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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate this week passed the Alternative Energy Investment Act, a comprehensive energy package that is an alternative to Gov. Ed Rendell’s Energy Independence Strategy. Special Session Senate Bill 1 would provide funding for investments in Pennsylvania businesses developing alternative energy technologies; pollution-control technology projects; grants and loans to businesses, non-profits, and municipalities undertaking clean energy and alternative energy production projects; and consumer home energy grants, reimbursements, and rebates. This legislation would also provide for an alternative energy production tax credit program. The energy package includes new spending paid for by dedicated revenues from the Utility Gross Receipts Tax and the General Fund. It does not require any new taxes. The package includes spending $210 million on clean energy projects and alternative energy initiatives. It seeks to put consumers in charge by spending $100 million over 10 years on home energy programs. Weatherization and LIHEAP receive new infusions of cash from this package. Solar power, wind power, and geothermal technologies are funded. The plan targets more funds for new energy initiatives under the auspices of the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. The compromise package provides tax credits of $130 million over 10 years for investments in alternative-energy production projects to promote energy independence. Hybrid cars also receive a new boost. Approximately $15 million over five years is slated to aid the already operational hybrid car-purchasing program offered through Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate voted 40 to 9 in favor of Special Session Senate Bill 22, which would amend the 2004 “Alternative Fuels Incentive Act” to increase the reimbursement for the production of renewable fuels, provide funding for alternative energy education and establish biodiesel production incentives. The bill would hike the state’s 5 cents per gallon reimbursement for renewable fuel production to 10 cents. The measure would also reduce the money the department can use for administrative costs from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund (AFIF) from 2 to 1 percent. In addition, 1 percent of the fund could be used to provide education and outreach to car dealers and consumers about the alternative fuels program. The rebate program for purchasing hybrid vehicles would be expanded to include biodiesel or other alternative fuel vehicles. The bill would also set aside $100,000 from the AFIF for a nitrogen tire inflation grant program. The bill would establish biodiesel production incentives. A qualified biodiesel producer would be paid 75 cents for each gallon of biodiesel sold by the producer for commercial purposes. They could receive the incentive for up to $2 million and/or seven million gallons per year. The incentives would be paid through 2010. The bill now goes to the House.
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By a 42 to 7 vote, the Senate approved Special Session Senate Bill 36, which would stipulate the use of minimum amounts of biodiesel in Pennsylvania fuel. Under the bill, all diesel fuel in Pennsylvania would initially be required to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel by volume. This mandate would take affect one year after the in-state production volume of biodiesel reaches 60 million gallons and is sustained for three months. The standard would increase to 5 percent biodiesel by volume one year after in-state production reaches 150 million gallons; 10 percent if in-state production reaches 300 million gallons; and 20 percent if it reaches 600 million gallons. Renewable diesel made from non-petroleum renewable resources could also be used in the place of biodiesel fuel to meet the requirements of the act. Non-sulfur diesel fuel derived from coal may also be used in place of biodiesel provided the fuel’s carbon emissions are fully offset. The new standards would not go into effect until the departments of Agriculture and Transportation certify that Pennsylvania has sufficient transportation, distribution, and other necessary infrastructure to accommodate the act.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 489. This bill would change the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act. It would set up a procedure for physicians that are retired to provide volunteer services in approved clinics. This bill would also create an MCARE Reserve Fund as well as Medical Safety Automated Fund. A maximum amount of $25 million would be transferred to the MCARE Reserve Fund. The Medical Safety Automated Fund would also receive $25 million. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 317. This bill would makes changes to the Pennsylvania Election Code. Under this bill, the county board would have to maintain a list of all absentee ballots that are received after 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election but before 8 p.m. on the day of election. Absentee ballots received up to the seventh day following the election, which contain postmarks dated no later than the day preceding the election would also have to be kept. The list would have to be available for inspection at the office of the County Board of Elections. Requests by the board of public education or school directors to not be used as a polling place would not be allowed under this act. The State Committee would be required to post and maintain on an Internet Web site any rule changes. Circulators of school board candidate petitions would not have to be from the same party as the candidate. The court would be allowed to permit an amendment to a statement of financial interests to correct non-fraudulent errors or omissions in the statement as long as the statement was filed with the State Ethics Committee or the appropriate governing authority. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1114, which would name the scenic view on State Route 40 in Wharton Township, Fayette County, as the “Blue Star Point Lookout” to honor American military personnel and their families. The Blue Star program, which dates back to World War II, encouraged families to display a blue star banner in their window indicating that a family member was serving in the military. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1121, which would add “local emergency coordinator” to those that can use a privately owned vehicle used in answering an emergency call. This allows the Local Emergency Coordinator to drive vehicles equipped with audible and visual signals in reacting to local or more widespread disaster situations. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1135, which would change the requirement that radar speed timing devices and speedometers be calibrated and certified at least every 60 days. The requirement for radar would be one year. Currently, the law requires that radar be calibrated and certified at least every 60 days. The Pennsylvania State Police have requested this change because of the potential savings of more than $800,000 annually. The bill now goes to the House.
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By a vote 0f 45 to 4, the Senate passed House Bill 1877, which would allow Dauphin County to increase its hotel room tax from 3 percent to 5 percent. Fifty percent of the revenue from this increased tax would be distributed to the county’s Tourist Promotion Agency for appropriate and reasonable marketing purposes. From the remaining 50 percent, 75 percent of that revenue would be earmarked for an authority in Dauphin County incorporated pursuant to the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 for payment of debt service on bonds issued for the construction of the county regional sports facility. The remaining 25 percent would go to the Tourism Promotion Agency for the marketing and promoting of tourism in Harrisburg. The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1961, which would make changes to the Child Protective Services Law relating to background checks. Under this measure, all applicants seeking jobs at child-care facilities would have to obtain a federal criminal history record including fingerprints. It also requires self-employed family day care providers to submit this information. All potential adoptive parents, foster parents and any person in the household 18 years of age or older would have to submit a criminal background check, child abuse clearance certification from the Department of Public Welfare and federal criminal history record information including fingerprints. The bill now goes to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 17. This bill would change the Vehicle Code to match with the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA). Fines for violating the Hours-of-Service would be reduced from $2,750 to $500. The weight limit for disability plates/placards and specialty plates would be changed from 9,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds. This would affect all military specialty plates, DARE plates, as well all other available specialty plates. The bill will now go to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 131, which would prohibit local police from charging a fee or seeking reimbursement for services related to a motor vehicle accident. A municipality would not be allowed to charge a fee or seek reimbursement for any costs or expenses incurred as a result of municipal police responding to a motor vehicle accident. These costs include, labor, materials, supplies or equipment used or provided in the response. The bill will now go to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 711. This bill would change the Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act The distribution of “spyware” that modifies a user’s preferences or security settings, collects personal information, prevents installation or operation of anti-spyware software, or takes control of a user’s computer would be prohibited under this Act. Those convicted of using spyware to collect protected information, take control of another person’s computer, or modify a user’s security settings would be guilty of a second-degree felony and would be subject to a fine up to $25,000 and/or one to 10 years in prison. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 838. This bill would change the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Law. The number of Certified Public Accountants on the State Board of Accountancy would be increased from eight to nine. The number of public accountants would be decreased from two to one. The Board of Accountancy would be allowed to hire, fire and determine the payment for people who work full time for the board as executive director, legal counsel and prosecutor. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 880. This bill would allow the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission to give out gift vouchers for fishing licenses and permits purchased by a third party. The voucher would contain a voucher number, issuing agent identification number, type of license or permit for which the voucher may be redeemed, date issued, and date of expiration. The person purchasing the voucher would have to pay the license or permit fee as well as the issuing agent’s fee. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted 46-3 in favor of House Bill 1109, which would make changes for obtaining a fishing license and replacement license. This bill would affect agents who issue licenses as well as the associated fees. The beginning date for issuing one-day, nonresident/tourist and resident fishing licenses would be changed from April 1 to March 15. The end date of April 30 would not change. Issuing agents made active on or before January 1, 2000 would no longer be excused from paying any administrative fees set by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 648. This bill would allow the sale of the Ligonier Armory in Ligonier Borough, Westmoreland County; the Nation Guard Armory in the City of Connellsville, Fayette County; the conveyance of a portion of the Allentown State Hospital in the City of Allentown Lehigh County; the sale of the Old State Police Barracks in Bensalem Township, Bucks County and the sale of land in Susquehanna Township. The Ligonier Armory would be sold by the Department of General Services by either public auction or an invitation for sealed bids. The proceeds from this sale will be deposited in the State Treasury Armory Fund. The National Guard Armory in the City of Connellsville would be sold to the City of Connellsville for $50,000. The money would go to the State Treasury Armory Fund. An unused portion of the Allentown State Hospital would be transferred to Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority. Terms would be established in agreement with the Department of General Services. The Old State Police Barracks and 15 acres of land would be sold to Bensalem Township under terms that will be established in agreement with the Department of General Services. A lot of land in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County would be sold to the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union. The land is 47.28 acres in size and will be sold for $2,718,600. The bill will now go to the governor.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1621. This bill would allow land within the bed of the Delaware River to be leased to VTE Philadelphia, LP. VTE Philadelphia, LP, or its nominee, would be allowed to lease land within the bed of the Delaware River, in the City of Philadelphia, for an initial term of 99 years. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1627. This bill would allow land within the bed of the Delaware River to be leased to NCCB Associates, LP. NCCB Associates, LP, or its nominee, would be allowed to lease land within the bed of the Delaware River, in the City of Philadelphia, for an initial term of 99 years. The bill will now go to the House.
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