SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK OF
May 7, 2007

Return to Home Page

            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 699.   The bill would amend the Judicial Code to allow for a determination that if testimony in court would cause a child serious emotional distress, the child can be made unavailable as a witness and that child’s out-of-court statements may be used in the trial.

            The bill is now in the House.

* * *

            The Senate approved Senate Bill 105 with a vote of 47 to 1.  The measure would amend the Administrative Code section that deals with the Environmental Quality Board to add a subsection that allows for the board to have an independent counsel to assist the board in its review of proposed and final rulemakings, and all other matters before the board. 

            The independent counsel would be appointed by the Department of Environmental Protection and would be compensated out of the funds for the general government operations of the department. 

            The measure now moves to the House.

* * *

            The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would amend the law that regulates pilots and pilotage for the Port of Philadelphia and the Capes of the Delaware.

            Senate Bill 755 would gradually change the charges per unit for conducting a vessel within the Port of Philadelphia and the Delaware River.  Starting at $10.88 per unit in 2007 to $12.36 per unit by January 2010.

            The maximum unit charge would change gradually to 1,350 in 2007 to 1,400 units by January 1, 2010.

            The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

* * *

            The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 537, which would make it a crime for any person to knowingly install or reinstall a fraudulent air bag on a motor vehicle.

            Any violation would constitute as a first-degree misdemeanor.

            Many states are advancing identical legislation to address a growing scam in the car repair and auto maintenance industry – installing faulty or fake air bags. 

            The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

* * *

            The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 467, which would increase penalties for violations of the Sunshine Act.

            Currently, a violation of the Sunshine Act is a summary offense and carries a fine no greater than $100 plus costs of prosecution.  This bill would increase the fine to $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for a second offense and more plus the cost of prosecution.  Agencies would not be allowed to pay or reimburse the fine for members of that agency who are in violation of this section.

 # # #

home