The Senate this week unanimously passed House Bill 85, which extends the amortization period for the state’s two biggest pension funds (State Employees and Public School Employees) from 10 years to 30 years.

Over the next three years, the measure is expected to save school district $1.7 billion, and the Commonwealth $2.3 billion.

The bill also amends Title 24 (Education) to designate an actuarial cost method to calculate the total amount employers must contribute to the retirement funds of Pennsylvania’s education system employees.

The measure also amends Title 71 (State Government) to allow state employees appointed to the position of bail commissioner of the Philadelphia Municipal Court to elect a Class E-2 service credit.

            The Governor has signed the bill into law (Act 40 of 2003).

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By a 48-1 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 521, which would amend the Keystone Opportunity Zone and Keystone Opportunity and Expansion Zone Act in Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

The amendments outline criteria for the application, review and authorization of keystone opportunity zones, keystone opportunity expansion zones and keystone opportunity improvement zones.

Other changes to the act would include: an extension of the application and designation deadlines for enhancing existing subzones and expansion subzones; and a listing of requirements for tax exemption, business relocation and the apportionment of taxable income to subzones.

The Keystone Opportunity Zone and Keystone Opportunity and Expansion Zone Act provide tax relief to designated areas to spur economic development, stimulate industrial, commercial and residential improvements and prevent the deterioration of the state’s land and infrastructure.

The bill now returns to the House for consideration of Senate amendments.

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            By a 48-1 vote, the Senate approved House Bill 545, which would amend the County Pension Law to change vesting rights and provide additional class options for county employees.

            House Bill 545 would allow county employees to become “vested” after 5 years of service instead of 8, as mandated in the current law. By becoming “vested,” a county employee who has accumulated the required years of employment but decides to end county service could keep retirement contributions and interest in the county retirement fund. These contributions would accrue additional interest until the employee retires.

The legislation would also authorize county retirement boards to establish a one-fiftieth employment class or a one-fortieth employment class. Each new class of members would be required to contribute 9 percent of their gross income to the retirement fund.

            The bill now goes to the Governor.

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The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1018, the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act. The bill would establish a system by which county 911 centers can accurately trace the location and phone number of someone calling for emergency assistance from a wireless phone. The system will be funded by a monthly $1 surcharge on wireless telephones that are registered in Pennsylvania.  The bill also:

• creates the Wireless E-911 Emergency Services Advisory Board, which would make recommendations to PEMA regarding the system.
• provides for state police training for dispatchers.
• allows the PSP to request wireless phone number data base information from county 911 centers. 
• clarifies the interaction between the PSP, emergency call centers and counties in regard to access to 911 data.
• requires emergency call centers and wireless providers to submit to PEMA the expected eligible costs of providing wireless E-911 service. 

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

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Along party lines, the Senate Passed House Bill 88, which creates a list of  “vocational experts” who decide how much an injured worker can collect on Worker’s Compensation.

Democrats opposed the bill because it provided no assurance to workers that the expert has no connection with insurance companies.  A Democratic amendment took some of the sting out of the bill by requiring that the experts abide by a code of conduct.

The bill now goes to the House for concurrence.

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            The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 876, which would allow non-profit associations and non-profit corporations that are created to acquire property for the preservation, conservation and stewardship of open space, to be exempt from bidding requirements.

The bill has now been referred to the House Local Government Committee.

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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 970, which would amend Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to enable the retroactive revival of an expired authority for a specific term.

A municipal statement of revival is created in this legislation. Properly executed revival statements must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth within five years of its tem of expiration. 

The bill now goes to the House Local Government Committee

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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1000, which would provide reciprocal licenses for qualified out-of-state real estate licensees. Currently 35 other states offer reciprocal licenses.

The amended bill now returns to the House.