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In approving what was described as little more than a vehicle to “move the process forward,” the Senate this week amended and unanimously approved a $22.7 billion state budget for fiscal 2004-2005.

All but assuring that the bill will end up in a conference committee, House Bill 2579 was amended to strip nearly all of the state House’s 200 additional spending amendments. Majority Republicans also carved $75 million from Governor Ed Rendell’s “education accountability grants” initiative, and another $70 million from his “Growing Greener II” proposal.

The amended bill would also increase basic school subsidies, funding for special education, and library funding.

As lawmakers begin finalizing details on the “real” budget, they will also need to decide what to do with a projected $470 million state revenue surplus.

The measure now returns to the House.

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In other action:

·        The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1124, which would appropriate $41.7 million from the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees’ Retirement Board for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The bill now goes to the House. 

·        The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1125, which would appropriate $22.9 million from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and $8.7 million from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. The bill now goes to the House.

·        By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1127, which would appropriate $4.6 million from a restricted revenue account in the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney. The bill now goes to the House.

·        The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1128, which would appropriate $967,000 from a restricted revenue account in the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development. The bill now goes to the House.

·        The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1130, which would appropriate $55 million from the Workmen’s Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry to provide for the expenses of administering the Worker’s Compensation Act and The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The bill also appropriates $184,000 from the Workmen’s Compensation Administration Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Department of Community and Economic Development for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The bill now goes to the House.

·        The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1059, which would raise the current rate for river pilots guiding vessels within 80 miles of the Port of Philadelphia from $9.58 to $10.88 by 2007.  The bill would also increase the maximum number of units that can be charged. The bill now goes to the House.

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