Tuesday, June 17, 2014

HB 43, PN 3541 (Harper) – The bill amends the Volunteer Health Services Act to expand it to include mental health services provided to military personnel and their family.  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

SB 428, PN 2148 (Costa) – This bill amends the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, relating to pooled trusts for persons with disabilities.  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

SB 1316, PN 1983 (Browne) – This legislation amends the Public School Code to provide for Special Education Funding.  This legislation primarily establishes a new funding formula for special education allocations.  Senator Dinniman offered amendment A07758, which is designed to protect smaller “mom and pop” charter schools.  The amendment failed by a vote of 15-35.  Senator Pileggi offered amendment A07761, which establishes a special education hold harmless rate and provides for an appeals process.  The amendment was approved by a vote of 35-15 and the bill went over in its order as amended.

SB 1401, PN 2078 (Scarnati) – This bill renames the West Chestnut Street Bridge in Coudersport Borough, Potter County, as the “Private Edwin Tubbs Memorial Bridge”; and renames the State Route 872 Bridge near Coudersport Borough/Eulalia Township Border, Potter County, as the “Specialist Donald Stiles Memorial Bridge.”  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

HB 1831, PN 3748 (Regan) – This is an omnibus bridge and intersection naming bill.  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

HB 1945, PN 3537 (Helm) – This is an omnibus land conveyance bill.  It also includes an authorization to perform a survey of the old Harrisburg State Hospital and Harrisburg State Hospital Farm in Dauphin County prior to a potential conveyance of the property.  Senator Smucker offered amendment A07773, which authorizes additional lands for conveyance.  The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over in its order as amended.

HB 2013, PN 2997 (Stern) – This bill amends the Public School Code to allow for the filling of school board vacancies.  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

HB 2026, PN 3011 (Maher) – This bill amends Title 18 to increase the grading for harm to a police animal from a felony of the third degree to a felony of the second degree.  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

HB 2068, PN 3093 (S. H. Smith) – This bill designates the bridge on State Route 119 over the Mahoning Creek in Punxsutawney Borough, Jefferson County as the “SFC Scott R. Smith Memorial Bridge.”  A vote of 50-0 was recorded.

HB 2072, PN 3632 (Murt) – The bill designates a portion of County Line Road separating Montgomery and Bucks Counties as the “SP4 Ronald C. Smith Memorial Highway.” The bill also designates a section of PA Route 233 from the northern corporate limits of Newville Borough to the Cumberland County and Perry County lines as the “Sergeant Timothy L. Hayslett Memorial Highway” and designates a bridge on US 22/US 322 Eastbound over Interstate 81 in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County as the “Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Ruffner Memorial Bridge.”  Senator Schwank offered amendment A07768, which names a portion of a highway in Berks County.  Senator Wozniak offered amendment A07809, which names a bridge in Cambria County.  Both amendments were agreed to and the bill went over in its order as amended.

SR 284, PN 1714 (Greenleaf) – This resolution expresses support for the “democratic and European aspirations” of Ukraine and calls for supportive actions by the United States and European Union.  Senator Greenleaf offered amendment A07598, which further describes activities and events that have taken place relating to the situation in Ukraine.  The amendment was agreed to and the resolution was adopted as amended.

The Senate approved the following executive nominations by a vote of 50-0:

Darryl R Hamm, Architects Licensure Board (Reappointment)

Jamie M Bracey, State Charter School Appeal Board (New Appointment)

Honorable Roy Reinard III, Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (Reappointment)

Gregory E. Black, State Board of Landscape Architects (Reappointment)

Richard P. Raurso, State Board of Landscape Architects (Reappointment)

James A Van Blarcom, Milk Marketing Board (New Appointment)

Warner Macklin III, Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (New Appointment)

Randy Derr, State Board of Vehicle Manufactures, Dealers and Salesperson (New Appointment)