weekly legislative update

A few things to take a look at in this week's update:

Check out the resolutions. There are some good ones, although I've no idea what a chief cornplanter is. Also look at HB2134 which limits the use of social security numbers. SB929 deals with the wording of musical performance ads. HB1361 is a little alarming and I'll have to look into it more carefully. It calls for the expiration of community Services Block Grants. I fear these may be the DCED "walking around money" grants that legislator's get for projects in their area. They are usually small, around $10,000, which can be a huge amount for a small community project, streetscapes, art projects, park beautifications, etc.


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.Other weekly updates:

PA Senate GOP

PA Senate Democrats

Special Session

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 4 bills referred to finance committee (House); 2 bills referred to legislation (Senate)

Tuesday 0 bills referred to finance committee (House)

Wednesday 2 bills referred to finance committee (House); HB001 was re-referred to finance, amended, and re-reported as committed to rules

Thursday 0 bills referred to committee

Friday 1 bill referred to the finance committee (House)

Regular Session

Resolutions

HR498 A Resolution recognizing the week of November 13 through 19, 2005, as "Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

HR497 A Resolution proclaiming November 14 through 18, 2005, as "American Education Week" in Pennsylvania.

HR493 A Resolution commemorating Chief Cornplanter and his contributions to Warren County and Pennsylvania.

HR368 A Resolution urging the United States Army Corps of Engineers to study the effects of the 2004 wet weather events in the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed, Berks and Lehigh Counties, Pennsylvania, to reevaluate the existing flood control projects in the area and make recommendations on future flood control measures.

A Resolution designating the week of October 29 through November 4, 2005, as "Missing Persons Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

There was 1 resolution honoring fallen soldiers.

Bills

HB 2082 By Representatives ALLEN, DALLY, SAYLOR, PETRARCA, ZUG, TRUE, FEESE and ARGALL. Prior Printer's Nos. 2872, 2886. Printer's No. 3037. An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, establishing appropriations limitations; and providing for the disposition of surplus funds.

HB 2137 Prior Printer's No. 2941. Printer's No. 3032. An Act amending the act of September 30, 1985 (P.L.240, No.61), known as the Turnpike Organization, Extension and Toll Road Conversion Act, further providing for collection and disposition of tolls.

HB 2134 By Representative FAIRCHILD. Prior Printer's No. 2938. Printer's No. 3030. An Act limiting the collection of Social Security numbers on State and local government forms; prohibiting health insurers from using Social Security numbers; and further providing for duties of the Department of Transportation.

HB 2054 Prior Printer's No. 2831. Printer's No. 3033. An Act amending Title 26 (Eminent Domain) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for limitations on the use of eminent domain; and making a related repeal.

HB 2019 Prior Printer's Nos. 2780, 2946. Printer's No. 3029. An Act amending Title 26 (Eminent Domain) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for abandonment of project after condemnation; and making a repeal related to abandonment of project after condemnation.

HB 1906 By Representatives STETLER, BELFANTI, ALTAGIRONE, COHEN, FRANKEL, KOTIK, MACKERETH, MANN, MARKOSEK, NICKOL, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, SHANER, SHAPIRO, SOLOBAY, STABACK and YOUNGBLOOD. Prior Printer's No. 2611. Printer's No. 3035.An Act amending Titles 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) and 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, defining "official notice"; requiring the Department of State to establish a certain Internet website; further providing for advertisements by domestic business corporations, by foreign business corporations, domestic nonprofit corporations, foreign nonprofit corporations and domestic cooperative corporation ancillaries and for fictitious name registration; and making an editorial change.

HB 1413 By Representatives CALTAGIRONE, BASTIAN, CASORIO, GABIG, GEORGE, GRUITZA, JAMES, KOTIK, MELIO, S. MILLER, PRESTON, READSHAW, SOLOBAY, STERN, YOUNGBLOOD and ARMSTRONG. Printer's No. 1701. An Act authorizing State investment tax credits for qualified animal waste recycling facilities; further authorizing limited sales and use tax exemption; and establishing the Animal Waste Recycling Fund.

HB 280 By Representatives HALUSKA, THOMAS, ARGALL, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HERSHEY, W. KELLER, McGEEHAN, PALLONE, PISTELLA, PRESTON, REED, SCAVELLO, SOLOBAY, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI and YOUNGBLOOD. Prior Printer's Nos. 303, 2454. Printer's No. 3031. 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 the sale of unused and unnecessary lands and buildings, for home education program and for consideration by General Assembly of State System of Higher Education requests to dispose of real property.

HB 105 Prior Printer's No. 97. Printer's No. 3028. An Act amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the definition of "school district"; further providing for the definition of "State-affiliated entity"; and providing for cooperative purchase of fire, rescue and ambulance company supplies.

HB 893 Prior Printer's No. 1016. Printer's No. 2994. An Act amending the act of April 14, 1949 (P.L.482, No.98), entitled, as amended, "An act authorizing and requiring cities, boroughs, townships, municipal authorities and public utility companies engaged in the supplying of water, to shut off the supply of water for nonpayment of sewer, sewerage, or sewage treatment rentals, rates, or charges imposed by municipal authorities organized by counties of the second class, by cities of the second class, by cities of the second class A, by cities of the third class, by boroughs or by townships of the first or second class; authorizing and requiring them to supply to such authorities lists of metered water readings and flat- rate water bills and other data; authorizing them to act as billing and collecting agents for such authorities; and conferring certain powers upon the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in connection therewith," further providing for shutting off water if sewer charge not paid, for notice and for statement of defense; and requiring certain procedures to be followed in residential buildings.

HB 750 By Representatives SCAVELLO, BOYD, CAPPELLI, CREIGHTON, FAIRCHILD, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, LEACH, PALLONE, PAYNE, REICHLEY, SATHER, SCHRODER, THOMAS, TIGUE, YOUNGBLOOD and HARPER. Printer's No. 841. An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for compulsory arbitration.

Senate

SB 940 By Senators WAUGH, WENGER, BRIGHTBILL, ERICKSON, FONTANA, ROBBINS, LEMMOND, PUNT, O'PAKE, ORIE, WOZNIAK, RAFFERTY, KASUNIC, MUSTO, RHOADES, ARMSTRONG, BOSCOLA and PILEGGI. Prior Printer's No. 1230. Printer's No. 1303. An Act amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), known as the Agricultural Area Security Law, further providing for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund; providing for the Land Trust Reimbursement Program, for proceeds from sales by the Department of Agriculture and for grants for agricultural land conservation assistance; and making a related repeal.

SB 929 By Senators ROBBINS, M. WHITE, BOSCOLA, ERICKSON, WOZNIAK, LEMMOND, PILEGGI, COSTA, RAFFERTY, D. WHITE, KITCHEN, WASHINGTON, FONTANA and MUSTO. Printer's No. 1218. An Act prohibiting the advertising and conducting of certain live musical performances or productions; providing for enforcement; and imposing a penalty.

SB 925 Printer's No. 1216. An Act amending the act of December 18, 1980 (P.L.1241, No.224), known as the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Act, further providing for sunset provisions.

SB 862 Prior Printer's Nos. 1105, 1241, 1302. Printer's No. 1319. An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions and for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board; providing for applicability of other statutes; further providing for powers and duties of board; providing for code of conduct; further providing for licensed entity application appeals from board, for license or permit application hearing process, for board minutes and records, for collection of fees and fines, for order of initial license issuance, for slot machine license application and for slot machine license application business entity requirements; providing for licensing of principals, for licensing of key employees, for recusal and disqualification of members, for alternate members, for initial applications and for code of conduct; and further providing for occupation permit application, for gross terminal revenue deductions, for transfers from the State Gaming Fund, for public official financial interests, for political influence and for enforcement.

SB 384 Prior Printer's Nos. 386, 1244, 1285. Printer's No. 1320. An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions and for administrative duties of board.

HB 1743 By Representatives MUSTIO, TURZAI, T. STEVENSON, DeLUCA, FRANKEL, MARKOSEK, PETRONE, WALKO, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, DENLINGER, FAIRCHILD, GODSHALL, HERSHEY, LEH, REED, ROHRER, TIGUE and YOUNGBLOOD. Prior Printer's Nos. 2230, 2741. Printer's No. 2944. 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 1606 Prior Printer's Nos. 2149, 2409. Printer's No. 2949. An Act establishing a program for breast and cervical cancer screening services for certain eligible women; and providing for the powers and duties of the Department of Health.

HB 1539 By Representatives NICKOL, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, GEIST, GILLESPIE, HARRIS, JAMES, STERN, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, McILHATTAN and DALLY. Prior Printer's Nos. 1896, 2408, 3052, 3058. Printer's No. 3059. An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for public official compensation; further providing for reports to the Secretary of Revenue; establishing and providing for appropriation to the Emergency Energy Assistance Fund; and making a repeal related to public official compensation.

HB 1361 Printer's No. 1636. An Act amending the act of May 16, 2002 (P.L.315, No.46), known as the Community Services Block Grant Act, further providing for the expiration of the act.

HB 515 Prior Printer's Nos. 564, 1457, 1911, 1950. Printer's No. 3036. 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 sales and use tax, for the definition of "manufacture"; and further providing, in personal income tax, for imposition and, in corporate net income, for definitions and imposition.

SB 759 By Senators ARMSTRONG, MUSTO, M. WHITE, O'PAKE, LEMMOND, STACK, PIPPY and THOMPSON.Prior Printer's No. 918. Printer's No. 1266.An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for decree of court.

SB 595 By Senators WAUGH, BOSCOLA, THOMPSON, KITCHEN, TOMLINSON, COSTA, ORIE, O'PAKE, C. WILLIAMS, BRIGHTBILL, LEMMOND, RHOADES and BROWNE. Prior Printer's No. 615. Printer's No. 1265. An Act amending Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for qualifications of directors.

SB 583 By Senators BOSCOLA, GREENLEAF, EARLL, LAVALLE, KASUNIC, MUSTO, TOMLINSON, ERICKSON, KITCHEN, WAUGH, TARTAGLIONE, RAFFERTY and PILEGGI. Printer's No. 607. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for arson and related offenses.

HB 1579 Prior Printer's Nos. 1980, 2370, 2737, 2952. Printer's No. 2997. An Act providing for certain responsibilities of county and private agencies regarding resource families.

HB 127 Prior Printer's Nos. 130, 2212, 2951. Printer's No. 2996. An Act providing for certain rights of resource parents; and further providing for duties of county agencies and private agencies.

SB 869 Prior Printer's Nos. 1111, 1262. Printer's No. 1269. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for extension of health insurance benefits for certain military personnel who were full-time students at time of deployment.

SB 665 By Senators PILEGGI, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, EARLL, COSTA, M. WHITE, O'PAKE, THOMPSON and WOZNIAK. Prior Printer's Nos. 793, 1238. Printer's No. 1260. An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the grant of letters of administration and for the administration of estates.

SB 235 By Senators VANCE, M. WHITE, COSTA, EARLL, KITCHEN, MADIGAN, O'PAKE, PILEGGI, PUNT, REGOLA, WAUGH, WOZNIAK and C. WILLIAMS. Prior Printer's Nos. 235, 1149. Printer's No. 1261. An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, providing for continuing nursing education.