SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK OF
October 17, 2005

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            By a vote of 33-17, the Senate this week concurred in House amendments and again passed the controversial Senate Bill 361, which would give home-schooled students access to public school extracurricular activities.  The Senate previously passed the bill earlier this year, but the House added amendments creating conditions and guidelines.

            Participation by the home education students is now subject to several conditions as follows:

            A school district must have a policy dealing with home-schooled students’ participation by January 1, 2006

            Policies shall address home-schooled students’ compliance with district and governing organizations’ rules and regulations.

          Districts must publicize the schedule for medical tests and physical examinations.

            The bill now goes back to the House.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 74, which would give courts more flexibility in child custody cases by removing any presumption that a child should be awarded to a particular parent.

            Instead, the court would decide child custody issues in the “best interests of the child” based on a list of factors that range from educational continuity to sibling relationships. The legislation is largely the result of recommendations of the Joint State Government Commission Task Force and Advisory Committee on Domestic Relations Law.

          The bill now goes to the House.   

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            The Senate took steps to protect against identity theft with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 601.

            In an effort to protect the privacy of Social Security numbers, this legislation would ensure that state agencies and businesses cannot publicly post or display Social Security numbers, including printing the numbers on any card required to access products or services.

            Under the bill, Social Security numbers could not be used to access Internet Web sites unless a password or personal identification number (PIN) is used.  Additionally, it would allow transmission of Social Security numbers only if an Internet site is secured and the number is encrypted or coded to protect an individual’s personal information.  Finally, Social Security numbers could not be printed on any materials that are mailed unless federal or state law requires the number be on the document to be mailed.

            A Democratic-sponsored amendment to the bill would also protect applicants for hunting and fishing licenses from having their Social Security number disclosed.  Sportsmen have complained that vendors have been unwittingly revealing their Social Security numbers by leaving license sales books unattended on counters and allowing applicants to fill out the books on their own.

            The bill now heads to the House.

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            The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1069, which would provide further leaves of absences for government employees who are also in the military.

            Activated reservists and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard would be entitled up to 15 days of additional military leave of absence each year. 

            The bill now goes to the House.

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            The Senate this week unanimously approved House Bill 859, which would clarify that Pittsburgh School District has the authority to levy a one-percent real estate transfer tax. The bill has been referred the House Rules committee.

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            The Senate unanimously approved an amended version of House Bill 816, which would appropriate $52 million from a restricted General Fund account to the Public Utility Commission for the its 2005-06 operational costs. The bill also appropriates $375,000 in federal funds for the natural pipeline safety and $1.350 million for motor carrier safety.

            The bill now returns to the House.

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            By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved House Bill 1435, which would ban computer-assisted remote hunting of Pennsylvania animals.

            Under the bill, it would be a Third Degree Misdemeanor to shoot animals by computerized remote control. The bill is in response to an Internet web site that allows its subscribers to sit at their computer and fire remote-controlled guns at animals by clicking their computer mouse.

            The bill now goes to the Governor.

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