The Senate this week unanimously approved Senate Bill 18, which is aimed at deterring organized crime from infiltrating the state’s new slots industry.

The measure would allow violations under the state’s gaming law to be prosecuted under the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act. In investigating gaming industry violations, the RICO law would give the State Attorney General’s office greater access to law enforcement tools such as wiretaps and grand juries.

While supporting the bill, Democrats reiterated their call for legislation to ban lawmakers and all of their family members from having any financial stake in gaming.

The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate took preliminary steps to address the state’s mass transit crisis when it unanimously passed Senate Bill 199.  The bill, which amends the Supplemental Public Transportation Account, would temporarily remove the $75 million cap on appropriations for mass transit from sales tax revenue.

During consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee, some Democratic senators expressed concern about the bill’s potential negative impact on the General Fund (approximately $22 million in fiscal 2004-05).  For this reason, Gov. Ed Rendell opposes the bill.

The bill now goes to the House.

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Senate Bill 149 was approved by unanimous vote.  This legislation would provide funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund by directing that one-quarter mill of the Capital Stock & Franchise Tax be transferred from the General Fund to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.  The funds would be used for emergency responses, investigations, testing, contracting, and other cleanup activities relating to the release of hazardous contaminants.

The Bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously passed a series of bills designed to meet the guidelines of the federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”  The bills include:

            Senate Bill 146, which would direct intermediate units to coordinate academic programs for school districts and to establish academic improvement teams for school districts that fall below academic standards.

            Senate Bill 147, which would require the state Department of Education to provide assistance and guidance for schools that are not meeting standards.

            Senate Bill 148, which requires failing school districts to provide a plan for continuing education of its teachers.

            All three bills are headed to the House for consideration.

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