Senate of Pennsylvania
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SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK |
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HARRISBURG -- What started as a simple bill allowing school districts in the Commonwealth to purchase automatic external defibrillators wound up as the vehicle for a package of amendments revising the state's Public School Code. This week, the Senate voted 36-13 to concur in House amendments to House Bill 996. The legislation is heralded by proponents as "unprecedented" in its aid to modest income families whose children attend public schools that have scored below average academic standards, but considered nothing more than "backdoor vouchers" by many opponents who claim Governor Ridge used a pension increase for legislators and teachers to garner support for the measure. The bill awaits the governor's signature by May 18. Highlights of the legislation include: – Authorization of $30 million for the Education Improvement Tax Credit Program, giving tax credits to corporations that contribute to scholarship programs for public or private schools or to innovative pubic school programs; – provides $2 million for "independent schools," which can be created from one existing school in any school district; – includes $23.6 million in tutoring grants for parents of elementary school students with below average scores on the state math and reading tests; – requires public school teachers to undergo a statewide skills test and provides $4 million to fund the testing program; and – authorizes a $78.4 million increase in special education funding. **** A measure was passed by the Senate this week that would increase the retirement benefits of state workers, teachers and legislators. House Bill 26,, which passed by a vote of 41-8, would increase state workers and teachers retirement benefits by 25 percent. The increase would allow a retiring state worker with an average salary of $40,000 and 30 years of service a $6,000 annual benefits boost, raising his annual pension from $24,000 to $30,000. Teachers would see a similar increase. A teacher retiring with 35 years of service and an average salary of $50,000 could see an annual pension increase of $8,750, raising his annual pension from $35,000 to $43,750. State legislators would receive a 50 percent increase in their pension plan, with rank-and-file members seeing an average increase of $12,400 after serving 20 years in office with a salary of $62,000. The measure raises the pension multiplier rates from 2 to 2.5 percent for teachers and state workers; and from 2 to 3 percent for legislators. Along with the rate increase, the measure would reduce the vesting, or eligibility requirement from 10 years to five. Teachers, without continued medical coverage, would also see an increase in their monthly medical allowance from $55 to $100. Legislators' reaction to the pension bill is mixed, with supporters calling it an even trade for state workers who have contributed 5 percent of their salary during record surpluses in the stock market. These surpluses, they say, have allowed the state and school districts to drop their employer contributions to zero, thus making it possible to increase the pensions without touching the general fund. Others say the plan would eventually raise state and local costs so much employers would inevitably pay the price. The measure passed the House earlier with a 176-23 vote. House Bill 26 now goes to the governor for his signature. **** The Senate unanimously passed legislation this week which would require contractors who want government funding to provide certification that they do not have delinquent municipal taxes, or outstanding utility bills or municipal fines. Senate Bill 52 states certification would apply in cases where a municipality, county, authority or quasi-governmental agency accepts an award from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and passes the award on to a private developer. It would affirm that the developer has no delinquent taxes to any of the taxing districts where the development project is proposed to be located nor any municipal utility bills that are outstanding for more than one year. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration. **** The Senate unanimously passed the following appropriations bills, which await the governor's signature by May 18: House Bill 1177, appropriating $4.356 million from the Restricted Revenue Account in the General Fund to the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Advocate for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. House Bill 1178, appropriating $1.017 million from the Restricted Revenue Account in the General Fund to the Department of Community and Economic Development's Small Business Advocate for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. House Bill 1180, appropriating $34.297 million for the administrative costs of the Public School Employees Retirement System from the Public School Employees Retirement Fund. House Bill 1182, appropriating $20.078 million for the administrative costs of the State Employees Retirement System from the State Employees Retirement Fund. House Bill 1183, appropriating $18.031 million from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account in the General Fund to the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and making other appropriations from various restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to various Boards within the Bureau for their operation for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. **** More paralyzed veterans would be eligible to receive $150 monthly pension through a measure passed unanimously by the Senate this week. By further defining the term "paralyzed veteran," Senate Bill 282 would allow approximately 88 more veterans to receive the pension in addition to other state and federal compensation. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. **** Senate Bill 816, which passed unanimously, would make it a second degree felony for anyone who intentionally, knowingly, or maliciously exposes or causes to be exposed an animal or fowl to any virus, bacteria, prion or other agent which causes infectious disease including foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease. The bill has been referred to the House. --- LEGISLATIVE NOTEBOOK --- – The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 279, allowing a person to recover, in addition to any damages, the cost of any surveys obtained in connection with a civil action for the conversion or theft of timber. The bill now goes to the Governor
– The Senate unanimously voted to add the crime of burglary to the list of crimes for which an offender must undergo DNA sampling. The sample is then entered into a statewide data base. Senate Bill 259 now goes to the House. – By a unanimous vote, the Senate passed House Bill 59, which would provide civil immunity to volunteer members of anti-drug and town-watch crime prevention programs in certain circumstances. Immunity would be granted when the conduct does not fall substantially below standards generally practiced in like circumstances. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments. – The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 62, which would grant and convey a tract of land in Canonsburg, Washington County. The bill now returns to the House for consideration. – By a 49-0 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 483, making changes on how the rate of compensation is determined for the members of the Board of Claims. Under the bill, the annual pay for the chairman and members of the board would be established by the Executive Board and subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment. This legislation also changes the six-member hearing panel to a centralized system that will be sent anywhere in Pennsylvania they are needed. The bill now goes to the House. – The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 770, which would require that certain government notices be printed in additional legal publications. The bill now returns to the House. |