HB 2175, PN 3550 (Markosek) – This legislation appropriates money from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of the Small Business Advocate for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Funds in this restricted account are derived from assessments on utilities regulated by the Public Utility Commission. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2176, PN 3551 (Markosek) – The bill would appropriate $24.6 million for the general government operations of SERS. This appropriation is the amount required by SERS for their operations. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2177, PN 3552 (Markosek) – This bill appropriates money from a restricted revenue account in the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2178, PN 3553 (Markosek) – This bill makes appropriations from the State Gaming Fund restricted revenue account to the Attorney General, Department of Revenue, State Police, and Gaming Control Board for salaries, wages and necessary expenses relating to gaming activities in the Commonwealth. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2179, PN 3554 (Markosek) – House bill 2179 provides for appropriations from the Workmen’s Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry and to the Office of the Small Business Advocate within the Department of Community and Economic Development. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2180, PN 3555 (Markosek) – This legislation would make appropriations to the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) in the amount of $10,640,000. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2182, PN 3557 (Markosek) – House Bill 2182 appropriates the required amount to fund the administrative costs of the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) for the 2016-17 fiscal year. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2183, PN 3558 (Markosek) – This legislation would make an appropriation from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from other restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for the operations of several boards and commissions. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2184, PN 3559 (Markosek) – This legislation would make an appropriation from the General Fund’s restricted revenue account to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 2137, PN 3462 (Adolph) – This legislation appropriates funds to the Pennsylvania State University for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The appropriation for General Support receives $224,816,000, the same amount it received in 2015-16. The appropriation for the Pennsylvania College of Technology receives $19,584,000, the same amount it received in 2015-16. The bill also authorizes the appropriation of money contained within the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund restricted receipt account for Agriculture Research and Extension Services. Senator Browne offered amendment A09120, which increases funding for Pennsylvania State University. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 2138, PN 3463 (Adolph) – This legislation appropriates funds to the University of Pittsburgh for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The appropriation for General Support receives $140,693,000 and Rural Education Outreach receives $2,500,000. Senator Browne offered amendment A09131, which increases funding for Pitt. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 2139, PN 3464 (Adolph) – This legislation appropriates $146,913,000 to Temple University for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Senator Browne offered amendment A09132, which increases funding for Temple. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 2140, PN 3465 (Adolph) – This legislation appropriates $14,084,000 to Lincoln University for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Senator Browne offered amendment A09133, which increases funding for Lincoln. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 2141, PN 3466 (Adolph) – This legislation appropriates funds to the University of Pennsylvania for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The appropriation for Veterinary Activities receives $29,400,000 and the appropriation for the Center for Infectious Diseases receives $274,000. Senator Browne offered amendment A09140, which increases funding for the university. The Senate agreed to the amendment and the bill went over in its order as amended.
HB 64, PN 55 (Adolph) – The bill creates the Matt Adler Suicide Prevention Continuing Education Act and requires any individual licensed by the State Board of Psychology or the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors to have at least one hour of continuing education in the assessment, treatment and management of suicide risks as a condition of license renewal. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
SB 613, PN 611 (Vance) – The bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act (P.L. 380, Act 97 of 1980) regarding the transportation of residual waste. A vote of 49-1 was recorded.
SB 703, PN 1999 (McGarrigle) – This bill creates the Plumbing Contractors Licensure Act. A nine-member board– the State Board of Plumbing Contractors– would be responsible for authorizing plumbers to perform services and supervise apprentices and journeyman plumbers. The Board will create a registry of licensed plumbers and provide access to the public. A vote of 45-5 was recorded.
HB 898, PN 1121 (Boyle) – HB 898 amends the definition of emergency vehicles in Section 102 of Title 75 (Vehicles) to include certain vehicles owned and operated by a county correctional institution in the city of the first class (Philadelphia Prison System) and vehicles owned and operated by the PA Turnpike Commission used by an emergency service responder. Senator Scarnati offered amendment A09272, which requires the Department to remove dead deer from the state right-of-way when notified and when conducting general maintenance. It also allows the State Fire Commissioner to recommend to the Department changes to flashing lights mounted in privately owned volunteer firefighter vehicles. The amendment was agreed to and the bill went over in its order as amended.
SB 1267, PN 1987 (Rafferty) – SB 1267 amends the Department’s Green Light-Go Program to allow a municipality may enter into an agreement with PennDOT to replace, synchronize and time traffic signals located within a critical or designated traffic corridor. A vote of 45-5 was recorded.
SB 1292, PN 1961 (Browne) – Senate Bill 1292 provides for the Capital Budget Act of 2016-2017. The bill authorizes the commonwealth to incur a maximum of $1,110,000,000 in bond indebtedness. A vote of 50-0 was recorded.
HB 1335, PN 1817 (Lawrence) – HB 1335 amends Title 75 (Vehicles), further providing for emergency telephones along the PA Turnpike. Currently, there is a statutory provision that mandates the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission operate and maintain emergency call boxes along the turnpike. The bill changes the statute from a “shall” provision to a “may” provision. A vote of 49-1 was recorded.
SR 275, PN 1537 (Reschenthaler) – This resolution urges the United States Congress to pass H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Act of 2015. The Senate adopted the resolution via voice vote.
SR 394, PN 1969 (Vogel) – This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study voting system technology and report its findings to the Senate within 18 months. The Senate adopted the resolution via voice vote.
SB 1073, PN 2009 (Browne) – This bill is the General Appropriation Act of 2016, which provides for the expenses of all three branches of government, public debt, and for public schools for FY 2016-17. The spend number comes in at $31.53 billion. Senator Corman moved that the Senate adopt the bill as amended, not withstanding Senate Rule 12. Following adoption, Senator Corman moved that the Senate concur in House amendments to the bill as further amended by the Senate. During remarks on the bill Senator Hughes noted the bipartisan nature of the bill and stated “this is a document that moves the people of Pennsylvania forward.” The amendments were concurred in by a vote of 47-3, returning the bill to the House for its concurrence.
HB 1062, PN 3638 (Killion) – This legislation amends the Human Services Code by adding necessary language appropriate for passage of the budget, also providing for individuals eligible for benefits along with the eHealth Partnership Authority transfer to the Dept. of Human Services. A vote of 49-0 was recorded.
The Senate approved the following executive nominations by a vote of 50-0:
Anthony Carrelli, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania (new appointment)
David Spurgeon, Judge, Court of Common Please, Allegheny County (new appointment)
Jill Koestel, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Berks County (new appointment)
Jeffrey Trauger, Judge, Court of Common Please, Bucks County (new appointment)
Lori Serratelli, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County (new appointment)
Julia Munley, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County (new appointment)
Daniel McCarthy, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Lehigh County (new appointment)
Joseph Walsh, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County (new appointment)
Lucretia Clemons, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Vincent Furlong, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Roger Gordon, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Vincent Melchiorre, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Daniel Rulman, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Stella Tsai, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County (new appointment)
Damon Faldowski, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Washington County (new appointment)
Christy Fawcett, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, York County (new appointment)
Kathleen Prendergast, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, York County (new appointment)
Tim Holden, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (reappointment)