weekly legislative update

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, and have a lot to say about property tax reform.

Other weekly updates are available for this week:

PA House Democrats
PA House GOP daily updates
PA Senate Democrats
PA Senate Republicans

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 3 bills reported as committed (HB 14, 15, 16, 17)
Tuesday HB 69 and 70 referred to finance committee
Wednesday HB 1, 3, 29, 35, 68 shuffled around; SB 39 committed
Thursday HB 71 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, referred to finance
Friday HB 1 third consideration and final passage

Regular Session



Resolutions

Here are some of the resolutions that caught my eye. I’m a big proponent of financial aid for college students and am intrigued by maglev in PA.

Serial No. 537 By Representative FEESE. Printer's No. 3301. A resolution establishing a select committee to investigate alleged illegal rebating practices relating to the sale of cigarettes in this Commonwealth, to analyze the current system of enforcement of laws relating to such illegal activities and to make recommendations for the orderly and legal enforcement of laws relating to this practice.

Serial No. 538 Printer's No. 3302. A Resolution directing the Transportation Committee to conduct an investigation of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

Serial No. 539 Printer's No. 3309. A Resolution directing the Department of Environmental Protection to place a moratorium on all actions required of affected entities relating to implementation of the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy for a period of nine months from the date the adoption of this resolution.

Serial No. 541 Printer's No. 3330. A Resolution designating the month of January 2006 as "Financial Aid Awareness Month" and commending the work of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Serial No. 211 By Senators LOGAN, MADIGAN, COSTA, PIPPY, ORIE, M. WHITE and KASUNIC. Printer's No. 1426. A Resolution declaring support for a high-speed maglev industry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Bills

There are a lot of veterans bills this week and bills relating to license plates. One bill that seems out of place is HB1686, which relates to paintball.

House

HB 472 Prior Printer's No. 511. Printer's No. 3293. An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for a tax credit for donation of used computers; further defining "taxable income" relating to the corporate net income tax; and establishing a tax credit for telecommunication carriers that offer telecommunication services to Pennsylvania National Guard members ordered to active Federal or State service.

HB 487 Printer's No. 526. An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for lawyer referral service civil immunity.

HB 544 Prior Printer's Nos. 592, 2957. Printer's No. 3292. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for the functions of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, for the functions of county boards of elections, for the functions of district election boards, for qualifications of electors at primaries, for the place and time of filing nomination papers, for objections to nomination petitions; providing for list of all nominated candidates to the public; further providing for requirements of electronic voting systems, for instruction cards and supplies, for official absentee ballot applications, for approval of absentee ballot applications, for absentee elector files, for delivering ballots, for absentee voting, for canvassing official absentee ballots, for public records, for computation of returns and for reporting; and providing for misleading mailings and for unlawful interference with voter registration.

HB 731 Prior Printer's No. 822. Printer's No. 3054. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a special registration plate for veterans and members of United States military airborne units and for military airborne parachutist and glider units.

HB 1085 Prior Printer's No. 1243. Printer's No. 3051. An Act amending the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the Higher Education Scholarship Law, further providing for students eligible for State scholarship.

HB 1820 Prior Printer's No. 2422. Printer's No. 2675. An Act providing compensation to persons in active service in connection with the Persian Gulf Conflict or their beneficiaries; authorizing the incurring of indebtedness and the issue and sale of bonds by the Commonwealth for the payment of compensation contingent upon electorate approval; creating a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans' Compensation Bond Fund; imposing powers and duties on the Department of General Services; making appropriations; and making a related repeal.

HB 2139 By Representatives MAHER, GEIST, BALDWIN, J. EVANS, GOOD, HESS, PETRARCA, ROBERTS, WATSON, WILT and WRIGHT. Printer's No. 2943. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.

HB 2205 By Representative B. SMITH. Printer's No. 3080. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for record of license sales.

SB 358 Prior Printer's No. 420. Printer's No. 1141. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, defining "combat zone;" and further providing for limitations in educational assistance program.

HB 1485 Printer's No. 1803. An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, further providing for flags on grave markers of certain deceased service persons.

HB 1486 Prior Printer's No. 1804. Printer's No. 3231. An Act amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, further providing for markers on graves and for flags to decorate graves.

HB 1487 Prior Printer's No. 1805. Printer's No. 3232. An Act amending the act of June 11, 1935 (P.L.326, No.149), entitled "An act relating to counties of the first class; defining deceased service persons; providing for contributions by the county to the funeral expenses for such persons and their widows; providing for the erection and care of markers, headstones, and flags, and for the compilation of war records," further providing for flags, markers and headstones.

HB 1552 Prior Printer's No. 1909. Printer's No. 2273. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a special license plate for recipients of the Silver Star and Bronze Star.

HB 1604 Prior Printer's No. 2007. Printer's No. 3303. An Act providing for a Statewide adult day resource and referral system; establishing a central adult day services database; and imposing additional responsibilities upon the Department of Aging.

HB 1621 Prior Printer's No. 2056. Printer's No. 3304. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the duty of the State Veterans' Commission.

HB 1879 Prior Printer's No. 2554. Printer's No. 3056. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for special license plates for recipients of medals for military service and for exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.

HB 2001 Prior Printer's Nos. 2771, 3234. Printer's No. 3310. An Act prohibiting price gouging; providing for preemption of municipal laws and ordinances; and imposing penalties.

HB 2145 Printer's No. 2968. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the pay of officers and enlisted personnel in active State service.

HB 2157 Printer's No. 2980. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for certain duty for emergencies.

HB 2282 Printer's No. 3194. 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 classes of income.

SB 869 Prior Printer's Nos. 1111, 1262, 1269. Printer's No. 1406. 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.

HB 1311 Prior Printer's No. 1559. Printer's No. 3324. An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties.

HB 1327 Printer's No. 1575. An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for liquefied ammonia gas, precursors and chemicals.

HB 1617 Prior Printer's Nos. 2052, 2992. Printer's No. 3326. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for child abuse education training; and further providing for approved reimbursable charges for certain school building construction projects.

HB 2202 By Representatives REICHLEY, ALLEN, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, BEYER, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, E. Z. TAYLOR, J. TAYLOR and SIPTROTH. Printer's No. 3070. An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, providing for home infusion therapy to be available to all eligible recipients and adding a definition of "home infusion therapy."

HB 2223 Prior Printer's Nos. 3097, 3235. Printer's No. 3323. An Act amending the act of December 10, 1974 (P.L.852, No.287), referred to as the Underground Utility Line Protection Law, further providing for the title of the act, for definitions, for duties of facility owners and for the duties of the One Call System; providing for liability, fees and governance of the One Call System; further providing for applicability; providing for the duties of project owners and for rights of the Auditor General; further providing for the governing board of the One Call System, for fines and penalties and for applicability to certain pipeline systems and facilities; providing for a voluntary dispute resolution process, for best efforts and for removal or tampering with a marking; further providing for expiration; and repealing provisions of the act of June 19, 2002 (P.L.421, No.61), known as the Propane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act, concerning the prohibition of certain liquefied petroleum gas facilities or distributors from being subject to the Underground Utility Line Protection Law.

HB 2296 Prior Printer's No. 3210. Printer's No. 3312. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for tuition credit for children and spouses of deceased soldiers and for retention of licenses of persons entering military service.

HB 2317 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's Nos. 3280, 3294. Printer's No. 3325. An Act providing for the capital budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance projects, redevelopment assistance capital projects, flood control projects, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund projects, Environmental Stewardship Fund projects and Motor License Fund projects to be constructed or acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection and 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, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services; stating the estimated useful life of the projects; providing an exemption; and making appropriations.

SB 618 By Senators WAUGH, WENGER, SCARNATI, M. WHITE, WONDERLING, RAFFERTY, STOUT, CORMAN, LEMMOND, D. WHITE, KITCHEN, PUNT, GORDNER, THOMPSON, TOMLINSON, ROBBINS, ARMSTRONG and PICCOLA. Prior Printer's No. 682. Printer's No. 1359. An Act providing for immunity for equine owners, possessors or handlers.

SB 895 By Senators TOMLINSON, CONTI, RAFFERTY, TARTAGLIONE, GREENLEAF, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, THOMPSON, M. WHITE, BOSCOLA, LOGAN, COSTA, PUNT, WENGER, WAUGH, C. WILLIAMS, WONDERLING and STACK. Prior Printer's Nos. 1176, 1372, 1377, 1403. Printer's No. 1417. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for police animals.

SB 1034 By Senators ORIE, THOMPSON, ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, RHOADES, WAUGH, O'PAKE and FUMO. Printer's No. 1398. An Act amending the act of July 7, 2005 (P.L. , No.1A), increasing the State appropriation for payment of law enforcement officers' and emergency response personnel death benefits.

HB 1618 Prior Printer's Nos. 2053, 3306. Printer's No. 3334. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for participation in graduation ceremony.

HB 2090 Printer's No. 2880. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for powers of director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

SB 394 By Senators CORMAN, PUNT, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, RHOADES, BOSCOLA, KITCHEN, LOGAN, O'PAKE, TARTAGLIONE, GREENLEAF, WONDERLING and LEMMOND. Prior Printer's No. 401. Printer's No. 1400. An Act amending the act of May 29, 1956 (1955 P.L.1804, No.600), referred to as the Municipal Police Pension Law, further providing for payments under existing pension plans for service increments to pensions of police officers.

SB 736 By Senators ROBBINS, BOSCOLA, CORMAN, EARLL, LEMMOND, ORIE, WENGER, D. WHITE, M. WHITE and WOZNIAK. Prior Printer's Nos. 889, 1307. Printer's No. 1411. An Act amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, further providing for definitions and for regulations; and providing for applicability on certain uncertified buildings.

Senate

SB 811 By Senators THOMPSON, ROBBINS, STOUT and WOZNIAK. Prior Printer's No. 1022. Printer's No. 1234. An Act amending the act of August 31, 1971 (P.L.398, No.96), known as the County Pension Law, further providing for transfers between certain classes and for additional class options.

HB 163 Prior Printer's Nos. 163, 1968, 3118, 3260. Printer's No. 3311. An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, further providing for compensation rates.

HB 603 By Representatives B. SMITH, STABACK and SURRA. Printer's No. 676. An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further defining "enforcement officer" to include certain Pennsylvania Game Commission employees.

HB 1686 Prior Printer's Nos. 2131, 2456, 3116. Printer's No. 3174. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offenses of paintball guns and paintball markers, criminal mischief and sale and use of air rifles.

HB 1690 Prior Printer's Nos. 2152, 2305, 3025. Printer's No. 3218. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for unlawful devices and methods and for license requirements.

SB 358 Prior Printer's No. 420. Printer's No. 1141. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, defining "combat zone;" and further providing for limitations in educational assistance program.

SB 656 By Senators GORDNER, PILEGGI, COSTA, WAUGH, BOSCOLA, ROBBINS, WOZNIAK, ERICKSON, C. WILLIAMS, PIPPY, PUNT, D. WHITE, M. WHITE and LEMMOND. Prior Printer's Nos. 755, 1147. Printer's No. 1405. An Act providing for dispute resolution procedures relating to residential construction defects between contractors and homeowners or members of associations.

SB 770 By Senators C. WILLIAMS, WONDERLING, FUMO, WOZNIAK, O'PAKE, BOSCOLA, LOGAN and FERLO. Prior Printer's Nos. 949, 1408. Printer's No. 1416. An Act amending the act of December 16, 1999 (P.L.971, No.69), known as the Electronic Transactions Act, providing for the definition of "United States Postal Service Electronic Postmark" and for electronic postmark.

HB 1318 Prior Printer's Nos. 1566, 1967, 2366, 3022, 3307. Printer's No. 3328. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, providing for requirements relating to voter identification; further providing for powers and duties of county boards, for polling places selected by county boards, for public buildings to be used where possible and portable polling places and for prohibiting polling places in buildings where malt or brewed beverages or liquors are sold; providing for polling places in other buildings; and further providing for nominations by political bodies, for affidavits of candidates, for opening of polls, posting cards of instruction and notices of penalties and voters' rights and examination of voting machines, for voting procedures, for manner of applying to vote, for date of application for absentee ballots, for canvassing of official absentee ballots and for violation of provisions relating to absentee voting.

HB 2041 Prior Printer's Nos. 2818, 3027, 3156, 3284. Printer's No. 3327. An Act amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, further providing for the Patient Safety Authority; reestablishing the Health Care Provider Retention Program and the Health Care Provider Retention Account; establishing the Commission on the Mcare Fund; and repealing provisions relating to the Health Care Provider Retention Program and the Health Care Provider Retention Account in the Public Welfare Code.

SB 398 By Senators COSTA, PIPPY, LOGAN, MELLOW, MUSTO, LAVALLE, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, WOZNIAK, ORIE, STACK, O'PAKE, PUNT, GREENLEAF, C. WILLIAMS, KASUNIC, BOSCOLA, RHOADES, KITCHEN, FONTANA and CORMAN. Prior Printer's No. 427. Printer's No. 1404. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for life insurance.

SB 437 By Senators ORIE, WOZNIAK, STACK, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN, LAVALLE, COSTA, KASUNIC, TARTAGLIONE, MUSTO, GREENLEAF, LOGAN and BOSCOLA. Prior Printer's No. 460. Printer's No. 1306. An Act amending the act of June 28, 1935 (P.L.477, No.193), referred to as the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law, extending benefits to corrections employees; and making an editorial change.

HB 477 Prior Printer's No. 516. Printer's No. 1076. An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing a civil action to recover damages caused by terrorism.

HB 894 Prior Printer's Nos. 1017, 1455, 1912, 1963. Printer's No. 2133. 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 program of continuing professional development.

HB 1826 By Representatives T. STEVENSON, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, GINGRICH, GRELL, HERMAN, KILLION, MUSTIO, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PYLE, RUBLEY, SAYLOR, THOMAS and SHAPIRO. Printer's No. 2440. An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for escrow of deposits or posting of surety bond or letter of credit.