SB 75, PN 1626 (Greenleaf) – This bill amends the Crimes Code and the Judicial Code by extensively revising the law on human trafficking in the areas of prosecution, prevention, victim protection, and evidentiary confidentiality, limitation of actions and victim impact statements; and making editorial changes. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 414, PN 2765 (O’Neill) – Provides that, in a custody proceeding, the court shall consider whether the child has been identified as an abused child and whether a party has been identified as a perpetrator of child abuse. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 546, PN 2595 (Turzai) – This legislation introduces as a measure to aid in the solvency and avoids a possible credit downgrading of the Allegheny County pension system, the bill would establish a new mandatory benefit tier for future county hires and alters the membership composition of the Allegheny County Retirement Board. Additionally, the bill alters the definition of “compensation” to exclude overtime compensation in excess of 10% of pay from the retirement benefit calculation. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
SB 703, PN 708 (Blake) – Amends the Scranton Police and Firemen’s Pension Law to remove the statutory three-year time limit within which an active member of the pension plan may purchase up to five years of non-intervening military service time. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
SB 704, PN 709 (Blake) – Amends the Scranton Employee Pension Law to remove the statutory three-year time limit within which an active member of the pension plan may purchase up to five years of non-intervening military service time. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 726, PN 2724 (Petri) – This legislation amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to overhaul the definition of child abuse in the Child Protective Services Law and further provides for exclusions. Senator Mensch offered amendment A04953 which further addresses expungement of records and appeals and sets forth appropriate approvals, and further provides for the review of indicated reports. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 892, PN 1788 (Grove) – This bill amends Title 75 to allow individuals to continue to obtain motorcycle learner’s permits indefinitely. Senator Rafferty offered amendment A04921 which was technical innature. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
SB 1164, PN 1544 (Pileggi) – This bill amends The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 1972 Act 64, to add a section providing for drug overdose response immunity. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
SB 1181, PN 1598 (Vogel) – This bill provides for a $5,000,000 transfer from the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund to the State Racing Fund to fund the operations of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission and the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission for the remainder of FY 2013-14. The transfer will be made on a weekly basis in the amount of $250,000. Senator Vogel offered amendment A04845 which was technical in nature. Senator Scarnati offered amendment A04825 which provides for a pilot program for the purchase of equipment to be used at oudoor events to ensure the public’s safety. The Senate agreed to the amendments and the bill went over in its order as amended.
SB 1195, PN 1642 (Gordner) – The bill amends the Workers’ Compensation Act to make changes to the claims process for the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund (UEGF) and authorizes the Fund to create lists of designated health care providers to provide treatment to injured workers. The bill also transfers $4 million to the Fund and establishes new penalties. Senator Gordner offered amendment A04946 which further provides for employee petitions against the Fund. The Senate adopted the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 1201, PN 1792 (Barbin) – Amends Title 42 (Judicial Code) in order to update the names of the licensing boards listed within the definition of “state board,” and to provide that a person who is a minor at the time of the commission of a criminal offense involving physical or sexual abuse may have his name withheld from the public domain even if the person is an adult at the time of prosecution. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 1274, PN 1637 (Farry) – Amends Title 42 (Judicial Code) relating to criminal laboratory user fees. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 1523, PN 2030 (Toepel) – This legislation authorizes additional uses of the revenue from the open space tax and provides for a method of repeal. The bill amends the Open Space Law to authorize a local government unit, other than a county or county authority, that collects the open space tax. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
The Senate approved the following executive nominations by a vote of 50-0
- Honorable Patricia H. Jenkins, Judge, Superior Court (new appointment)
- Pasquale T. Deon, Sr., Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (reappointment)
- Duane L. Hertzler, Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (reappointment)
- James S. Holt, Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (new appointment)
- Brian K. Reed, D.V.M., M.B.A., Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (reappointment)
- Sheryl Long Vanco, Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (reappointment)
- Hon. E. Christopher Abruzzo, Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission (new appointment)
- Martin Raniowski, Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission (new appointment)
- Hon. Michael E.Wolf, Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission (new appointment)
- Joseph T. Ferruzza, State Board of Barber Examiners (new appointment)
- Roberta Major Betza, Council of Trustees of California University (new appointment)
- Aaron Walton, Council of Trustees of California University (reappointment)
- Laurie H. Henry, State Charter School Appeal Board (new appointment)
- Lee Ann Munger, State Charter School Appeal Board (reappointment)
- Howard H. Shreckengost, Council of Trustees of Clarion University (reappointment)
- Honorable Ellen M. Ferretti, Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources (new appointment)
- Honorable Lyell Cook, Coroners’ Education Board (new appointment)
- Honorable James L. Wilson, Coroners’ Education Board (reappointment)
- Jonathan H. Newman, Esquire, State Horse Racing Commission (new appointment)
- Corinne R. Sweeney, D.V.M., State Horce Racing Commission (reappointment)
- Varsovia Fernandez, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (new appointment)
- Meron Yemane, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (new appointment)
- Dr. Raquel O. Yiengst, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (reappointment)
- Jamie H. Smith, State Board of Massage Therapy (new appointment)
- Radu Gherghel, Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (new appointment)
- John P. Williams, Jr., M.D., MBA, Board of Pardons (new appointment)
- Sy Holzer, Commonwealth Trustee of the University of Pittsburgh (reappointment)
- William B. Hawk, State Planning board (reappointment)
- Honorable Joan McMillen, State Planning Board (new appointment)
- Honorable John Moyer, State Planning Board (new appointment)
- William L. Piper, State Planning Board (new appointment)
- Kirk D. Stoner, State Planning Board (reappointment)
- Dante J. Battles, Advisory Board on Probation (reappointment)
- Honorable John Foradora, Advisory Board on Probation (reappointment)
- Richmond S. Parsons, Jr. Advisory Board on Probation (reappointment)
- Earnest Long, State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists (new appointment)
- Theodore Tesler, State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists (reappointment)
- Joy E. Corby, Ph.D., LMFT, State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists & Professional Counselors (new appointment)
- Keren Putman, Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (new appointment)
- Jennifer R. Storm, Victim Advocate (new appointment)
- J. Adam Matlawski, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)
- Marian D. Moskowitz, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)
- Eli Silberman, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)
- Honorable Robert M. Tomlinson, Council of Trustees of West Chester University (reappointment)
The Senate approved the following executive nomination by a vote of 42-8
- Honorable E. Christopher Abruzzo, Secretary of Environmental Protection (new appointment)