Over the objections of Democratic leaders, state Senate Republicans adjourned last week without a spending plan for schools and without any new ideas for education and tax reform.

Despite a warning from Gov. Ed Rendell that their weak and watered down proposal would be vetoed if it reached his desk, the majority passed House Bill 564 before saying “our work is done,” and heading home.

House Bill 564 is a summer re-run of previous Republican education proposals that carries a nominal increase in education funding and ignores the reform measures endorsed by Pennsylvanians when they voted for governor last fall.

The bill contains no provisions for early childhood education, full-day kindergarten, and ignores the public’s cry for tax reform.

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With the loss of federal highway dollars looming, the Senate amended and unanimously approved Senate Bill 8, which would establish a tougher blood-alcohol standard for determining drunk driving.

Under Senate Bill 8, the maximum blood-alcohol level at which a person could be charged with drunk driving would be lowered from .10 percent to .08 percent. Enactment would put the state in compliance with a federal dictate that required states to enact the tougher drunk driving standard by October 1, or forfeit about 2 percent of federal highway dollars.

The Senate removed House language that would have established a tiered DUI and suspension system.

The House has since non-concurred in the amended Senate version.

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By a vote of 28-19, the Senate approved Senate Bill 68, the $897 million 2003-2004 Capital Budget. The bill now goes to the House. The amount of debt in each project category would be as follows:

Public Improvement
Buildings and Structures                    $538,000,000
Transportation Assistance                   186,000,000
Redevelopment Assistance                  120,000,000
Flood Control                                         3,000,000
Site Development Capital Projects          50,000,000

Total                                                 $897,000,000

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The Senate unanimously approved an amended version of Senate Bill 276, which would expand the registration on the state’s “Do Not Call List” to include protection under the state’s list as well as the National Registry.

The measure would also provide protection for wireless users and take additional steps against those who engage in deceptive or abusive telemarketing practices.

The bill now returns to the House for consideration.

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In a unanimous concurrence vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 521, which would permit courts to commit sexually violent juvenile offenders for up to 10 years.

The House amended the bill to provide for the creation and use of an interim Department of Welfare facility for the commitment and treatment of sexually violent youth.

Currently, there is no provision for the civil commitment of juvenile sex offenders after they reach the age of 21. The measure determines how these offenders would be assessed and committed for one-year terms. The bill was introduced after the proposed release of a juvenile who expressed a desire to commit additional sexual crimes.

The bill now goes to the Governor.

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             The Senate unanimously concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 442, which amends the act – the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law of 1923 – that governs the filing and collection of municipal claims and tax liens.  The measure includes new language and definitions to clarify that the recovery of attorney fees includes both tax and municipal claims.  Also, these fees are collectible by the municipality as well as its designated agents. One of the House amendments provides that tax claim bureaus may adopt and use the procedures set forth in this act in addition to the procedures set forth in the Real Estate Tax Sale Law of 1947. The other amendment provides that in second-class counties and their municipalities interest will accrue monthly on all taxes, tax claims and municipal claims on the first day for the month in which the taxes, tax claims, or municipal claims are paid. The bill was drafted in response to a Commonwealth Court decision in Allegheny County.