HARRISBURG -- In a vote sharply divided along party lines, the Senate approved a revised congressional reapportionment map that contains only slight deviations from the one declared unconstitutional in federal court.

Despite the court's admonishment that the map should contain compact districts, preserve the cores of previous districts, respect municipal boundaries and avoid contests between incumbents, House Bill 2545 as amended in the Senate addresses only the issue of deviation. In order to achieve districts equal in population but which still disproportionately favor their party, the Republicans were forced to draw districts which are even less compact and less reflective of prior districts than in the rejected plan. The map splits even more counties (from 25 to 29), municipalities (from 62 to 79), and wards (from 41 to 46) and splits two voting districts. Like the rejected plan, HB 2425 pits a maximum number of incumbents (five Democrats and one Republican) against one another.

The bill passed by a vote of 29-21 with the House concurring in Senate amendments. The Governor has signed the bill, which awaits review by the court.

Earlier in the week by the same vote, the Senate passed a similar plan in Senate Bill 1234, which was later found to contain non-contiguous districts.

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The Senate this week voted 32-18 to approve House Bill 1289, which provides for the approval of unfunded debt in distressed school districts.

While the bill targets the need for an immediate $300 million bond issue for the Philadelphia School District, its provisions also set the stage for similar actions, if needed, by other troubled schools districts in the Commonwealth.

Democrats who opposed the measure said plunging the Philadelphia School District even further into debt, with no clear plan for how the money would be spent or repaid, is irresponsible. Some accused the Republicans of an attempt to push the district's troubles off on the next gubernatorial administration. Several Democrats, however, spoke passionately on behalf of Philadelphia's schoolchildren.

The bond issue measure was amended into a bill which creates a uniform plan for notifying parents and students of the time and place of chemical applications in school buildings, on grounds, athletic fields and playgrounds throughout the Commonwealth, and serves as a companion piece to Senate Bill 705, which creates the Integrated Pest Management Program. Approved unanimously by the Senate, this bill provides a detailed blueprint for school districts to follow when pest control is necessary.

Senate Bill 705 was signed into law as Act 35 and House Bill 1289 was signed into law as Act 36, both on April 18, 2002.

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Pennsylvania school districts that were facing significantly higher pension costs during the 2002-2003 school year received good news from the General Assembly this week.

Legislation unanimously approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives would keep school pension contributions at current levels during the coming school year. Recent changes to the pension system, coupled with slowing state and national economies, had been expected to increase school district pension costs to 2.82 percent during the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The districts are paying .545 percent during the current year.

Under House Bill 27, which was awaiting the governor’s signature, school districts will pay .575 percent of their payroll to the state School Employees Retirement Fund – an increase of just .03 percent over the current year. The total employer contribution will be 1.15 percent, but the state picks up half of the school employee pension costs.

House Bill 27 also authorized a cost of living adjustment for retired school and state employees. Retirees will receive COLAs of varying amounts depending on their retirement date. The COLA provisions are summarized in the following table:

COLA COMMENCING 7/1/02

Retirement Date:

7/2/88 - 7/1/90 8%

7/2/83 - 7/1/88 10%

7/2/80 - 7/1/83 15%

Prior to 7/20/80 25%

 

COLA COMMENCING 7/1/03

Retirement Date

7/2/01 - 7/2/02 2.27%

7/2/00 - 7/1/01 3.08%

7/2/99 - 7/1/00 4.87%

7/2/98 - 7/1/99 6.35%

7/2/94 - 7/1/98 7.5%

7/2/90 - 7/1/94 9%

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The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1935,the Main Street Act, which would establish a program to enhance established commercial downtown districts, addressing infrastructure, structural decline crime, and public image. The Department of Community & Economic Development would assist municipal governments via the establishment of local organizations dedicated to revitalization efforts.

Components of the program would include for up to five years, basic grants for administrative costs and infrastructure improvements including streets, lighting, trees and facades.

Eligible municipalities must have a clearly defined established commercial downtown, demonstrated support from merchants, residents and government officials and the ability to provide up to 50% match for grants in financial or in-kind support.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to the bill, which awaits the Governor's signature.

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-- LEGISLATIVE NOTEBOOK --

• The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1030, which would expand and clarify the provisions prohibiting contraband such as weapons, implements of escape and other dangerous materials in jails, youth development centers and mental hospitals. The bill now goes to the House.

• The Senate unanimously adopted House Bill 2087, which would amend the Sheriff Fee Act to allow sheriffs in second class counties (Allegheny) to establish, increase, decrease, modify, or eliminate fees or charges with the approval of the county’s president judge. The bill also would authorize sheriffs in second class counties to charge or collect an additional fee for initiation of any action or legal proceeding and to use the money collected from that fee solely to fund computerization of the sheriff’s office. The bill is in the House Rules Committee.

• By a 34-16 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1013, which would authorize the Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools to include "bullying" as a problem behavior that should be addressed and included in school violence protection programs. The bill now goes to the house Education Committee.

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