|
Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
|
By a 47-0 vote, the Senate this week approved Senate Bill 157, which would exempt Pennsylvania’s low-income families from paying the new Emergency Municipal Services (EMS) Tax. Under the legislation, any Pennsylvanian with an annual income totaling less than $12,000 would receive the exemption. Employers also would be required to withhold the tax in quarterly, or more frequent, increments. Current law allows the $52 tax to be taken out of paychecks in one lump sum. An approved amendment to the bill would allow municipalities to apply EMS tax funds toward property tax relief through homestead or farmstead exclusions. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 464, which would reverse a recent court ruling that requires employers to be represented by legal counsel in unemployment compensation proceedings. Current law allows workers to be represented by anyone they choose. This bill would create a level playing field for both parties. Prior to the ruling, business consultants and personnel managers routinely participated in unemployment compensation hearings on behalf of employers. However, the courts have held that this is akin to the unauthorized practice of law. Senate Democrats successfully added amendments to the bill that would create a Job Training Fund to support job-training programs in the state and would prohibit companies from transferring ownership to lower their unemployment compensation rating. The bill has been approved by the House Labor Relations Committee and now will be considered by the entire House.
* * *
In other action:
The Senate approved Senate Bill 82 by a 47-0 vote. This legislation would prohibit any condominium or homeowners’ association from banning a unit owner’s display of the American flag, the Pennsylvania flag and military flags. Unit owners would be permitted to display flags on their designated properties, in accordance with association regulations. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate approved Senate Bill 462 by a 41-6 vote. This bill would amend the state’s Liquor Code to allow most tavern owners to pay in cash for beer or liquor deliveries. Legislation passed during the last session outlawed this practice to protect delivery persons from becoming the targets of armed robbery when carrying large amounts of cash. The bill would continue to prohibit cash payments for beer or liquor deliveries in Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware counties. The bill now goes to the house.
* * *
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 62, which would allow local government units to consider competitive electronic bids for supplies and services, but not for construction or design professional services. The information submitted for bids would be available to the public, and the local government unit would insure that the information is advertised. The bill would also allow for the withdrawal of a bid if the bidder can show that the lower bid price was reached through error. The contract would be awarded within 60 days of the auction by written notice to the lowest responsible bidder, or all bids may be rejected. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 198, which would make it unlawful for a floral shop or supplier to misrepresent itself as a local business in a local telephone directory. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
|