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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate unanimously passed a bill that brings hospital plan corporations and professional health services plan corporations, like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, under the Insurance Holding Company Act. Under Senate Bill 550, the consolidation of any Blue Cross/Blue Shield parent company would fall under the oversight and review requirements of the Insurance Department. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 637, which states that the consent of a majority of the Pennsylvania Senate is needed for the appointment of the director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Presently, the governor appoints the director. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 180, which adds the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies to the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs’ power for arrangement of veterans’ burial details. Currently, the department has the power to arrange for burial details for veterans soldiers who are to be interred in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that permits a business to resell tickets through an Internet site, an act that is presently prohibited in Pennsylvania. Under Senate Bill 86, the ticket reseller is authorized to resell tickets and is not required to obtain a license if the operator of the Internet site has a business presence and physical street address in Pennsylvania and clearly posts it on their Web site, or has a registered agent, a foreign business license or a certificate of authority issued by the Department of State. The reseller must also offer a guarantee to the purchaser regarding refunds if the event is cancelled, if the resold ticket is not honored at the event, or the ticket fails to conform to its description in the internet website. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 150, known as the Sexual Violence Protection Act relating to the protection of victims of sexual violence. This bill would authorize a sexual assault victim to petition the court requesting protection from the defendant. The court would be required to hold an expedited hearing at which the plaintiff would need to prove the need for protection by a “preponderance of the evidence.” The defendant would have the right to legal representation. The court would be able to ban the defendant from having any contact with the plaintiff for up to 18 months. Those who violate the order would face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. The bill is in the House.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 151 which would amend the Crimes Code to expand and clarify the provisions prohibiting contraband. The legislation would increase the grading from a first-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony if someone delivers a weapon, implementation of escape or supplies dangerous material such as explosives to an inmate or confined patient. The bill is now in the House.
Senate Bill 256 passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0. The bill would make the Judicial Code consistent with the constitution provision that denies bail for those charged with a capital offense, an offense punishable by a maximum term of life imprisonment, or situations where the safety of any person in the community cannot be assured. The bill is now in the House.
By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 306, which would provide immunity from prosecution for underage drinking to minors who call 9-1-1 seeking medical attention for others. It is believed that current law discourages minors who have been drinking from seeking medical help for others because reporting the emergency exposes that minor to an underage drinking arrest. To qualify for the proposed immunity, the minor must use their name when reporting the emergency and remain with the person needing medical attention until emergency help arrives. The bill is currently in the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 355 with a unanimous vote. The measure would amend the Air Pollution Control Act to require that all proposed and final state implementation plans (SIPs) that are required under the federal Clean Air Act, be put on a publicly accessible Internet website. The bill now goes to the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 356 with a unanimous vote. The measure would amend the “Environmental Education Act” to establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education. The center would be established within the State System of Higher Education. The measure also would establish a nine-member Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education Board. The members of the board would include representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Department of Education. The measure would also require the center to prepare a periodic report to the Governor and General Assembly outlining environmental education program achievements and recommending future program needs. The bill now goes to the House.
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