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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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This week the Senate voted unanimously to approve legislation that would make it safer for state troopers and local police to patrol Pennsylvania’s highways. Senate Bill 703 would require motorists who are passing a stopped emergency vehicle or patrol car to show caution and change lanes when it is safe to do so. The Fraternal Order of Police supports the legislation, which would impose fines of $30 to $300. The bill now heads to the House.
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By a 46 to 1 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 935, which would amend the Crimes Code to make it a third-degree misdemeanor (maximum of one year in jail and fine of up to $2,500) to fail to identify oneself, upon request, to a law enforcement officer after being stopped on reasonable suspicion for the commission of a crime. While a person could be detained for a short period of time while the officer verifies a person’s identification, the person would not be required to answer an officer’s questions. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 957, which would make it a first-degree felony (maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000) for committing a robbery on the premises of a bank or other financial institution. Currently, such robberies can qualify for lower graded penalties based on the degree of force used. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1150, which would ban protesters form being within 500 feet of a funeral or commemorative service within one hour before, during or after the service. Offenders would be subject to a third-degree misdemeanor (maximum of one year in jail and fine of up to $2,500). The bill was prompted by the trend of anti-gay rights protesters showing up at soldiers’ funerals. The bill now goes to the House.
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By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved an amended version of House Bill 1618 that would require school districts, vocational-technical schools and charter schools to allow students with disabilities to participate in the graduation ceremony with their high school graduating classmates and receive a “certificate of attendance.” This measure would apply to students who complete a special education program, but whose individualized education program plan prescribes continued education after the fourth year of high school. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments.
In other action: The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 513, which would remove the office of assessors from the Second Class Township Code. Elected assessors in these townships would serve the remainder of their unexpired term. After that, no assessors would be appointed nor elected. This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 514. The bill now goes to the House. The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 514, which would eliminate the office of elected assessor in townships of the second class from the Fourth to Eighth Class Counties Assessment Law. The bill now goes to the House. By a 46 to 1 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 707, which would make changes to the state’s cosmetology licensing procedures. The bill establishes necessary training hours prior to receiving a license, and establishes “limited licenses” for Estheticians, Hair Technicians, Nail Technicians, and Natural Hair Stylists. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1159, which would appropriate $4.899 million from the restricted account in the General Fund to the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Advocate for its continued operation 2006-07 fiscal year. The bill now goes to the House. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1161, which would provide $60.2 million to the Department of Labor and Industry for the annual operation of the Workmen’s Compensation Administration Fund; and $184,000 to the department’s Small Business Advocate. The bill now goes to the House. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1162, which would provide $51.6 million for the annual operation of the state Public Utility Commission. The bill now goes to the House.
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