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STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE 9/29/04
The Senate State Government Committee met on Wednesday,
September 29, 2004, and reported
out the following bill:
As Committed (unanimously):
Senate Bill 1209 (PN 1811) (Pippy) This bill amends the Pennsylvania
Race Horse Development
and Gaming Act to prohibit public officials from
having a financial interest in any racing or gaming
entities.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE 6/23/04
On Tuesday, June 23,
2004, the committee met to consider six bills.
SR 205 (ARMSTRONG) A Resolution urging the Governor, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission, the Judiciary and all other agencies and authorities in this Commonwealth to exercise their
power and authorities accordingly to preserve the historic site known as Camp Security, located in Springettsbury
Township, York County.
The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
SB 346 (LEMMOND) An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
Pennsylvania Election Code, further providing for filing fees. The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
SB 1184 (MELLOW) An Act authorizing the release of Project 70 restrictions imposed on certain lands owned
by the City of Scranton, Lackawanna County, being conveyed by the city in return for the imposition of Project
70 restrictions on certain lands being conveyed to the city. The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
HB 1965 (PAYNE) An Act repealing the act of June 4, 1945 (P.L.1191, No.413), entitled "An act to authorize the
Pennsylvania Post-War Planning Commission under certain conditions to enter into agreements with political
subdivisions of this Commonwealth for the financing of plans and specifications for public works; and making an
appropriation." The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
HB 2268 (HORSEY) An Act repealing provisions relating to a permanent centennial
exposition building in Philadelphia. The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
HB 2433 (SAYLOR) An Act amending the act of July 31, 2003 (P.L.73, No.17), known as the Volunteer Fire
Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act, further providing for award of grants, for expenses
incurred by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; and providing for allocation of appropriated funds.
The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE
5/18/04
On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, the committee met to consider
two bills.
SB 1052 (EARLL) - 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 certain lands
situate in the City of Erie, County of Erie. The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
HB 2273 (ZUG) - An Act amending the act of August 5, 1941 (P.L.752, No.286), known as the Civil
Service Act, further providing for examinations requisite for appointment and promotion.
The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE
3/30/04
On Tuesday, March 30, 2004, the committee met to consider
several bills and to hear an update on the implementation of the
Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) system from Secretary of
State Pedro Cortés.
SB 1039 - (Mowery)
Amends Title 65 (Public Officers) by adding that the term "agency" would
include the governing board of any nonprofit corporation that is
affiliated with a State-aided, State-owned or State-related institution
of higher education and is granted supervisory or advisory powers
regarding the degree programs of the institution. The intent of this
legislation is to require the Penn State Dickinson School of Law's Board
of Governors (and the Board of any public institution) meetings to be
open to the public. The bill was reported as committed
unanimously.
Senator Hal Mowery (R-Cumberland) explained that when Penn
State began to consider moving the Law School to State College, the
press sued to be allowed into the Board of Governor's meetings. The
court agreed that the meetings should be open to the public, because the
Board is an agent of the state system. The Law School appealed the
decision, and a decision is expected this week. However, no matter what
the decision, one side or the other will appeal it. Senator Mowery
stated that this legislation would end the litigation and decide once
and for all that the meetings must be open to the public. Counsel for
the Committee reiterated that the legislation would codify the first
court decision.
SB 1013 - (Lemmond) Amends Title 62 (Procurement) by deleting provisions
relating to retainage and adding a clause that states that the
Department of General Services may not withhold retainage. The bill was
held over.
Chairman Charles Lemmond (R-Luzerne) noted that the
Department of General Services (DGS), Penn State and Pitt have indicated
support for the legislation but contractors and builders associations
have expressed opposition, so the bill will be held in committee.
Chairman Lemmond stated that he will have the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee look at the legislation. Additionally, he noted that
DGS has agreed to conduct a pilot program on 3-5 projects.
SB 1047 - (Kasunic) Act authorizing the sale and transfer of ownership of
Project 70 land located in Wharton Township, Fayette County,
Pennsylvania.The bill was reported as committed unanimously.
HB 1926 - (Pickett) Act authorizing the Department of Transportation to convey
to Elkland Township a tract of land in Elkland Township, Sullivan
County, PA. The bill would be effective immediately upon passage. (Prior
Printer's Numbers: 2518) The bill was reported as committed
unanimously.
HB 1993 - (Marsico) An act directing the Department of General Services, with
the approval of the Governor and the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, to convey certain land situate in East Hanover Township,
Dauphin County, to Dr. Albert J. Zanetti and Mrs. Jeana M. Zanetti, his
wife, in consideration for the grant and conveyance by the Zanetti's to
the Department of General Services and the Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs of certain land situate in East and West Hanover
Townships, Dauphin County. The bill was reported as committed
unanimously.
Chairman Lemmond then explained that he invited Secretary
Cortés to provide the Committee with an update on the implementation of
SURE.
Secretary Cortés explained that PA is "ahead of the curve" with SURE,
and currently 56 counties (representing 66% of voters) have "gone live."
He expects 65 counties to be integrated into the system by the November
General Election, and the last two counties, Philadelphia and
Montgomery, will implement the system before the January 1, 2005
deadline. He noted that the implementation schedule was extended in
February because an independent report indicated that the system should
be implemented, but on a slower schedule. Originally, the Department
planned to have all 67 counties on the system by the April 27 Primary
Election. Secretary Cortés explained that the Department has provided
all users of the system several rounds of training, has deployed high
speed data lines, has set up a help desk, and has integrated the system
with the Department of Health and PennDOT to update the registry due to
death or change of address. He also noted that the Department has paid
close attention to communication from the counties to ensure that their
needs are being met.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE
2/10/04
Reported as committed, unanimous vote
(12-0):
HB 1996 (Adolph) Pn 2948- This bill amends
the Guaranteed Energy Savings contracts provisions found in the
Procurement Code.
More specifically this bill expands the
types of "energy conservation measures" that can be included
under a Guaranteed Energy Savings contract. These additional measures
include a training program or facility alteration that reduces energy
consumption or reduces operating costs; a facility alteration which
includes expenditures that are required to properly implement other
conservation measures; programs to reduce energy costs through rate
adjustments, load shifting, and /or use of alternative energy suppliers;
installation of control system that monitor consumption, redirect systems
to optimal energy sources, and manage energy-using equipment; indoor air
quality improvements; day lighting systems; and renewable and/or on-site
distribution power generation systems.
The bill also changes the payback period
for eligible energy conservation measures from ten to fifteen years.
The bill also adds a section stating that
improvements that are not casually connected to an energy conservation
measure may be included in a guaranteed energy savings if the total value
of the improvement does not exceed 15% of the total contract and if either
the improvement is needed to conform to law, a rule, or an ordinance or
there is an economic advantage to implementing the improvement.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE
9/30/03
The
State Government Committee met on Tuesday, September 30, 2003, and took
the following action:
Re-Referred the nomination
(Unanimously) of William R. Lloyd as Small Business Advocate.
Withdrew from Consideration
HB
696 (Keller)
An Act authorizing and directing the Department of General
Services,
with
the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to the Philadelphia
Regional Port Authority certain lands situate in the 39th Ward of the City
of Philadelphia.
They
plan on taking the bill up on a later date.
STATE GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE 2/11/03
The State
Government Committee met on Tuesday February 11, 2003 and voted on the
following nomination:
Unanimous vote
(11-0) The nomination of Donald T.
Cunningham, Jr. ,former mayor of Bethlehem, for the Secretary of General
Services.
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