate Resolution 79 - A resolution designating April 20, 2005 as "Care by Celebrating Children Day" in Pennsylvania (Adopted 4/13/05). 

Senate Resolution 80 - A resolution recognizing the week of April 17 through 23, 2005, as "National Wildlife Week" in Pennsylvania.  (Adopted 4/13/05). 

Senate Resolution 176 – A resolution recognizing October 21, 2005 as "Biomedical Research Day" in Pennsylvania. (Adopted 09/27/05).
 

Senate – 2003-04

Act No. 1 of 2003 amended the Liquor Code to make a number of changes.  Among other modifications, the measure:

• Clarified the provisions governing the proper supervision of minors in licensed premises.  In addition to other changes, only one supervisor for every 50 minors is required if the minors are frequenting the licensed establishment as part of a school-endorsed function;
   

• Granted the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board discretion in determining where and what classes and brands of liquor and alcohol will be sold;
   

• Authorized every liquor store to sell combination packages (defined as a package consisting of liquor or alcohol and a non-liquor or non-alcohol item as packaged by the manufacturer or its representative) and wine accessories and trade publications; and,
   

• Permitted the holder of a club liquor license located on a golf course to allow persons to transport liquor or malt or brewed beverages from the licensed portion of the premises to the unlicensed portion as long as the beverages remain on the property of the licensee.

Act 179 of 2004 amended the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act regarding Wireless E-911.  The bill corrected a technical wording problem in the original Act 56 Wireless E-911 Act, which had prevented counties and cooperating organizations from being reimbursed under the Act. 

Act 232 of 2004 allows active, retired or senior bankruptcy judges of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western District of Pennsylvania, who are residents of PA, to solemnize wedding vows. 

Act 211 of 2004 amended Title 75 (Vehicle Code) in regards to accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed.  This bill was introduced on behalf of Gwen Taylor-Alper, a constituent who was killed in a car accident involving a collision with a dump truck.  The bill clarifies that this section requires a driver to have the proper class of license and endorsements for the vehicle they are driving. 

Act 219 of 2004 helps protect prescription drug benefits for seniors who use the Commonwealth’s PACE and PACENET programs.  Specifically, the bill lowers the generic drug rebate, or fee, that the generic drug manufacturers pay to participate in the PACE and PACENET programs.  The rebate level originally set in Act 37 of 2003 was too high for generic drug companies to feasibly participate in these programs.  In addition, the bill also directly extends the prescription drug benefits for PACENET enrollees who were affected by the March 2005 social security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase.

Act 221 of 2004 amended the Liquor Code to allow State Stores to purchase and sell gift cards that may be redeemed for any product sold by the Liquor Control Board.  In addition, the bill also permits the use of electronic coupons for the purchase of wine and spirits at State Stores. 

Resolutions

Senate Resolution 64 recognized the contributions of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., a patriotic service organization founded in 1942 to unite mothers who have sons and daughters in the United States military.

Senate Resolution 84 designated the week of April 27 through May 3, 2003 as "Pennsylvania Wine Week." 

Senate Resolution 164 recognized October 21, 2003 as "Biomedical Research Day" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 204 designating February 14, 2004, as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in Pennsylvania. Adopted February 10, 2004.

Senate Resolution 223 designating the week of May 2 through 8, 2004, as Pennsylvania Wine Week. Adopted March 30, 2004.

Senate Resolution 224  commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Adopted March 30, 2004. recognized October 21, 2003 as "Biomedical Research Day" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 240 designating April 20, 2004, as "Care by Celebrating Children Day"

Senate Resolution 256 proclaimed May 1, 2004 as Smarty Jones Day in honor of the Pennsylvania thoroughbred that ran in the Kentucky Derby.

Senate Resolution 274 recognized the contributions of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.

Senate Resolution 276 recognized Smarty Jones’ record win in the Preakness Stakes on May 15, 2004.

Senate Resolution 280 honored Smarty Jones and his contributions to Pennsylvania’s horse-racing industry.

Senate Resolution 305 recognized October 21, 2004 as “Biomedical Research Day.”

Senate Resolution 311 recognized November 14, 2004 as “Adoption Brings the World Together – A Celebration of Cultural Diversity” Day.

Senate – 2001-02

Act No. 56 of 2001 amended the Borough Code to require a person appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected borough or ward office to have resided in the borough or ward continuously for at least one year immediately prior to his or her appointment.  The bill also clarified that individuals elected to borough office would have to reside in the borough continuously for at least one year immediately prior to his or her election. 

Act No. 99 of 2001 amended the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act to increase the payment limitation in the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund from $1 million to $1.5 million per tank per occurrence.  The annual aggregate payment to an individual operator or owner of 100 tanks or less was increased from $1 million to $1.5 million and from $2 million to $3 million for an owner or operator of 101 or more tanks.  A claim for which eligibility was not determined as of the effective date of the act is eligible for the increased payments.  In addition, the measure amended the Underground Storage Tank Environmental Cleanup Program to allow recovered amounts to be added to the funds allocated for this program.  The bill further permitted the Board to allocate up to $5.5 million for a catastrophic release which threatens the environment or public health and safety and for which corrective action would exceed the statutorily established dollar limits.

Act No. 17 of 2002 amended the Borough Code to exclude insurance benefits provided to the mayor or borough council members from being considered pay, salary, or compensation.

Act No. 51 of 2002 amended the Second Class Township Code to authorize township supervisors to pay auditors $10 per hour for up to five hours per day during their attendance at conferences, institutes, or schools dealing with the duties of their positions.

Act No. 72 of 2002 authorized the Department of General Services to convey the Department of Transportation's Bucks County Maintenance Facility to the Heritage Conservancy, Inc., for fair market value.  Proceeds from the sale were earmarked for the construction of a new Bucks County maintenance facility.

Act No. 85 of 2002 amended the Crime Victims Act to require that a crime victim be provided with notice and the opportunity to comment on a recommendation that the defendant participate in a motivational boot camp.  This opportunity is also provided after sentencing in cases where the Department of Corrections requests a judicial recommendation that an offender participate in motivational boot camp.  The measure also provided a crime victim, in a personal injury case where the adult defendant is sentenced to a local correctional facility, with an opportunity to provide prior comment when an offender is released from a boot camp.  Other changes included in the bill: 

• Extended the time limit for filing a claim from one to two years, with a further extension granted to child victims;
   

• Expanded the list of those eligible for psychological or psychiatric counseling;
   

• Established, for individuals less than 60 years of age, the minimum loss necessary to file a claim at $100;
   

• Raised the maximum limit of an emergency award from $1,000 to $1,500 per claim or at a rate set by the Bureau of Victims' Services in the Pennsylvania Commission of Crime and Delinquency;
   

• Extended eligibility for compensation to persons who pay for cleaning a crime scene at a private residence and for relocation costs necessary to protect the victim and individuals residing in the victim's household;
   

• Created exceptions to the $35,000 maximum award limit for the costs of psychological or psychiatric counseling, forensic rape examination and medications directly related to the sexual assault or rape, and the reasonable and necessary costs of cleaning the crime scene of a private residence; and
   

• Required law enforcement agencies to provide basic information on the rights and services available to crime victims.

Act No. 91 of 2002 amended the Fiscal Code by making a number of changes.  Among others, the bill:

• Eliminated the Cigarette Licensing, Marketing and Control Board in the Department of Revenue and authorized the existing Board of Appeals to review all departmental actions related to cigarette licensing and marketing.
   

• Required the Liquor Control Board on the last business day of each calendar month to remit to the Department of Revenue the gross receipts from the sale of liquor and taxes collected by the board (sales and liquor taxes) for all fiscal months ending in that calendar month.
   

• Rewrote statutory provisions relating to the disposition of abandoned and unclaimed property.  The duties of the Secretary of Revenue with respect to such property were transferred to the State Treasurer.  Generally, the bill decreased, from seven to five years, the amount of time that financial institutions need to hold unclaimed property.  Wages and similar compensation were presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than three, rather than the current seven, years.  The monetary threshold for itemized reporting requirements, as well as penalties for the failure to report, both were increased.
   

• Repealed the current Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund Act, but established the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.  Commencing with the 2002-2003 fiscal year, 25 percent of a general fund surplus is transferred to the fund until the amount in the fund equals six percent of general fund revenues.  At that point, only 10 percent of a general fund surplus would be transferred to the fund, which is established to fund public health and safety emergencies and to cover unanticipated revenue shortfalls incurred as a result of downturns in the economy.
   

• Provided for the transfer of $100 million to the General Fund from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund.  The amount transferred, plus interest, will be repaid over a ten year period beginning with the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
   

• Provided that all lapsed funds from the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 fiscal years, plus all earned interest from the 2002-2003 fiscal year, would be appropriated from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to be used for medical assistance long term care.

Act No. 205 of 2002 authorized the recording and copying of documents.

Act No. 212 of 2002 amended the Liquor Code by defining arts council, confectionary, eligible entity and pecuniary interest.

Act No. 218 of 2002 provided for the offense of harassment and stalking.

Resolutions

Senate Resolution 27 honored the Army Nurse Corps on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

Senate Resolution 35 requested that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) immediately submit a formal request to the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt Pennsylvania from the liquid fuels oxygen content requirement under the Clean Air Act.  The resolution further requested that DEP adopt and publish a formal response plan and/or regulations addressing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) pollution incidents, as well as a public information program about MTBE.

Senate Resolution 46 designated the month of April 2001 as "Pennsylvania Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month."

Senate Resolution 54 designated April 20, 2001 as "Care By Celebrating Children Day" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 67 urged the Department of Education to establish a Safe School Helpline.

Senate Resolution 150 designated the week of February 3 through 9, 2002 as "Students in Free Enterprise Week" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 182 designated April 19, 2002 as "Care by Celebrating Children Day" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 209 recognized the contributions of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., a patriotic service organization founded in 1942 to unite mothers who have sons and daughters in the United States military.

Senate Resolution 211 urged Congress to sustain the President's affirmative decision on the United States Department of Energy's recommendation on a federal depository for used nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Senate Resolution 291 promoted public awareness of the importance of childhood injury prevention.

Senate Resolution 292 recognized October 21, 2002 as "Biomedical Research Day" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 306 proclaimed the second Saturday in January of each year as "Invite a Neighbor to Dinner Day."

Senate – 1999-00

Act No. 23A of 1999 appropriated $168,000 to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown for operating expenses, including maintenance and the purchase of apparatus, supplies, and equipment, during the 1999-2000 Fiscal Year.

Act No. 24 of 1999 created the Economic Development Eminent Domain Law to extend the power of eminent domain to a redevelopment financing authority in Bucks County which has jurisdiction over at least one closed military facility with more than 500 acres (the Naval Air Warfare Center.)  The authority was given the power to acquire by eminent domain any property and fixtures within the borders of the former military facility and certain blighted areas.  (Note:  These powers were given to the authority so that it could be eligible to issue tax-exempt bonds under the Internal Revenue Code.)

Act No. 4 of 2000 amended the Crimes Code to provide that it is not a defense under the crime of the underage purchase, consumption, or transportation of alcoholic beverages if the beverages were consumed in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction where the citation was issued.

Act No. 64 of 2000 amended the Crimes Code to make a number of changes.  Among other modifications, the measure:

• Clarified that the use of a device for the theft of telecommunications service is unlawful;
   

• Upgraded penalties for the offense of the manufacture, distribution, use or possession of devices for the theft of telecommunications services based on the number of devices involved and whether the defendant has been convicted before.  The changes also allow a person aggrieved by a violation to bring a civil action for damages;
   

• Replaced the existing section of law that prohibited a driver operating a motor vehicle from consuming alcohol or controlled substances with language that prohibits both the driver and the other occupants from consuming alcohol or controlled substances while the vehicle is in operation.  This provision does not apply to passengers in the passenger area of buses, taxis, limousines, or house trailers; and,
   

• Established that a person who operates a vehicle without an ignition interlock system when that person is restricted to those types of vehicles is guilty of a summary offense, punishable by a fine of between $200 and $1,000 and imprisonment for not more than 30 days.  It is also a summary offense to tamper with an ignition interlock system, punishable by a fine of not less than $100.  Further, the Department of Transportation was required to revoke the operating privilege of any person convicted of either of these crimes for one year.
   

Act No. 85 of 2000 amended the Second Class County Code to make a number of changes.  Among other modifications, the bill:

• Authorized county commissioners to create and maintain an operating reserve fund.  Appropriations can be made from the operating reserve fund for only three specific purposes:  (1) to meet health, safety, and welfare emergencies; (2) to counterbalance potential budget deficits from revenue shortfalls, and; (3) to provide anticipated operating expenditures for planned growth or existing projects;
   

• Removed the cap of $4,333.33 per month used in the calculation of average salaries for purposes of computing benefits and for employee and employer contributions to a pension fund.  An employee who retires within five years of the effective date of the compensation cap removal could elect to make a lump sum contribution to the pension system to satisfy the additional contribution requirements and receive a pension based on a higher salary;
   

• Waived advertising and bidding requirements involving a contract or purchase over $10,000 when it is with the federal government; the Commonwealth; another state; local entities of the Commonwealth or any other state; or any agency of the federal government, the Commonwealth, or any state;
   

• Created an additional property tax or rent rebate program for long-time owner-occupants of personal residences who are 60 years of age or older with incomes up to $30,000;
   

• Allowed second class counties to develop their own procedures to administer the homestead property exclusion program.  This provision expired on December 31, 2001;
   

• Created a new article providing for sports and exhibition authorities in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh;
   

• Prohibited a second class county from entering into a contract for certain types of redevelopment assistance capital projects which contain a provision requiring that a specified percentage of a contracting party's work force be residents of a specific municipality; and,
   

• Added a new article to the act creating the Second Class County Jail Oversight Board Act to provide oversight of the county prison. 

Resolutions

Senate Resolution 80 urged the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and establish new wastewater technologies for on-lot systems and small flows.

Senate Resolution 127 directed the Joint State Government Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the issue of highway safety and driver distractions, including communications technology, electronic entertainment, and other non-technological distractions.

Senate – 1997-98

Act No. 37A of 1998 appropriated $153,000 to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown for operating expenses, including maintenance and the purchase of apparatus, supplies, and equipment, during the 1998-99 Fiscal Year.

Resolutions

Senate Resolution 113 urged Congress to enact legislation prohibiting sports agents from influencing college athletes.

Senate Resolution 168 designating the week of April 18 through April 24 as Big Brothers and Big Sisters Week in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 229 honoring the memory of Herbert Barness, a public servant, businessman, a philanthropist and veteran.

House – 1997-98

Act No. 9 of 1997 amended the C.P.A. Law to clarify certain education requirements for CPA candidates and to lower the continuing education hours for license reactivation.  Specifically, the measure permitted individuals to take the CPA examination if they graduate within two years of the effective date of the act with a baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or other post-graduate degree from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education with credits that meet the education requirements in existence prior to January 1, 1996.  The bill also lowered the continuing education requirement from 160 hours to 80 hours for individuals wishing to reactivate a license.  These requirements would have to be completed within the two years preceding the date of application for reinstatement.

Act No. 44 of 1998 amended the Third Class City Code to change the provisions governing school crossing guards and the sale of real estate to certain nonprofit corporations.  Among other modifications, the bill changed the title of special school police to school crossing guard, deleted the requirement that crossing guards wear a badge, and limited the guards' authority to the management of traffic and pedestrians in areas designated by the city police and the school district superintendent.  In addition, the city council was authorized to adopt an ordinance transferring the management responsibilities of the guards to the school board if it adopts a resolution requesting the responsibility.  Under other changes, the bill removed the advertising and bidding requirements for the sale of real estate to nonprofit corporations for community development or reuse.