Senate of Pennsylvania
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SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK |
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HARRISBURG -- The Senate this week voted 44-5 to adopt the North American Uniform Out-of-Service criteria regulating the motor carrier industry and to create the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee in Pennsylvania. House Bill 153 amends Title 75 of the Motor Vehicle Code by increasing the penalties for motor carrier drivers and companies found in violation of current laws; require more restrictions on hours a driver can operate a motor vehicle, and authorizes stiffer requirements for vehicle inspections. The legislation also creates a 28-member advisory committee to make recommendations to the General Assembly on education, safety, training and testing, and new technological developments relative to the motor carrier industry. The bill was returned to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments. **** Senior Citizens in Allegheny County, who qualify for the Senior Citizens Rebate Act, would not see their property tax assessments go up after a county-wide assessment under legislation unanimously passed by the Senate this week. House Bill 23 would allow seniors' properties to remain tax neutral, unless the property is transferred to a person other than a spouse. House Bill 23 awaits the governor's signature. **** By a vote of 48-0, the Senate passed Senate Bill 793, which would amend the Drought, Orchard and Nursery Indemnity and Flood Relief Act of 1999. In order to qualify for drought relief, producers were required to secure crop insurance for the years 2000 and 2001. $5.6 million was appropriated to pay up to 10% of the costs of premiums and fees for the crop insurance. This bill will allow any remaining funds to be used in subsequent years as funding allows. Also, any funds encumbered but not allocated for drought relief would be transferred to the crop insurance assistance program. The bill has been referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. **** A measure aimed at helping working families by raising the dependent allowance by $1,000 under the tax forgiveness credit, passed the Senate this week. Senate Bill 616 would allow a family of four (a married couple with two children) with an income of $30,000 to save $840 annually due to not having to pay any personal income liability. Senate Bill 616 is in the House Finance Committee. **** Senate Bill 773, which the Senate passed unanimously, amends the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 by allowing the Department of Health to prescribe the method of transmission of statistical summaries of marriage licenses, divorces, annulments of marriages, certificates of adoption and annulment of adoptions is to occur. This is including, but not limited to, transmission by paper copy by mail or other courier, facsimile transmission or electronic means. The bill has been sent to the House. **** The Senate voted 49-0 to allow nonprofit public transportation providers authority under Title 74 of the state's transportation code. Senate Bill 810 expands the definition of "local transportation organization" to include nonprofit providers and entitles such groups to bid on state contracts to render transportation service in a limited area of the Commonwealth. The bill was sent to the House for consideration. **** By a 46-3 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 572 that would allow a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of a homicide victim to be excused from jury service on both civil and criminal cases. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. **** Employees of the State System of Higher Education would have more choices when choosing an optional retirement plan under legislation passed unanimously by the Senate this week. Senate Bill 485 gives the state employees the green light to choose one of the alternative plans. The bill awaits House approval. |