SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK OF
June 5, 2006

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            The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 1200 by a vote of 47-0.  The measure would grant National Guard and military reserves an extension on their firearm certification if their license expires while they are deployed overseas.

            Act 235, also known as the Lethal Weapons Training Act, requires training and certification of private agents who use firearms for employment.  Military personnel can run into problems when they are deployed overseas and their certification expires while on active duty.  Under the Democrat-sponsored Senate Bill 1200, such National Guard and military reserves would be granted a 90-day extension period before their license expires.

            The bill now goes to the House.

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             The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1153, which would require that documents filed in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds must be both recorded and indexed properly in order to provide constructive notice to a potential purchaser of the property.

            The bill is in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that a property buyer had constructive notice of a properly recorded mortgage even though the mortgage was defectively indexed. The bill also provides protection from liability for the recording officer or government body for any mistake, error or inaccuracy in any index.

            The bill now goes to the House.  

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            The Senate voted unanimously to approve House Bill 1834, which would make it easier to match organ donors with recipients. This legislation would authorize the Department of Transportation to provide electronic access to drivers’ licensing information for approved organ procurement organizations. These organizations would be prohibited from using the information for any purpose other than to ascertain organ donor status. The bill now heads to the governor.

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            Legislation to help Pennsylvania small businesses invest in capital and cut their state tax bills earned unanimous support in the Senate.

            Senate Bill 1139 would make changes to the state’s tax laws that parallel recent amendments to the federal Internal Revenue Code that permit small businesses to deduct up to $100,000 for capital investments. This legislation would also streamline the process under Pennsylvania law for becoming an S Corporation, a business that is taxed as a partnership, but enjoys the benefits of incorporation. In addition, this bill would make it easier for a small business to qualify for this designation by incorporating another change to the federal tax code, which increases the maximum number of shareholders for an S Corporation to 100.

            The bill now heads to the House.

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            With a unanimous vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1179.

            The bill would exclude coal-fire boilers that are installed or repaired in residential buildings from the Uniform Construction Code.  The UCC adopted the 2003 International Residential Code as the technical standard for residential buildings.  All residential boilers installed after April 9, 2004 were required to comply with the Code.

            Bill supporters argue that applying the code to coal-fie boilers was unintended and unnecessary, and is too costly to manufacturers, as well as residential consumers who want to heat their homes with coal.

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