weekly legislative update

Notes for this week: It's "product placement week" in the state legislature. Two resolutions mentioned specific products, Bayer and Whole Foods, and one discouraged people from buying a specific product.

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

Monday no action
Tuesday no action
Wednesday no action
Thursday no action
Friday no action

Regular Session

Resolutions

Here are some of the resolutions that caught my eye.

SR 263 A Resolution recognizing the week of April 2 through 8, 2006, as "National Library Week 2006" in Pennsylvania.

SR 688 Printer's No. 3833. A Resolution expressing support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund campaign to discourage adults from purchasing or allowing children to access "25 to Life," a video game that displays horrific violence against police officers and innocent bystanders.

SR 675 A Resolution designating the month of April 2006 as "Financial Literacy Month" in Pennsylvania.

SR 625 A Resolution designating April 6, 2006, as "Tartan Day" in Pennsylvania.

SR 670 A Resolution designating the month of April 2006 as "Bayer's Making Science Make Sense Month" in Pennsylvania.

SR 671 A Resolution designating April 19, 2006, as "Whole Foods Market Day" in Pennsylvania.

Bills

House

HB 257 Prior Printer's Nos. 280, 3290. Printer's No. 3872. An Act amending the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, further providing for minimum wage; and providing for preemption.

HB 2499 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's No. 3673. Printer's No. 3850. An Act to provide from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and for the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, for certain institutions and organizations, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006; to provide appropriations from the State Lottery Fund, the Energy Conservation and Assistance Fund, the Hazardous Material Response Fund, The State Stores Fund, the Milk Marketing Fund, the Home Investment Trust Fund, the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, the Tuition Payment Fund, the Banking Department Fund, the Firearm Records Check Fund, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Fund, the Health Care Provider Retention Account and the Community Health Reinvestment Restricted Account to the Executive Department; to provide appropriations from the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account to the Judicial Department for the fiscal year July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007; to provide appropriations from the Motor License Fund for the fiscal year July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, for the proper operation of the several departments of the Commonwealth and the Pennsylvania State Police authorized to spend Motor License Fund moneys; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive Department of the Commonwealth and for the establishment of restricted receipt accounts for the fiscal year July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006; to provide for the additional appropriation of Federal and State funds from the General Fund and the Motor License Fund, for the Executive Department of the Commonwealth 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.

Prior Printer's Nos. 600, 3388. Printer's No. 3825. An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, defining "gift card," "gift certificate" and "qualified gift certificate"; further providing for unclaimed property; and providing for contributions to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from unclaimed property.

HB 632 Prior Printer's No. 705. Printer's No. 3824. An Act amending the act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.1200, No.202), known as the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, further providing for audit of certain financial reports.

HB 755 Prior Printer's No. 846. Printer's No. 3514. An Act amending the act of September 9, 1965 (P.L.497, No.251), known as the Newborn Child Testing Act, further providing for newborn child screening and testing; making an appropriation; and making editorial changes.

Senate

HB 1591 Prior Printer's No. 1997. Printer's No. 3761. 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, extending patient safety standards to certain abortion facilities.

HB 1820 Prior Printer's Nos. 2422, 2675, 3820. Printer's No. 3867. 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 2054 Prior Printer's Nos. 2831, 3033, 3333, 3763, 3821. Printer's No. 3848. An Act amending Titles 26 (Eminent Domain), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, adding provisions relating to eminent domain; and making related repeals.

HB 2215 By Representative HICKERNELL. Printer's No. 3089. An 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, at a price determined through competitive bidding, certain lands situate in Columbia Borough, Lancaster County.

SB 1007 By Senator D. WHITE. Prior Printer's Nos. 1345, 1427. Printer's No. 1650. An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, further providing for fire insurance contracts, standard policy provisions and permissible variations.

SB 1055 By Senator REGOLA. Printer's No. 1444. An Act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, to accept by donation a tract of land and any improvements on the tract, situate in Penn Township, Westmoreland County.

SB 1068 By Senator PICCOLA. Printer's No. 1467. An Act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to Capital Self Storage Associates, LLC, certain lands situate in the City of Harrisburg and Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County.

SB 997 By Senators ERICKSON, ORIE, RAFFERTY, M. WHITE, PILEGGI, KITCHEN, D. WHITE, VANCE, EARLL, WONDERLING, REGOLA and ROBBINS. Prior Printer's No. 1337. Printer's No. 1629. An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care.