HB 550, PN4056: The legislation amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to prohibit parking in certain areas.  The bill prohibits the parking of vehicles within 30 feet of signs warning of the possible presence of a disabled person living in or traversing the area.  The bill also raises the fine from $15 to a new maximum of $50 for a violation of not only this new provision but also the other restricted parking areas covered in the Vehicle Code.   

A2240(Mellow): This amendment defines, for purposes of this act, the term “disability” to mean a hearing impairment or total or partial blindness. A 49-0 vote was recorded.   

SB 668, PN1702: The legislation establishes the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Act under the direction of the State Police and further proposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.  Under the program, all state, county and local law enforcement agencies are required to report statistical information concerning criminal offenses that occurred in their respective jurisdictions and the disposition of such matters to the Pennsylvania State Police on a monthly basis.  A 49-0 vote was recorded.

SB 1052, PN1704: The legislation authorizes and directs the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey certain parcels of land in the City of Erie to the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority.  The bill also authorizes the Department of General Services to grant and convey 7 parcels of land within the 4^th Ward of the City of Erie to certain individuals for market price as determined by an independent appraiser.  A 49-0 vote was recorded.

SB 1102, PN1709: The legislation amends Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) and Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) to provide for a Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Program within the Department of Community and Economic Development.  The program will finance single-year or multiyear grants to municipalities and municipal authorities and loans to municipalities, municipal authorities, industrial development corporations, and investor-owned water and wastewater enterprises for projects related to economic development.  The program is a result of the $250 million bond referendum that was approved by the voters in April 2004.  A 49-0 vote was recorded.   

The following amendment was added to the legislation with Prior Printer’s Number 1690 and included in the final language of the bill.   

A2238(Erickson): This amendment requires that nothing in the section pertaining to review and approval of grant applications shall be construed to prohibit the awarding of  grants to municipalities in which the water supply or wastewater services are provided in whole or in part by an investor-owned water or wastewater enterprise.  A 49-0 vote was recorded.

HB 1809, PN4083: The legislation creates the Commercial Manure Hauler and Broker Certification Act.  The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to establish within 18 months a commercial manure hauler and broker certification program.  A 49-0 vote was recorded.

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS: The following nominees were confirmed by the Senate.  A 49-0 vote was recorded for each.

Daniel R. Fleck, Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board
James P. Miller, Esq., McKean County District Justice
Elizabeth A. McHugh, Esq., Montgomery County District Justice