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SB 1, PN 718: This bill, known as the Lobbying
Accountability Act, would provide for the registration, regulation, and
disclosure of all lobbying activities. Under this bill, all individuals
attempting to influence legislation or administrative action would be
required to register with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Lobbyists would also be required to disclose their clients and provide
quarterly expense reports when their total expenses exceed $2,500 during
that reporting period. In 2002, the state Supreme Court held that the
state’s previous lobbying statute was unconstitutional. Since that
time, the Senate has instituted lobbyist disclosure as a rule, but this
bill would make disclosure statutory and extend its provisions to the
state House. Senator Fumo offered amendment A0881, which would prohibit
lobbyists from switching from one client to another on the opposing side
of an issue or representing simultaneously two clients with opposing
interests. The Senate agreed to the amendment, and a 47-0 vote was
recorded for the bill’s final passage.
SB 86, PN 665: This bill seeks to close a loophole in
current state child abuse laws, which permit an investigation only when
the alleged abuse has occurred in Pennsylvania. Also, some states will
only investigate child abuse allegations if the child is a resident of
the state where the abuse occurred. This legislation would permit the
opening of a child abuse investigation in the child’s county of
residence if the alleged abuse took place outside of Pennsylvania. A
47-0 vote was recorded.
SB 300, PN 710: This legislation would authorize the
establishment and maintenance of health savings accounts in
Pennsylvania. As created under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003,
health savings accounts are combined with high-deductible health
insurance plans as an alternative to traditional health insurance
plans. These accounts would be exempt from the state personal income
tax. A 47-0 vote was recorded.
SB 507, PN 684: This bill would require organizations
participating in the state educational improvement tax credit program to
provide information about the number of scholarships awarded, as well as
the total and average amounts of those scholarships. Senator Connie
Williams offered amendment A0878, which would have changed the reporting
date, required reporting of the median household income of scholarship
recipients, and required reporting of the schools attended by
scholarship recipients. Senator Williams offered this amendment as an
attempt to improve accountability for the program, but Senator Piccola
disagreed, calling Senator Williams’ amendment an attempt to dismantle
the program. The amendment was defeated (12-35), and a 46-1 vote was
recorded for the bill’s final passage.
SR 82, PN 701: This resolution would designate the month of
May 2005 as “Beef Month” in Pennsylvania. A 47-0 vote was recorded.
SR 83, PN 702: This resolution would designate the month of
May 2005 as “Community Action Month” in Pennsylvania. A 47-0 vote was
recorded.
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