Harrisburg - The Senate this week unanimously passed Senate Bill 680, which would regulate the amount of money school districts can keep in reserve while adopting a tax increase. The bill was amended by Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow to ease the restrictions on smaller school districts.  Most school districts would be limited to budget surpluses of eight percent. Mellow’s amendment would allow higher percentages on a sliding scale for districts with budgets of less than $19 million.

The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 582, Capital Budget Project Itemization Act for 2002-2003.

The House amended the bill by adding $10 million for the Ethanol Plant in Clearfield County, and $6 million for renovations to the Senate Library.

     This bill, which awaits the governor’s signature, contains authorization of $15 million for construction and improvements of the DuPont Company’s Imaging Technologies project in Bradford County.

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In other action:

-- The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 279, which would amend the Vehicle Code to provide for a special motorcycle registration plate for veterans.

The bill now goes to the House.

-- The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 340, which names a new Penn State facility the Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. Livestock Evaluation Center. The bill now goes to the House.

-- By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 157, which would compel colleges to adopt policies to regulate credit card marketing on college campuses.

The bill now goes to the House.

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