|
Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
|
The Senate this week slashed hundreds of pie-in-the-sky House amendments to House Bill 815, which could become the vehicle for the Pennsylvania’s 2005-2006 General Fund Budget, and unanimously approved a more serious amended version of the state’s spending plan. The Senate revision of the bill stripped out all House amendments and returned the budget document to what the Governor originally proposed. The Senate then added a total of $143 million in supplemental spending on subjects ranging from medical assistance ($125 million) to black fly spraying ($4.4 million). The amended bill now returns to the House.
* * *
Over strenuous objections, mostly from Senate Democrats, the Senate passed by a 34-16 vote a bill that would require school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in district-sponsored extracurricular activities. Under current law, each school district can decide for itself whether to permit home-schooled students to participate. Senate Bill 361 now goes to the House.
* * *
By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 386, which would assure that sentencing courts could impose the toughest possible penalties for burglary and home invasion. The Democrat-sponsored bill would correct an inconsistency in how the state’s burglary and “Three Strikes” laws treat burglary in instances such as a home invasion when the victim is present. The burglary law currently grades the crime as a first-degree felony regardless of whether or not the victim is present. The “Three Strikes” law only applies to burglary when a victim is present at the time the crime is committed. This discrepancy can shield a repeat offender from the additional 22 years in prison that a repeat offense would bring under the “Three Strikes” law. The change to the burglary statute would also preserve heightened penalties under the sentencing guidelines that are now routinely utilized by courts when the crime is committed and a victim is present. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
By a unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 652, clarifying regulations regarding the educational assistance program and the accountability block grant program. Under the bill, money from both programs could be used for tutoring services offered during the school day, as long as the tutoring services would not conflict with the eligible student’s normal course of instruction. The bill heads to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would make it easier for the public to examine school districts’ proposed budgets. Senate Bill 672 would require school districts to submit their proposed budgets to the Department of Education on a standard form supplied by the department, and that the proposed budget include line-item expenditures. The bill also would require that the budget be available for public inspection and could be copied for a reasonable fee. Senate Bill 672 now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 410. This bill would establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education and its board within the State System of Higher Education. The Center would identify needs for environmental education, promote research and develop programs. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would provide funding for private schools that enroll children who are deaf or blind, or have other special needs. Senate Bill 686 would clarify provisions in the school code that made it more difficult for the schools and the state to assess their funding needs. The bill calls for more rigorous accounting and guarantees funding to cover expenses. Senate Bill 686 now goes to the House.
* * *
In the wake of accounting scandals across the country, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would tighten accounting regulations in Pennsylvania and mandate certain training. Senate Bill 251 would be the first update of Pennsylvania’s Certified Public Accounting law in nearly ten years. The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
By a unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 594. This bill would create trusts for the owners of interests in oil and gas. Such trusts would encourage the development of oil and gas resources in Pennsylvania, while protecting owners of oil and gas interests whose identities or whereabouts are unknown. The bill would create a new state law known as “The Dormant Oil and Gas Act.” The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
By unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 722. This bill would amend the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act (Act 32 of 1989), to allow for continued state allocations to the Underground Storage Tank Environmental Cleanup Program. The bill now goes to the House. * * *
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 539. This bill would amend the Game and Wildlife Code (Title 34 Pa. C.S.) to make trespass a summary offense under the Code and to ensure that repeat offenders are not eligible for hunting or fishing licenses. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
* * *
By unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 457, legislation that would make changes to the Third-Class City Code regarding retirement funds. The bill would allow for retirees of third-class cities to receive a pension while holding elected office, provided that they do not accept a salary for the office that they hold. If a retiree does accept a salary, he or she will not receive a pension for every month during which this salary is accepted. The bill also would ensure the right of a beneficiary to hold elected office. Senate Bill 457 now goes to the House for consideration.
* * *
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 509, which would give state and local governments more of a priority status when the assets of an estate are insufficient to pay all of its debts. Currently the Commonwealth is last on the priority list, appearing in the general category of “all other claims.” A similar bill (Senate Bill 304) was approved by the General Assembly last year, but was vetoed by the governor. The bill now goes to the House.
|