HARRISBURG-- The Senate voted 46-3 not to concur in a minor House amendment to Senate Bill 5, the 2002-2003 state budget. The vote was a formality allowing legislative leaders to appoint a conference committee to negotiate a compromise budget. Due to a Senate Democratic amendment adopted last week, Senate Bill 5 dedicates $425 million to an increase in basic education funding; each school district would dedicate approximately 41 percent of its share to offset real estate taxes. Other notable features of Senate Bill 5, as it differs from the House version of the budget, are funding for HEMAP, an extension of the moratorium on cost-of-living knockoffs to PACE, and additional funds for Growing Greener. Another Senate Democratic amendment to Senate Bill 5 allocates $45 million for fire, police and emergency crews; the House version of the budget includes $45 million for volunteer emergency services, $43 million for fire and ambulance service and $25 million for fire companies.

A conference committee has not yet been appointed.

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By a 28-21 vote, the Senate concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 1240, an election bill that contains a hidden provision to bolster the Republicans' second flawed redistricting plan. Included in the bill, which loosens restrictions on poll watchers, is a provision that retroactively prevents counties from moving any precinct lines until the court rules on the Republican plan.

That provision is designed to void legitimate changes that were made in Armstrong County a month ago, but were somehow missed when the Republicans drew their second map. The changes would have made the second map even more flawed than the first, so the majority outlawed them retroactively.

The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.

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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1459, creating the Open Work Force Law. This bill would prohibit local governments from requiring that a proportion of workers on a local construction project be community residents. This measure evolved from a bill Democratic senators introduced in October 1999 to counter a resolution adopted by the City of Pittsburgh requiring that 35 percent of all jobs on publicly-funded construction projects greater than $200,000 go to city residents. In March 2000, the Senate voted 42-8 to adopt the Senate Democratic proposal, which would have amended the existing Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act. In the House, no action was taken after it was laid on the table, following first consideration, in June 2000.

HB 1459 has been signed in both Houses and submitted to the governor.

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By a 48-1 vote, the Senate concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 369, which would amend the Crime and Vehicle codes to authorize police officers to make audio recordings of discussions under the following circumstances: The officer must be performing law enforcement duties and inform the individuals that they are being recorded as soon as possible; must be identifiable as a police officer; must be in close proximity to the individuals being recorded and can only record in places where individuals have no expectation of privacy. Such recordings could not be made in someone’s home.

Following House concurrence in Senate amendments, the bill now goes to the Governor.

In a related 48-1 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 1933. The measure would require the police to keep traffic stop audio recordings for at least 31 days, and then destroy them after 90 days unless the tape could be used as part of a criminal or civil proceeding.

Following House approval of Senate amendments, the bill is now in the Governor’s hands.

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The Senate approved legislation this week that would create the "Displaced Homemaker and Single Parent Self-sufficiency Act.

The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 4, which authorizes funding for community-based centers aimed at helping single parents and displaced homemakers find jobs. Under the bill, New Choices/New Options Career Development Centers will receive grants to provide job counseling, training, placement services, financial assistance with job-related expenses, and financial management help.

There are 26 New Choices/New Options centers and, since 1986, the organization has been providing services to women who want to re-enter the workforce but lack skills. All of the training money is funneled through local educational agencies, such as vocational-technical schools. Last year, the program received $3.7 million.

While HB4 authorizes the funding, no money has been allocated in Gov. Schweiker’s 2002-03 budget.

The bill is currently in the House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 1118, adopted unanimously, would amend the Third Class City Code to create "public recreation places" that mirror parameters established under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act. The bill also prohibits a city from exercising eminent domain to obtain land for recreational use in another community without that community’s formal approval.

By a 39-9 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 402. The measure would define an "antique slot machine" as being at least 25 years old. Under current law, a machine is deemed an antique if it was made before 1941. The bill now goes to the Governor.

By a 32-16 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1158, which would consider a livestock operation containing privately owned elk within fences a farm operation. This would not include preserves where elk are imported or purchased for hunting purposes. The bill now goes to the House.