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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 682, which would give Pennsylvania National Guard families top priority in obtaining subsidized childcare. A family with at least one parent who has been ordered to active federal or state duty in the Pennsylvania National Guard would be given preference for placement in state subsidized child care. Other eligibility requirements include being a state resident and having a household income that is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty income guideline. Under the Democratic-sponsored bill, a family would pay a weekly co-payment of $5 to $25, depending on income, and the state would cover the remaining cost. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 358, which would allow active duty National Guard personnel to extend their participation in the Educational Assistance Program. The program currently provides members with tuition grants to pay for up to five years, or 10 semesters of college, which the members are required to complete during their term of service. This Democratic-sponsored bill would extend the grants by each month the guardsman is deployed on active duty. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 867, which would appropriate $25 million in gaming proceeds to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for grant distribution to volunteer fire departments and ambulance services. The program would begin in 2007. The bill was in response to a court decision that disallowed lawmakers from making the grant program part of the state’s gaming law. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate took steps this week to protect Pennsylvania businesses and individuals from “spyware” infecting their computers by unanimously approving Senate Bill 711. Known as the “Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act,” this bill would prohibit the distribution of software that modifies a user’s preferences or security settings, collects personal information, or takes control of a user’s computer. Those convicted of using spyware for these purposes would face fines up to $25,000 and up to 10 years in prison. The bill would also enable Internet service providers, software companies, and trademark owners to seek civil damages and an injunction against a spyware distributor. The bill now heads to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 761, which would outlaw video voyeuristic “upskirting” or “downblousing.” Under the legislation, it would be illegal to secretly photograph or videotape a person’s intimate parts. The measure also makes it illegal to transmit such images electronically or over the Internet. First-time offenders could face a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. The amended bill now returns to the House.
* * * By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 158, which would establish a task force to study how services are provided to indigent criminal defendants, and to review how other states provide these services. The resolution now goes to the House. # # #
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