SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK OF
October 24, 2005

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            The Senate voted unanimously this week to allow Pennsylvania voters to decide through a ballot referendum whether legislative spending limits should become part of the state’s constitution.

            Senate Bill 884 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the General Assembly from growing the state budget’s beyond small, inflationary increases each year.  The legislature would be able exceed the spending limit only during a Presidential declaration of emergency, a governor’s declaration of emergency, or at the governor ’s request.  In these circumstances, the legislature would be required to approve a governor’s request for excess spending by a supermajority vote.

            The bill now heads to the House.  As a proposed constitutional amendment, this bill must pass the General Assembly in two legislative sessions before adoption by the voters of Pennsylvania.

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            By a vote of 42-8, the Senate approved Senate Bill 4, which would establish spending limits on the state’s budget through statute.  In a year when tax revenues exceed spending limits, these funds would be divided between a budget stabilization fund and a fund to provide for tax cuts in the next year.

            The bill now heads to the House.

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            The Senate voted 48 to 2 in favor of House Bill 1717, which would give county judges the option of ordering defendants with PFA (Protection From Abuse) orders against them to surrender all of their guns and other weapons to a sheriff or approved third party within 24 hours of the PFA’s activation.

            Weapons would be withheld during the duration of the PFA order. Surrender of weapons would be mandatory if a PFA is violated. The amended bill would also allow law enforcement to impose criminal charges for failure to surrender weapons when ordered, along with an up to five-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $10,000. Additionally, people convicted under the law would permanently lose their right to possess firearms.

            The amended bill, which was supported by the National Rifle Association as well as victims’ rights organizations, now returns to the House.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 854, bringing Pennsylvania into compliance with federal laws making Health Savings Accounts and Medical Savings accounts tax free.  The Department of Revenue estimates that about 56,000 Pennsylvanians will participate in HSA or MSA in 2006 and the tax-free status will cost Pennsylvania about $4.4 million in personal income tax revenue.   Officials expect 81,000 Pennsylvanians will participate by 2009.

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            The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1179.  This legislation offers an amendment to the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. 

            This bill sets up an account and distributes funds to service men and women or their family members who are in financial need as a direct result of their military service. 

            The bill will know go to the Governor.

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            The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 746.  This bill would criminalize the act of luring a child into a car or building.

            Luring or attempting to lure a child will result in a first-degree misdemeanor.

            The bill will know go to the Governor.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 693.  This bill would amend the Election Code to further provide for affidavit of circulator.  Section 909 of the Election Code would be amended to eliminate the requirement that circulators of school board candidate petitions be of the same designated party as the candidate.

            The bill now goes to the House.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 875, which would amend Title 4 (Amusements) providing language that prohibits emergency procurement by the Pennsylvania Gaming Board.

            The bill now goes to the House.

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            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 932.  This bill would further provide for land conveyance to the Borough of Doylestown, Bucks County.

            The legislation would extend the final date of disposition for the land conveyance of the Doylestown Armory in Bucks County for another twelve months.  The bill would also prohibit any portion of the land to be conveyed to a gaming facility.

            The bill now goes to the House.

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