SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK
OF APRIL 2, 2001

HARRISBURG -- With little fanfare, the Senate this week unanimously approved a $20.8 billion General Fund Budget. The proposal altered the Governor's original plan by $80 million, diverted from debt service. Under Senate Bill 1, the greatest portion of those funds, $22 million, would go to the Department of Community and Economic Development, for community grants. The second-largest portion, $18.8 million, would go to the Department of Education, most of that ($12.2 million) for basic education funding. A Democratic bid to allocate $27.5 million to grants for volunteer emergency services failed, replaced instead with a $15 million allocation. The legislation allocates an additional $10 million to the Department of Environmental Protection for safe water programs, and an additional $7.85 million for Department of Health programs, including regional cancer Institutes and biotechnology research. The other changes to the Governor's plan are $5 million more for acute care hospitals and $300,000 to the Department of Agriculture for Farmers Market Food Coupons.

Senate Bill 634 also unanimously passed the Senate. The Capital Budget Act of 2001-02, sets the maximum principle amount of additional debt to be incurred during the next fiscal year. The legislation authorizes $955 million in additional debt, including $525 million for public improvement, $150 million for transportation assistance, $275 million for redevelopment assistance, and $5 million for flood control.

Both Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 634 have been referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

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The Senate this week unanimously approved legislation to amend the state’s Adult Basic Literacy Education Act by expanding programs to include more adult parent and family-oriented education projects. Senate Bill 35 addresses the high percentage of adults in Pennsylvania who have not completed high school, and authorizes 25% of the current budget appropriation for Adult Literacy be used to develop and coordinate adult and family literacy programs. Proponents cite studies which indicate children can be more prepared for school, more readily grasp basic skills and achieve higher standards if their parents are literate and take an active role in the child’s education. The bill has been forwarded to the House Education Committee.

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The Senate this week voted 47-0 to approve an omnibus bill that rewrites portions of the Uniform Commercial Code to embrace modern business practices and emerging e-commerce procedures. Senate Bill 330 addresses specific sections of the code dealing with Letters of Credit and Secured Transactions, and reflects language that strengthens fraud and consumer protection provisions in current law.

Senate Bill 14, which passed the Senate unanimously, would create a uniform procedure for satisfying mortgages. The bill would require the lender to file a satisfaction statement with the relevant county recording office within 45 days after a mortgage has been paid in full.

Both bills have been sent to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

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The Senate voted unanimously this week to increase the rates charged for vessels using portions of the Delaware River. Senate Bill 627 authorizes the state to increase rates for state-licensed pilots porting a vessel between the Capes of Delaware and the Delair Railroad Bridge in New Jersey. Rates per unit will increase each January 1 through 2004.

By a vote of 48-0, the Senate this week approved Senate Bill 635, which revises the specifications required to obtain a fifth or sixth class water navigation license. The bill also requires licensed river pilots of Pennsylvania and Delaware be in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Navigation Commission.

Both bills are now before the House Professional Licensure Committee.

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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 549, which amends the Anaerobic Manure Digesters Act of 1994, changing the name to the Agricultural By-Product Management Technology Act. The legislation would re-establish the Anaerobic Manure Digester Board, renaming it the Agriculture By-Product Management Technology Board, and provides for the development of technology to assist farmers in the treatment and processing of agricultural by-products. The House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs has received the bill.

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Senate Bill 421, which received unanimous approval, amends Pennsylvania's "Son of Sam" law to allow a crime victim or other eligible person to recover all reasonable litigation costs when bringing a civil action to recover money damages from the person convicted of the crime. The bill now goes to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

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The Senate last week approved, by a vote of 47-0, Senate Bill 631, which transfers funds from the Workmen's Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry to provide $51,635 million for administrative expenses for the 2001-02 fiscal year. The bill also appropriates $179,000 to the Department of Community and Economic Development to fund worker's compensation activities by the Small Business Advocate.

The House Appropriations Committee has received the bill.

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