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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate this week voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 599, which would fund the state’s $25 million grant program for volunteer fire and emergency service companies for another year. The grants are used to make building repairs, purchase new equipment, for training and to make debt payments. The program, first established in 2000, was slated to become permanent and funded with gaming proceeds. However, the State Supreme Court last year struck down that provision in the gaming law. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 969, which would amend the Liquor Code to mandate Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) training, along with other penalties, for bar operators who have been convicted of selling alcohol to minors or visibly intoxicated persons. Currently, the administrative law judge has the option of ordering the training. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
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By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved House Bill 1525, which would amend the Liquor Code to allow old country hotel licensees that were granted their liquor license prior to September 1, 1949 to no longer maintain bedrooms for public accommodations. While these rooms could not be used to serve drinks in, they could be used for storage. The amended bill now returns to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 303, which would increase the fees that constables charge for their judicial services in both civil and criminal proceedings. The measure also, in some cases, enables a constable to be accompanied by a second constable. In addition, the bill allows for the pre-payment of fees in landlord-tenant actions. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 1114, which would strengthen the Waste Tire Recycling Act of 1996 by regulating waste tire facilities, clarifying and strengthening provisions in current law to recover costs of remediation, and dictating requirements for those who discard or receive waste tires. The bill would also encourage the use of recycled tire product. The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously to approve legislation that would allow property owners to have their delinquent taxes discharged if they donate their property to a county, municipality, school district, or municipal authority. The goal of such legislation is to get new owners for delinquent properties and return them to the tax rolls. In amending the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, House Bill 459 would also require tax claim bureaus to maintain public lists of all properties with unpaid taxes from the previous year. Tax claim bureaus would have the authority to report any non-payment of taxes, including liens, to the consumer reporting agencies. The Senate voted 47-2 on concurrence in House amendments to a similar bill (Senate Bill 640) that would amend the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law, which applies to Philadelphia and Allegheny counties. Senate Bill 640 heads to the governor for his signature, while House Bill 459 returns to the House for a concurrence vote on Senate changes to the bill.
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This week the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 936, which would require Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service providers to assess a $1 fee for each customer service line. This fee would be distributed by PEMA to counties to assist with implementing their 911 plans. The fee would be stated separately on a customer’s bill and collected separately from any other fee levied by the provider for 911 services. VoIP providers would be permitted to retain up to 2 percent of the total fees collected as reimbursement for administrative costs. Businesses with over 25 lines through a VoIP telephone provider would pay a prorated fee for each line. A survey by a VoIP industry group found that 75 percent of its members already collect and remit state and local 911 fees for their customers. Other companies have been accused of collecting these fees from consumers, but failing to forward the funds to government agencies. The number of subscribers for Internet phone services has risen to around 3.6 million in the third quarter of 2005, up from around 700,000 during the third quarter of 2004. One market research firm predicts this number could climb to 16 million by 2008. The bill now heads to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
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The Senate voted unanimously to approve legislation that would exempt drivers operating a school bus or other commercial vehicle during a state of emergency from being prosecuted for an accident involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed. Senate Bill 1056 is designed is to allow for rapid evacuation in the event of an emergency when sufficient numbers of commercial drivers are not available to operate school buses or vans. The bill now heads to the House.
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