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SB 809, PN 1020:
The bill amends the Second Class Township Code by increasing the number
of hours an auditor can be compensated for while attending a conference,
institute, school or convention dealing with the duties or functions of
their employment. A final vote of 48-0 was recorded.
HB 2319, PN 4043:
This bill, known as the “Prohibition of Illegal Immigrant Alien Labor on
Assisted Projects Act,” would prohibit the use of illegal immigrant
labor on state-funded projects. Senator Scarnati offered amendment
A7645 that is technical in nature. The amendment was agreed to and the
bill went over as amended.
HB 15, PN 4008:
This measure amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and Title 75
(Vehicles) as it pertains to DUI offenders. A final vote of 47-2 was
recorded.
SB 1114, PN 1782:
This bill amends the Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L. 103, No. 69), also known
as the Second Class Township Code. The bill permits for township
officials attending a county association’s annual or semi-annual meeting
to be reimbursed for their attendance and expenses for that day. The
bill also authorizes appropriations to counties. Senator Robbins
offered amendment A7634 that is technical in nature. The amendment was
adopted unanimously and the bill went over as amendment.
SR 159, PN 1773:
This resolution provides for a temporary rule of the Senate, which would
rule out of order certain amendments to General Appropriation Bills for
the fiscal year 2006-07. A final vote of 49-0 was recorded and the
resolution was adopted.
SR 271, PN 1699:
This resolution recognizes the week of May 13 through 21, 2006, as
“Armed Forces Week” in Pennsylvania and encouraging the observance of
May 20, 2006, as “Armed Forces Day” in Pennsylvania. A final vote of
49-0 was recorded and the resolution was adopted.
Executive
Nominations
The Senate confirmed
the following nominees. A vote of 49-0 was recorded.
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Nancy Gill,
Magisterial District Judge – Chester County
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Bill Ryan,
Pennsylvania Council on Aging
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James Henry,
Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission
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Steven, J.
Collina, M.D., State Board of Podiatry
Special Session HB
39, PN 93:
The House/Senate Conference Committee Report shall be known and cited as
the Taxpayer Relief Act. The Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act will more
than double the size of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program
for the 2006 tax year. The plan provides greater base relief for 419,924
new eligible seniors at a cost of $199 million. Once implemented, the
Act will enable more than 750,000 seniors eligibility for larger
property tax and rent rebate assistance for the 2006 tax year.
The plan also will
provide property tax reductions for all homeowners in 2007 if local
voters approve increases in school district earned income taxes (EIT) or
a shift to a local PIT.
Also, the Act makes
the backend referendum spending controls mandatory for all school
districts, allows additional referenda to authorize further property
tax reductions beginning in 2009 and prohibits the 108 school districts
that opted-in to Act 72 of 2004 from levying the 0.1 % earned income
tax.
Senators in support
of HB 39 stressed that this relief may not be exactly what Pennsylvania
taxpayers are looking for, but rather it is progress and a step towards
some type of assistance for Pennsylvanians, especially senior citizens.
Senators against this bill expressed their concerns that this bill is
not enough tax relief for the Pennsylvania homeowner, and their fear is
the issue will be forgotten if and when the Governor signs HB 39. A
final vote of 40-9 was recorded, and the House/Senate Conference
Committee Report was adopted. The House will be notified.
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