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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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Following a spirited four-hour floor debate, the Senate approved a bare-bones Republican-sponsored $27.3 billion state budget in a 30-20 party-line vote. Senate Bill 850 would slash an additional $1.7 billion from an austere budget Gov. Ed Rendell proposed in February that already would have cut or eliminated hundreds of budget line items. Democrats charged that the Republican budget, if enacted, would cut or eliminate crucial government services and programs that serve vulnerable Pennsylvanians, cause a huge statewide property tax hike, spur the layoffs of thousands of local and state workers and further hinder Pennsylvania’s struggle to jump-start its economy. Democrats said the measure would drastically cut education funding, economic development programs and remove up to 24,000 children from the state’s CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). Eighteen Democrats offered floor remarks critical of the budget proposal. Republicans countered that the state’s anticipated $3 billion budget deficit forced their hand, and that their spending plan was responsible, balanced and held the line on taxes. Nearly all lawmakers conceded that the proposal was little more than the first step in a lengthy and complex budget deliberation this year. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
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The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 33, which would change the Election Code by changing the dates that election districts cannot be altered. This legislation would prohibit election districts from being changed in any way starting June 1, 2009 through November 30, 2012 in order to update the Senate and House districts effectively. The Secretary of the Commonwealth would have to submit any corrections to election districts to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census by August 15, 2009. If there are no changes, the Secretary of the Commonwealth must let this information be known to the Senate and House Majority and Minority Leaders. The bill is now in the House State Government Committee.
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The Senate approved Senate Bill 59 with a unanimous vote. The measure would amend the Public Welfare Code by requiring proof of general liability insurance when applying for a registration certificate, as well as the posting and providing in writing certain records at a family day care home. The bill also provides for emergency closure of family day care homes. If the department finds evidence of gross incompetence, negligence, misconduct in operating the family day care home or mistreatment or abuse of children likely to constitute an immediate and serious danger, the department would take immediate action to close the facility and remove the children from the home. The bill is now in the House.
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The Senate voted 49-1 in favor of Senate Bill 142, which would give more authority to the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs. This bill would allow the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation on any licensee, registrant, certificate holder, permit holder or unlicensed person who violates a lawful disciplinary order. The commissioner would also be allowed to impose a civil penalty of no more than $10,000 per violation on any corporation, partnership, institution, association or sole proprietorship that helps any person who practices without a license. The bill will now go to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 446, which would amend the Vital Statistics Law by adding the State Registrar of Vital Statistics as someone who is authorized to issue a certificate of death as well as permits for the disposal of a dead body or fetal remains. The bill would also require the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to transmit monthly to the Department of State an electronic file containing information on all resident deaths, except residents less than 18 years of age, for the preceding month. The bill is now in the House.
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