HARRISBURG -- By a 27 to 20 party line vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 304, which gives state and local governments more of a priority status when the assets of an estate are insufficient to pay all of its debts.

 In opposing the bill, Democrats said it was wrong to give government entities a claims advantage over individual citizens.

The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 45, which would make it a criminal misdemeanor to knowingly purchase, sell, install or reinstall a “fake” air bag in a motor vehicle.

     The new law, which would carry a maximum penalty of $10,000 and five years in jail, is in response to a growing scam where unscrupulous repair shops and dealers do not replace the air bag after a vehicle has been in an accident; or simply remove an airbag in order to resell it. It is estimated that one in every 25 cars has a fake airbag.

The bill now goes to the House.

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Senate Bill 379, passed by the Senate 46-1, would amend the Vehicle Code as it pertains to funeral processions.  It authorizes the use of flashing or revolving yellow or white lights while traveling to a funeral destination.

The measure now goes to the House. 

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