SB 798, PN 1923  This bill establishes the Capitol Centennial Commission and gives authority to the commission to make decisions regarding celebratory events, materials, information, and other matters for the centennial anniversary.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 2308, PN 4745  This bill amends the Domestic Relations Code to require the Department of Public Welfare to
obtain background information on foster and adoptive parent applicants.  The information compiled by the agency,
including the names, addresses or telephone numbers of foster or adoptive parents, will be kept confidential and
will only be released as the Department of Public Welfare states in regulation.  Language was added to the bill to
require anyone 18 and older living in the foster home to be subject to both a criminal history check (including
drug-related or alcohol-related arrests) and child abuse clearance checks.  Senator Tomlinson offered amendment A 4977, which is technical in nature.  The amendment was adopted 47-0, and the bill went over in its order as amended.

HB 138, PN 4594  The bill amends the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to raise the fee a local registrar may charge for
a death certificate from $2 to $6.  These funds will be used for the modernization of coroners’ laboratories and training.  A portion will also be transferred to the general fund.  Senator Mellow called for a negative vote on the bill, saying that it was a substantial increase in fees for people when they could least afford it emotionally.  Calling for an affirmative vote, Senator Tomlinson said that the bill would raise critical funds for medical examiners’ facilities and that the increased fee would still be lower than that of surrounding states.  A 29-18 vote was recorded.

HB 249, PN 4736  This bill amends the First Class Township Code to permit the township to appropriate up to one-half, but not to exceed one mill, of the revenue generated from the dedicated fire tax for the payment of salaries, benefits or other compensation of fire suppression employees/fire companies, ambulance service, rescue squads or other emergency services.  Also, this legislation allows townships to increase the dedicated tax up to 3 mills, provided the question is submitted for referendum.  Additionally, townships may use the tax to contract with adjacent municipalities for fire protection, pay tuition for fire training schools, and construct or maintain a firehouse or fire training school.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 310, PN 4735  This bill would designate a portion of State Route 1040 in Lancaster County as the “Colonel George Howard Boulevard” and a bridge on State Route 72 as the “General Richard M. Scott Bridge.”  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

SB 564, PN 628  This bill amends the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act to add the regional campuses of the
University of Pittsburgh to the list of colleges and universities whose faculty members are eligible for grants from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 1238, PN 1522  This legislation explicitly allows diesel fuel to be dispensed using hold-open nozzles at self-service stations and states that containers for diesel fuel shall be color-coded yellow.  This bill requires that persons using hold-open nozzles must remain within ten feet and within plain sight of the refueling point. 
This bill also requires stations to post signs explaining this requirement and that it is Pennsylvania law. 
Lastly, this bill provides for restitution in cases of non-compliance, so that persons failing to remain within ten feet
of the refueling point shall be liable for environmental clean-up costs from a resulting fuel spill.  The person is only
liable if the required sign is posted.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

SB 1259, PN 1896  This bill authorizes and directs the Department of General Services, with the approval of the
Governor and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, to accept a tract of land in Ambridge, Beaver County, which has been donated by Harmonie Associates, Inc.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 1535, PN 4746  This bill amends the Local Tax Enabling Act to stipulate that a political subdivision collecting
the earned income tax (EIT) for an employee residing in another jurisdiction must transfer those funds to the
jurisdiction of residence in a timely manner.  The recipient jurisdiction is not required to pay a collection fee for
transferring EIT moneys.  Senator Brightbill offered amendment A 4813, which establishes a time period of sixty
days for the transfer in funds and emphasizes that this legislation does not increase the taxing powers of a
political subdivision or increase local tax rates.  The amendment was adopted 47-0, and the bill went over in its
order as amended.

HB 1620, PN 4717  This bill authorizes the release of Project 500 restrictions on certain land owned by the
Township of Wright, Luzerne County, in return for the imposition of Project 500 restrictions on other land owned
by the Township of Wright, Luzerne County.  A 47-0 vote was recorded. 

HB 2227, PN 4641  This bill amends the Forest Lands Beautification Act to provide for an additional $500,000
per year for the Forest Beautification Program.  A 47-0 vote was recorded. 

HB 2561, PN 4747  This bill authorizes and directs the Department of General Services, with the approval of the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Governor, to grant and convey to the Luzerne County Historical Society the Dennison House in Forty Fort.  Senator Wonderling offered amendment A 4978, which authorizes the Department to grant and convey two additional tracts of land in Lehigh County.  The amendment was adopted 47-0, and the bill went over in its order as amended.

HB 2587, PN 4462  This bill authorizes and directs the Department of General Services, with the approval of the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Governor, to grant and convey to Milton Area School
District the Sodom School in West Chillisquaque.  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 2599, PN 4499  This bill designates Exit 37 on Interstate 81 (Newville) as the “87^th Infantry Division Patton’s
3^rd U.S. Army – WWII Memorial Interchange.”  After fighting to capture a strategic city, the unit became known
as the “Liberators of Koblenz.”  A 47-0 vote was recorded.

HB 2798, PN 4748  This bill amends the Borough Code to exempt boroughs from advertising and soliciting
competitive bids when the borough is selling real estate to a non-profit museum or historical society.  Senator
Pippy offered amendment A 5068, which empowers mayors to request assistance from neighboring municipalities
(law enforcement officers or emergency workers) in the event of a state of emergency. 
The amendment was adopted 47-0, and the bill went over in its order as amended.

HB 2794, PN 4757  This bill designating a bridge on State Route 3012 over Clearfield Creek

in Beccaria Township, Clearfield County, as the “Private First Class Bradley G. Kritzer Bridge.
”Senator Mellow offered amendment A 5200, which designates the Clairton-Glassport Bridge in Allegheny County
as the “Senator Edward P. Zemprelli Bridge.”  The amendment was adopted 47-0, and the bill went over in its order
as amended.  

HB 2978, PN 4750  The bill amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to allow the Administrative Office of 
Pennsylvania Courts to set mileage rates for district justices and senior district justices who are temporarily serving 
in another magisterial district.  A 45-2 vote was recorded.

HB 1860, PN 4744  The legislation permits the county commissioners of a third class county that is contiguous to a second class county to create or disband, by ordinance, a county park police force within the county.  The county park police would enforce good order, protect county land and buildings, prevent and investigate crime, evict vagrants and trespassers, and generally exercise the same powers as are exercised by municipal police.  Senator Earll offered amendment A 5034, which would include hotels in the definition of a “convention center” and would allow counties to work with other entities (other counties, municipalities, the state) for the purpose of community and economic development projects.  The amendment was adopted 47-0, and a 47-0 vote was recorded for the bill, as amended.

SB 1192, PN 1918  This bill amends the Fiscal Code to provide for the authority of the Treasury Department to invest and reinvest moneys of any fund, including equity securities and mutual funds consisting of equity securities.  This authority will end by December 31, 2005, and the Department would be allowed to maintain the investments held at that time for two additional years.  The Senate voted 47-0 to concur in the House amendments, as amended.

SB 1030, PN 1973  Known as the “Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act,” this bill provides for the acquisition and sale of electricity generated from renewable and environmentally beneficial sources.  Senator Erickson offered amendment A 5082, which mainly empowers the PUC to determine if the energy industry in Pennsylvania is sufficiently complying with the act and, if necessary, reduce the alternative energy requirements on these corporations.  The amendment includes other technical provisions, and it was adopted 47-0.  Senator Rafferty offered amendment A 5184, which would have provided for more restrictions on ash disposal than the Department of Environmental Protection currently requires.  After discussion of the adverse effects this amendment might have on landfills currently using ash as cover, the amendment was defeated 2-45.  A 32-15 vote was recorded for the bill, as amended. 

HB 30, PN 4758  This bill reauthorizes Chapter 30 regulations which require the state’s telephone companies to bring their networks up to modern standards and provide all state residents with access to broadband high-speed internet service.  Senators Corman, Mary Jo White, and Connie Williams offered amendments, which “working in concert” would have resulted in a “good bill,” according to Democratic Leader Mellow.  However, Senate Republicans engineered defeats for White’s amendment A 5116 (reinforced the Public Utility Commission’s mandate to ensure non-discrimination, diversity, and access to telecommunications service) and Williams’ amendment A 5206 (provided for the PUC to audit telecommunication companies’ network modernization plans).  These amendments were defeated 21-26.  In light of these votes, Senate Democrats voted against Corman’s amendment A 5195, which reworks the original bill, but the amendment was adopted 31-16.  The bill went over in its order as amended.