weekly legislative update

Sorry this is late. When I tried to compile it over the weekend the legislative web server wasn't responding.

As I mentioned in the previous posting, the governor called a special legislative session to look into property tax reform. Information from that session is included here as well. Standard caveats apply (resolutions not generally included, list of sponsors deleted if it was too long – three lines in the originally formatting).

Our accountants friends at PICPA have updated their legislative page as well.

These bills were introduced, or referred to a committee, not voted on. The descriptions tended to be pretty much the same, with only a few variations.

Monday 2 bills referred to finance committee; 5 to appropriations (House)
Tuesday 1 bills referred to finance committee (House)
Wednesday 5 bills referred to finance committee (House)
Thursday 2 bills referred to legislation committee (Senate)

Regular Session

Resolutions

Last week I commented on a resolution to inventory and catalog historic barns in PA. It has now passed both houses.

While most Something Day/Week/Month resolutions are passed a few days prior to the named day/week/month, but both houses passed a resolution naming February 2006 as Economic Literacy Month. A noble effort.

There were 6 resolutions honoring fallen soldiers.

Bills

House

HB 1967 By Representative McILHINNEY. Prior Printer's No. 2700. Printer's No. 2885. An Act amending the act of November 20, 2004 (P.L.886, No.121), entitled "An act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and to Robert L. and Karen N. Doutt, Leona B. Disbrow, Louise F. Waller, Mary Schabacker, Paul D. and Mary Ann Brugger, and Ralph and Janet Toland, Sr., certain lands situate in the City of Erie, County of Erie; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Derry Township Municipal Authority a certain easement for sanitary sewer purposes, together with an existing sanitary sewer line and appurtenances, situate in Derry Township, Dauphin County; authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Summerdale Associates, L.P., certain lands situate in the Township of East Pennsboro, County of Cumberland; and 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.

HB 1955 By Representative PYLE. Printer's No. 2669. An Act designating the bridge carrying State Route 66 over Garrett's Run and the J. Franklin Graff Bridge in Manor Township, Armstrong County, as the 1/112th Infantry Alpha Company Bridge.

Senate

SB 854 Prior Printer's No. 1101. Printer's No. 1231. An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, further providing, in personal income tax, for medical and health savings accounts; and repealing provisions relating to taxation of medical and health savings accounts.

HB 1179 Prior Printer's Nos. 1385, 1870, 2298, 2365, 2855. Printer's No. 2953. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Military Family Relief Assistance Program and the Military Family Relief Assistance Fund.

HB 1717 Prior Printer's Nos. 2174, 2572. Printer's No. 2918. An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for firearms not to be carried without licenses, for licenses, for loans, lending or giving of firearms, for definitions, for jurisdiction, for full faith and credit and foreign protection orders, for responsibilities of law enforcement agencies, for commencement of proceedings, for hearings and for relief; providing for return of relinquished firearms, other weapons and ammunition, for relinquishment for consignment sale or lawful transfer, for relinquishment to third party for safekeeping and for registry or database of firearm ownership; further providing for emergency relief by minor judiciary, for arrest for violation of order, for private criminal complaints for violation of order or agreement, for contempt for violation of order or agreement and for procedures and other remedies; and providing for immunity, for inability to pay and for limitation on warrantless searches.

SB 932 By Senator CONTI. Prior Printer's No. 1220. Printer's No. 1270. An Act amending the act of November 20, 2004 (P.L.886, No.121), entitled "An act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and to Robert L. and Karen N. Doutt, Leona B. Disbrow, Louise F. Waller, Mary Schabacker, Paul D. and Mary Ann Brugger, and Ralph and Janet Toland, Sr., certain lands situate in the City of Erie, County of Erie; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Derry Township Municipal Authority a certain easement for sanitary sewer purposes, together with an existing sanitary sewer line and appurtenances, situate in Derry Township, Dauphin County; authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Summerdale Associates, L.P., certain lands situate in the Township of East Pennsboro, County of Cumberland; and 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.

HB 746 Prior Printer's Nos. 837, 1913. Printer's No. 2136. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure.

SB 4 Prior Printer's No. 842. Printer's No. 1263. An Act establishing spending limitations on the Commonwealth; providing for the disposition of surplus funds; and making a repeal.

SB 193 By Senators RAFFERTY, WONDERLING, D. WHITE, TOMLINSON, COSTA, ROBBINS, O'PAKE, PILEGGI, WOZNIAK, PICCOLA, EARLL, KASUNIC, THOMPSON, LOGAN, BOSCOLA, STACK, WAUGH, ORIE, WENGER and C. WILLIAMS. Prior Printer's No. 182. Printer's No. 1271. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for the meeting of election officers on election day.

SB 693 By Senators PILEGGI, LEMMOND, ERICKSON, EARLL, RAFFERTY, FERLO, C. WILLIAMS, D. WHITE and BOSCOLA. Printer's No. 830. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for affidavit of circulator.

SB 875 By Senators RAFFERTY, ORIE, ERICKSON, CORMAN, M. WHITE, WENGER, EARLL, PICCOLA, LEMMOND, WONDERLING, RHOADES, REGOLA, ROBBINS, JUBELIRER and BRIGHTBILL. Prior Printer's No. 1130. Printer's No. 1284. An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the prohibition of emergency procurement.

SB 884 Prior Printer's No. 1169. Printer's No. 1264. A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for spending limitations on the State and for disposition of surplus funds.