HARRISBURG -- By a 40-9 vote, the Senate this week approved Senate Bill 1089 concerning joint and several liability, a controversial measure that would protect defendants found by a jury to be only fractionally responsible for damages from paying entire judgements. Under the bill, defendants found to be less than 60 percent liable will only be responsible for their share of the claim. Under current law, such defendants can be forced to pay the entire judgement if other defendants were bankrupt, or failed to carry insurance.

The repeal of joint and several liability was amended to the bill, which would require all prison inmates convicted of felony sex offenses to submit a DNA sample for the state’s sexual offender registry. Under current law, only sexual offenders convicted after the registry law was enacted in 1995 are required to submit a DNA sample. The bill also adds offenses to the list that would require an individual to submit a DNA sample.

The bill now returns to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 1366, approved by a 28-21 party line vote, decreases the required time for holding abandoned property from seven years to five. The measure also would empower the General Assembly with appropriating the funds required each year for the Treasurer to administer the bill’s requirements. Previously, Treasury deducted "reasonable costs" associated with selling the properties before transferring proceeds to the General Fund. The bill was referred to the House.

House Bill 1360, which passed the Senate unanimously, would require municipalities to pay an additional cost-of-living adjustment to firefighters and police officers who retired before January 1, 1996. The adjustment amount would be based on both years served and years since retirement. The state will reimburse municipalities’ costs from the tax levied on out-of-state companies who sell casualty insurance in Pennsylvania. Following unanimous Senate adoption, the bill was returned to the House, which unanimously concurred in Senate amendments. The bill awaits the Governor's signature.

The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1363, which would increase service increments and retirement allowances paid to retired third class city public safety employees. Costs are to be paid from the city’s police and firefighter pension funds. If the pension fund lacks sufficient surpluses, then the increments may not be implemented. Following unanimous Senate adoption, the bill was returned to the House, which unanimously concurred in Senate amendments.

The following bills also passed the Senate unanimously this week:

House Bill 1848, which amends the Tax Reform Code to extend the Research and Development Tax Credit from 2004 to 2008. The amended bill was returned to the House for concurrence.

Senate Bill 766, which authorizes the reimbursement of first-class township commissioners for wages lost while attending annual meetings. The bill returns to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 832, which would increase from $1.2 billion to $1.45 billion the amount of debt the state may incur to pay the principal and interest on all obligations issued to fund redevelopment assistance capital projects. The bill was referred to the House.

House Bill 2005, which amends the County Code to provide compensation of solicitors and enable a sheriff, deputy sheriff, detective, or other county police officer to take outside employment when not on duty. The bill was returned to the House.