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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate this week unanimously concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 881, which would further restrict the use of eminent domain. Under the bill, condemnors would be prohibited from using eminent domain to take private property in order to use it for private purposes. Exceptions include: when the condemnee consents; when the property is transferred or leased to a common carrier, public utility, or railroad; when a private entity occupies an incidental area within a public project; when the property taken is a threat to public health or safety; when the property is abandoned; when the property meets the requirements of “blight;” and certain agricultural properties. The bill would also prohibit multiple properties from being condemned in a redevelopment area unless a majority of the properties meet the description of blight. The measure would prohibit political subdivisions from exercising eminent domain authority against land that is situated in another political subdivision without that municipality’s approval. Senate Bill 881 is largely in response to a federal court ruling that allowed New Haven, Connecticut, to use eminent domain against homeowners for private development. The bill now goes to the Governor.
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By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1069, which would establish a 30-member Innocence Commission. The commission would be responsible for studying wrongful conviction cases where someone was convicted and later determined to be innocent. After identifying common causes for wrongful conviction, the commission would be responsible for identifying legal and legislative solutions. The Chief Justice, Governor and state lawmakers would recommend the commission members. The Joint state Government Commission would provide staffing. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2380, which would provide supplemental appropriations including: $3 million for the Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program; $3 million to train and hire an additional 180 State Police troopers; $500,000 for the Merchant Marine World War II Veterans Bonus Fund; and $5 million to reimburse counties for full time district attorneys. The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate voted 42-7 on legislation that would institute fines for a driver when snow or ice falls from their vehicle and kills or gravely injures a pedestrian or other driver. House Bill 121 would make several changes to the state Vehicle Code. A Democratic amendment to the bill was added to provide for penalties when a driver or pedestrian is injured or killed by falling snow or ice. This bill also would allow Philadelphia to run streetcars on Girard Avenue. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee.
* * * The Senate voted 47-1 to approve House Bill 137, which would exempt operators of late-model motorcycles from the current requirement to run the cycle’s headlight when the bike is in use. This change is necessary because certain motorcycles manufactured from 1973 to 1985 have difficulty with their battery charging system that make it difficult or impossible to operate with their headlamp on continuously. This bill would also increase the fine for violating a posted weight limit on a highway or bridge. According to the state Department of Transportation, overweight vehicles caused two bridges to collapse last year. The bill now heads to the governor.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 218, which would update the state’s Downtown Location Law to bring it into line with regulations currently followed by the Department of General Services. This law encourages state agencies to locate facilities in downtown areas throughout Pennsylvania. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 601, which would require an offender convicted of drunk driving to pay for his own blood alcohol testing. If the accused is not convicted, the local government or State Police would pay for the testing. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee.
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Senate Bill 713 received unanimous approval in the Senate this week. This bill would require consumers to opt-in for listing in any cellular phone provider’s directory. Also, customers would not be charged for having an unlisted cell phone number. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee
* * * The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 214. The measure would allow for a $35 fee to be charged when a municipal police officer carries out one or more warrants or sets up the payment of fines. The bill now goes to the House.
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