weekly legislative update

This is a list of bills that passed the Pennsylvania House or Senate this week, and mention of any noteworthy resolutions. 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.

Other weekly updates are available for this week:

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

The Philadelphia Inquirer is now posting more information on state legislative matters. This link is to “Penna. legislators stall on slots and other bills,” (10/19/06)


Resolutions

Hr890 Printer's No. 4769. A Resolution designating the month of October 2006 as "Ethics Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bills

House

HB412 Prior Printer's No. 437.Printer's No. 4755. An Act establishing the Pennsylvania Long-term Care Council and providing for its powers and duties; and making a repeal.

HB2553Prior Printer's Nos. 3797, 4035.Printer's No. 4756. An Act providing for local senior citizen property tax and rent rebates.

SB 1217 by Senator MELLOW. Prior Printer’s No. 1842. Printer’s No. 2163. An Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to the County of Lackawanna Transit System Authority (COLTS), certain lands situate in the City of Scranton, Lackawanna County, in exchange for a certain tract of land from COLTS situate in the City of Scranton, Lackawanna County; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the concurrence of the Department of Environmental Protection, to lease to Philadelphia Waterfront Partners, LLC, land within the bed of the Delaware River within the City of Philadelphia; authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to dedicate, grant and convey to the Strasburg, Lancaster County, Borough Authority, a water main and appurtenances to be constructed by the Department of General Services, together with easements for public water purposes, situate in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, and to grant such further easements and licenses as may be necessary to provide the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with access to public sewer service; and authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey to the Borough of Mansfield certain lands situate in the Borough of Mansfield, Tioga County.

HB 1249. Prior Printer’s No. 1476. Printer’s No. 4735. An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for uniform environmental covenants.

HB 2634 By Representatives CLYMER, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, HENNESSEY, STEIL, HERSHEY and E. Z. TAYLOR. Prior Printer’s Nos. 3974, 4227. Printer’s No. 4819. An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for procedure for conveyance of established projects.

HB814 Prior Printer's No. 976.Printer's No. 4842. An Act amending the act of July 22, 1974 (P.L.589, No.205), known as the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, further providing for definitions, for unfair acts and for exclusions.

HB 2063 By Representatives BOYD, ARMSTRONG, HERMAN, CRAHALLA, KOTIK, BALDWIN, HICKERNELL, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, SONNEY, FREEMAN, HERSHEY, MARSICO, TIGUE, STEIL, DENLINGER, MACKERETH, SIPTROTH and GINGRICH. Prior Printer's No. 2839.Printer's No. 4840. An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, further providing for adoption of municipal, multimunicipal and county comprehensive plans and plan amendments, for adoption of the official map and amendments thereto, for publication, advertisement and availability of ordinance relating to subdivision and land development and relating to zoning and for implementation agreements.

HB 2551 By Representatives SURRA, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, FABRIZIO, GRUCELA, HESS, JAMES, MAHER, PALLONE, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, THOMAS, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, FREEMAN and HUTCHINSON. Prior Printer’s Nos. 3795, 4363. Printer’s No. 4839. An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, further providing for meetings of auditors and for audit of accounts by auditors and financial report to Department of Community Affairs.

HB 2619. Prior Printer’s No. 3934. Printer’s No. 4843. An Act establishing the Mine Families First Program; providing assistance to persons whose family members are trapped, injured or waiting rescue during an underground mine emergency, for duties of the Department of Environmental Protection and for surface use agreements for coal bed methane wells.

HB2666 Printer's No. 4050. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of sexual abuse of children.

HB2703 Printer's No. 4112. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for burial details for veterans.

HB2706. Prior Printer’s No. 4115. Printer’s No. 4841. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of sexual crimes against mentally disabled youth; and further providing for sentencing and penalties for trafficking drugs to minors.

HB2708 Prior Printer’s No. 4117. Printer’s No. 4197. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.

HB 2729 By Representative CLYMER. Prior Printer’s No. 4151. Printer’s No. 4838. An Act authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to grant and convey to the Borough of Mansfield certain lands situate in the Borough of Mansfield, Tioga County; authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the concurrence of the Department of Environmental Protection, to lease land within the bed of the Delaware River within the City of Philadelphia; and authorizing and directing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Governor, to lease to Pine Township, Clearfield County, a certain tract of land situate in Pine Township, Clearfield County, for a consideration of $1.
HB2751 Printer's No. 4202. An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for grading of theft offenses.

HB2765Prior Printer's No. 4224.Printer's No. 4397. An Act amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for policy and for DNA sample required; providing for collection from persons accepted from other jurisdictions; and further providing for procedures for withdrawal, collection and transmission of DNA samples and for expungement.

HB2774Prior Printer's Nos. 4242, 4708.Printer's No. 4844. 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 bank and trust company shares tax, for ascertainment of taxable amount and exclusion of United States obligations; and providing for a small business health care tax credit. HB2824Prior Printer's No. 4328.Printer's No. 4846. An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for exemptions from license requirements and for the fees, powers and duties, rules and regulations and records of issuing agents; and making an editorial change.

HB2973 Printer's No. 4695. An Act designating SR 263 in Hatboro, Montgomery County, as the Roy W. Cornell Memorial Highway.

SB972Prior Printer's Nos. 1309, 2052.Printer's No. 2098. 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, in Health Care Provider Retention Program, for the definition of "emergency physician," for abatement program and for expiration.

SB1158Prior Printer's Nos. 1661, 2125.Printer's No 1661. An Act providing for a tax credit to encourage property owners to include visitability design features on their properties.

SENATE

HB1813Prior Printer's Nos. 2386, 3214, 3725.Printer's No. 4619. An Act providing for the allocation of funds to county mental health and mental retardation programs.

HB2631Prior Printer's Nos. 3971, 4039, 4394.Printer's No. 4639. An Act amending the act of February 19, 1980 (P.L.15, No.9), known as the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, defining “commercial property"; and further providing for disclosure at initial interview.

SB 19 By Senators TOMLINSON, ORIE, D. WHITE, CORMAN, KASUNIC, MUSTO, COSTA, M. WHITE, WONDERLING, RHOADES and BOSCOLA. Prior Printer’s NO.12. Printer’s No. 1827. An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for disabled veterans' real estate tax exemption and for duty of commission.

SB 628 By Senators GREENLEAF, LEMMOND, ORIE, O'PAKE, COSTA, ERICKSON, BRIGHTBILL, MADIGAN, WENGER, RAFFERTY, RHOADES, BOSCOLA, PILEGGI, ROBBINS and PICCOLA.Prior Printer's Nos. 693, 1943.Printer's No. 2117. An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offenses of neglect of care-dependent person and for living wills and health care powers of attorney; further providing for implementation of out-of-hospital nonresuscitation; making conforming amendments; and repealing provisions of 20 Pa.C.S. Chs. 54 and 54A.

SB 808 By Senators ARMSTRONG, FERLO, BROWNE, M. WHITE, TARTAGLIONE, PIPPY, WOZNIAK, RAFFERTY, LEMMOND and WASHINGTON. Prior Printer’s Nos. 1019, 1888.Printer's No. 2045. An Act providing for long-term care patient access to pharmaceuticals; and conferring powers and duties on the State Board of Pharmacy.

SB 934 By Senators WONDERLING, CORMAN, ORIE, FONTANA, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, PIPPY, COSTA, BOSCOLA, RHOADES, KITCHEN, GORDNER, WOZNIAK, LEMMOND, M. WHITE, STACK, BROWNE, VANCE and CONTI. Prior Printer’s No. 1225.Printer's No. 2084. An Act establishing the Medical Safety Automation Account; and providing grants to implement medical safety automation systems.

SB 1216 By Senators ERICKSON, PILEGGI, WONDERLING, RAFFERTY, PICCOLA, WENGER, WAUGH and O'PAKE.
Printer's No. 1849. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for vacancies in election boards and for election boards in new districts.

SB 1332 By Senator CONTI.
Prior Printer's Nos. 2071, 2097.Printer's No. 2115. 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 school health services definitions, for health services, for dental examinations and dental hygiene services, for facilities, for examinations and for recommendations of health professionals; deleting provisions relating to examination by family physician or dentist; and further providing for care and treatment of school-age children, for precautions against spread of certain diseases and for medical examination of school personnel.

HB 126 By Representatives GODSHALL, NICKOL, VEON, PHILLIPS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CRAHALLA, EACHUS, GEIST, HENNESSEY, KILLION, LEH, O'NEILL, PALLONE, RUBLEY, HARPER, YOUNGBLOOD, GOODMAN and DENLINGER.
Prior Printer's Nos. 172, 613, 3762.Printer's No. 4579. An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, defining "alternative investment" and "alternative investment vehicle"; and further providing for administrative duties of the State Employees' Retirement Board.

HB632Prior Printer's Nos. 705, 3824.Printer's No. 4757. 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.

HB2042Prior Printer's No. 2819.Printer's No. 3962. An Act amending the act of June 22, 1937 (P.L.1987, No.394), known as The Clean Streams Law, further providing for penalties; and providing for limitation on certain actions.

SB 553 By Senators GREENLEAF, COSTA, LEMMOND, O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, ORIE, ERICKSON, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, KITCHEN, RHOADES and WOZNIAK.
Prior Printer's Nos. 586, 1421.Printer's No. 2083. An Act relating to the protection of victims of sexual violence.

SB 592 By Senators ARMSTRONG, LEMMOND, COSTA and MADIGAN.
Prior Printer's Nos. 632, 1418, 1656.Printer's No. 2044. An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, defining "alternative investment" and "alternative investment vehicle"; and further providing for administrative duties of the board.

SB 1095 By Senators STOUT and MADIGAN.
Prior Printer's No. 1563.Printer's No. 2113. An Act amending the act of July 5, 1984 (P.L.587, No.119), known as the Rail Freight Preservation and Improvement Act, further providing for definitions and for program authority.

SB 1110 By Senators LAVALLE, KITCHEN, COSTA, ORIE, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, PILEGGI, LOGAN, RHOADES, M. WHITE, FERLO and KASUNIC.
Prior Printer's No. 1577.Printer's No. 2164. An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, providing for residency requirements for administrative agencies.

SB 1330 By Senators ROBBINS, MADIGAN, GREENLEAF, COSTA, WONDERLING, KASUNIC, PICCOLA, BOSCOLA, REGOLA, FONTANA, MUSTO, WOZNIAK, WASHINGTON and ARMSTRONG.
Prior Printer's Nos. 2030, 2082.Printer's No. 2165. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, authorizing certain charitable organizations to solicit funds on highways.

SB1331 Prior Printer's No. 2070.Printer's No. 2166. An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, further providing for exclusions from sales and use tax.

HB236 Prior Printer's Nos. 262, 1577.Printer's No. 1949. An Act amending the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act, further providing for legislative intent, for definitions and for proposed regulations and procedure for review.

HB469 Prior Printer's Nos. 508, 2137, 2373, 4713, 4814.Printer's No. 4847. An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for date of application for absentee ballot, for voting by absentee electors and for canvassing of official absentee ballots; and limiting contributions by partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability companies.

HB854 Prior Printer's Nos. 977, 1174, 4638, 4758.Printer's No. 4845. An Act relating to confidential security information of public utilities; and imposing penalties.

HB1112 Prior Printer's Nos. 1319, 3212.Printer's No. 4821. An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of corrupt organizations; providing for the offense of trafficking in persons; further providing for order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications; and providing for sentencing for trafficking of persons and for criminal forfeiture.

HB1902 Prior Printer's Nos. 2603, 2950, 3513.Printer's No. 4662. An Act amending the act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, further providing for sunset for recycling fee and for performance grants for municipal recycling programs.
HB2001 Prior Printer's Nos. 2771, 3234, 3310, 4582.Printer's No. 4759. An Act prohibiting price gouging; and imposing penalties.

HB 2134 By Representative FAIRCHILD.
Prior Printer's Nos. 2938, 3030, 4384, 4620.Printer's No. 4816. 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 2185 By Representatives TANGRETTI, HERMAN, ROSS, GINGRICH and LESCOVITZ.
Prior Printer's No. 3041.Printer's No. 4817. An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, further providing for excluded provisions; providing for assessment of signs and sign structures; further providing for required financial reporting; and making related repeals.

HB2282 Prior Printer's No. 3194.Printer's No. 4823. 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.

HB2670 Prior Printer's Nos. 4063, 4164, 4712.Printer's No. 4849. An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights; and, in child protective services, further providing for definitions, further providing for release of information in confidential reports, providing for citizen review panels, further providing for reports; and providing for mandatory reporting of substance abuse births.

HB2738 Prior Printer's Nos. 4162, 4191, 4364, 4637.Printer's No. 4760. An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, further providing for schedule of compensation, for definitions relating to procedure and for enforcement of standards and processing of claims; providing for the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board; further providing for assignment of claims to referees, and for counsel fees; providing for an Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund; and making a related repeal.

SB 642 By Senators ARMSTRONG and LEMMOND.
Prior Printer's Nos. 740, 2116.Printer's No. 2184. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, authorizing a school district to purchase or acquire by other means real property owned by a school director under certain conditions.

SB 647 By Senators VANCE, EARLL, O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, WAUGH, M. WHITE, BOSCOLA, WONDERLING and C. WILLIAMS.
Prior Printer's No. 745.Printer's No. 2185. 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 background checks of prospective employees and for disqualifications relating to teacher's certificate.

SB1263 Printer's No. 1932. An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, further providing, in abandoned and unclaimed property, for property subject to custody and control of Commonwealth.

SB 1285 By Senators WOZNIAK, COSTA, RAFFERTY, MUSTO, LOGAN, CORMAN, FONTANA, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, MELLOW, GORDNER, O'PAKE, RHOADES, REGOLA, ROBBINS and DINNIMAN.
Prior Printer's Nos. 2001, 2123, 2193.Printer's No. 2202. An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for credited State service.