legislative update / week of 7/04

This is a list of bills that passed the PA House and/or Senate the week of July 4th. Please note that the legislature was doing business both Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th. Not that that justifies some gigantic pay raise in my view, but still, it is evidence that many of our elected representatives are working hard. Of course, if they had managed to get themselves organized and together BEFORE the last minute they could have been home walking or riding in parades and what not, but I digress.

Standard caveats apply here. Only bills and not resolutions included. List of sponsors deleted if it runs over 2 lines (sometimes it looks like half the legislative body co-sponsored a bill).

HOUSE

HB 1690 Prior Printer's No. 2152. Printer's No. 2305. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.

SB 126 By Senators WENGER, ARMSTRONG and BRIGHTBILL. Printer's No. 109. An Act designating a certain bridge carrying State Route 322 over Conestoga River in Earl Township, Lancaster County as the Representative Leroy M. Zimmerman Memorial Bridge.

SB 141 By Senators ERICKSON, THOMPSON and PILEGGI. Printer's No. 128. An Act designating a bridge in Westtown Township, Chester County, the L. Charles Scipione Bridge.

SB 565 Prior Printer's Nos. 673, 923. Printer's No. 1038. An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, further providing for qualifications, eligibility and compensation for district attorneys; and making repeals.

SB 677 Printer's No. 815. An Act designating a portion of State Route 322 in Delaware County as the Senator Clarence D. Bell Memorial Highway.

SB 361 Prior Printer's Nos. 366, 1049. Printer's No. 1066. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, further providing for home education programs, for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for cyber charter school enrollment and notification.

SB 608 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 640. An Act making an appropriation from the State Employees' Retirement Fund to provide for expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 609 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 641. An Act making an appropriation from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 610 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 642. An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in support of the professional licensure boards assigned thereto.

SB 611 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 643. An Act making appropriations from the Workmen's Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development to provide for the expenses of administering the Workers' Compensation Act, The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act and the Office of Small Business Advocate for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 612 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 644. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund and from Federal augmentation funds to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

SB 613 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 645. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General.

SB 614 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 646. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

SB 147 Printer's No. 132. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for technical assistance and information provided by department.

SB 706 By Senator M. WHITE. Prior Printer's Nos. 850, 928. Printer's No. 1013. An Act designating the Main Street Bridge in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the General Richard Butler Bridge.

SENATE

SB 196 Prior Printer's Nos. 185, 409. Printer's No. 1040. An Act providing immunity for physician reporting of suspected use of controlled substance for illicit purpose.

SB 669 Prior Printer's No. 780. Printer's No. 808. An Act amending Titles 2 (Administrative Law and Procedure) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for court and administrative proceeding interpreters; and repealing related provisions.

SB 712 Prior Printer's Nos. 859, 898. Printer's No. 1055. An Act providing for the notification of residents whose personal information data was or may have been disclosed due to a security system breach; and imposing penalties.

HB 612 Prior Printer's No. 685. Printer's No. 2100. An Act amending the act of March 1, 1988 (P.L.82, No.16), known as the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act, further providing for definitions.

HB 1646 Prior Printer's Nos. 2075, 2303. Printer's No. 2433. An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a prohibition against unauthorized local government unit actions; establishing a cause of action for unauthorized enactment or enforcement of local ordinances governing normal agricultural operations; providing for duties of the Attorney General and for hearings; consolidating the Nutrient Management Act; further providing for scope, for legislative purpose, for definitions and for administration; providing for manure application; further providing for nutrient management and odor management certification; providing for odor management plans; further providing for the Nutrient Management Advisory Board, for financial assistance, for unlawful conduct, for civil penalties and for local preemption; providing for other statutes and for regulations; and making a related repeal.

HB 1650 Prior Printer's No. 2061. Printer's No. 2489. An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for resident, nonresident and tourist fishing licenses.

HB 86 Prior Printer's No. 80. Printer's No. 1945. An Act authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on behalf of the Commonwealth to agree to hold and save the United States Army Corps of Engineers free from certain damages arising from certain construction projects.

HB Prior Printer's Nos. 528, 2063, 2112, 2272, 2431. Printer's No. 2522. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further defining "emergency vehicle"; further providing for application for certificate of title, for transfer of ownership of vehicle and for application for certificate of title by agent; providing for certain veterans plates; further providing for suspension of registration of unapproved carriers and for surrender of registration plates and cards upon suspension of revocation; providing for suspension of registration plates upon sixth unpaid parking violation in cities of the first class and for motor vehicle liability insurance for motorcycle marshals; and further providing for reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle registration, for automated red light enforcement systems in first class cities, for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection, for conditions of permits and security for damages, for permit for movement of containerized cargo, for impoundment of certain vehicles and combinations for nonpayment of fines, for immobilization, towing and storage of vehicle for driving without operating privilege or registration, for disposition of impounded vehicles, combinations and loads, for prohibitions on ATV operation by persons under age 16 and for refunds of tax imposed upon liquid fuels or certain other fuels.

HB 1168 Prior Printer's Nos. 1374, 1873, 2432. Printer's No. 2560. An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, providing for use of medical expenses to establish medical assistance eligibility, for lifetime limit on unpaid medical expenses, for penalty period for asset transfer, for treatment of life estates and annuities, for community spouse income, for eligibility for home and community-based services, for verification of eligibility and for eligibility redetermination of persons for medical assistance; further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care, for other medical assistance payments, for reimbursement for certain items and services and for relatives' responsibility; providing for medical assistance benefit packages, for coverage, copayments, premiums and rates, for definitions of limited applicability, for rebates, for pharmacy management systems, for enrollment limitation and for established drug regimens; further providing for other computations affecting counties, for special provider participation requirements and for third-party liability; and providing for data matching, for special needs trusts, for a health insurance premium payment program and for parity in insurance coverage for State-owned psychiatric hospitals.

SB 726 By Senators PIPPY and ORIE. Printer's No. 941. An Act amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, further providing for assessment limits on counties of the second class; and providing for effect of appeal, escrow and payment under protest.

HB 3 Prior Printer's Nos. 220, 622. Printer's No. 2571. An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions, for allocation of Environmental Stewardship Fund and for administrative expenses; deleting provisions relating to environmental infrastructure grants; providing for fee deposits; authorizing indebtedness for environmental initiatives; authorizing sale of bonds, temporary financing and debt retirement; further providing for disposal fee for municipal waste landfills and deposit of disposal fee; deleting certain sunset provisions; and making a repeal relating to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

HB 107 Prior Printer's Nos. 99, 1493, 1922, 2490. Printer's No. 2567. An Act authorizing the establishment and maintenance of health savings accounts; providing for special tax provisions; and imposing restrictions on health savings accounts.

HB 139 Printer's No. 1313. An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, codifying the Optional County Affordable Housing Funds Act; and making a related repeal.

HB 823 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's Nos. 856, 2389. Printer's No. 2569. An Act providing for the capital budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006, itemizing public highway projects to be constructed or acquired by the Department of Transportation, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed or acquired by the Department of Transportation; stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.

HB 1802 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's Nos. 2340, 2401, 2452. Printer's No. 2566. An Act amending the act of February 9, 1999 (P.L.1, No.1), known as the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act, further defining "redevelopment assistance capital project"; further providing for procedures for capital budget bill and debt-authorizing legislation and for appropriation for and limitation on redevelopment assistance capital projects; and providing for quarterly reports related to redevelopment assistance capital projects and for the refunding of debt issued under previous authorized acts.

SB 63 Prior Printer's No. 187. Printer's No. 271. An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for, in child protective services, investigation of reports and for county agency requirements for general protective services.

HB 851 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's No. 884. Printer's No. 2547. An Act making an appropriation to the Everhart Museum in Scranton for operating expenses.

HB 852 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's No. 885. Printer's No. 2548. An Act making an appropriation to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for operating expenses.