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Senate of Pennsylvania
SENATE DEMOCRATIC WRAP-UP FOR
THE WEEK OF |
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 196, which would grant spouses of active duty service members, military leave from their education. In addition, upon release from active duty, military personnel and spouses would be entitled to restore their educational status they had attained prior to their duty. The bill is now in the House.
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 240, which would update the Emergency Medical Services System Act to define the objectives of the Emergency Medical Services System, what the Department of Health is authorized to do and the duties of the regional EMS council, as well as require the preparation of a statewide EMS system plan. Under the bill, the Department of Health would plan, guide and coordinate programs to promote effective and efficient operation of a statewide and regional EMS system. The bill is now in the House.
The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 241, which would change the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act. Senate Bill 241 would define “qualified association” to allow associate brokers and salespersons to set up entities such as S corporations or LLCs to conduct their real estate business and receive commissions. The bill would also impose a suspension or revocation of a license or registration certificate and the impose fines if a licensee or registrant participates in prohibited acts spelled out in the legislation. Lastly, the bill would create provisions for handling deposits and other escrows accepted by a broker. The bill will now go to the House.
The Senate approved Senate Bill 281 with a vote of 48-1. The measure would amend the Public School Code to prohibit the development of statewide graduation requirements -- including the expenditure of funds to do so -- unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes and funds the effort. An amendment to further restrict the Department of Education from expending funds for this purpose is expected. The measure now goes to the House. In an interview, Gov. Ed Rendell stated that if the measure came to his desk he would veto it.
Senate Bill 297 was unanimously approved in the Senate The bill would amend the “Oil and Gas Act” to require that well production reports be filed semi-annually if the well is producing gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. The Department of Environmental Protection would make the reports available on its publically-accessible Web site. The measure now goes to the House.
The Senate voted 41 to 8 in favor of Senate Bill 598, which would streamline the process through which school districts with resident students enrolled in rehabilitative institutions pay the school district or intermediate units that contract with these institutions. It would allow, after notification by the receiving district of non-payment by the resident district, the Secretary of Education to make payment for tuition charges on behalf of the district of residence. This bill would also amend the Public School Code to allow the receiving district to charge the district of residence the full cost for specialized instruction, including remedial, rehabilitative or alternative education or services. The measure now goes to the House.
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 687, which would amend the Public School Code to exempt charter school facilities from the payment of real estate tax on realty owned by the charter school. It also would exempt the owner that leases property to a charter school from the payment of real estate tax. The measure now goes to the House.
Senate Bill 736 was approved by the Senate unanimously. The measure would amend the Public School Code to require school entities to approve policies that allow students with severe allergies to have and use epinephrine auto-injectors (also known as epi-pens) in school. The bill would direct school districts to include epi-pens in the current school district policies that govern the use of asthma inhalers. Requirements for the use of epi-pens would be identical to those for the use of asthma inhalers. The bill would also require that the Department of Education coordinate with the Department of Health to provide technical assistance and resources to all school entities and publish educational information on the Internet regarding severe allegoric reactions, the proper use and storage of epi-pens and record keeping. The measure now goes to the House.
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