The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would criminalize the acts of operating a methamphetamine lab and dumping meth waste.
Under House Bill 485, operating a meth lab would be considered a second degree felony. However, if the lab is located within 1,000 feet of a school, a college or university or a nursery school or day care center or within 250 feet of a recreation center or playground, the offense would be elevated to a first degree felony.
The bill also makes dumping meth waste a third degree felony.
The bill was amended in the House that makes technical changes to various sections of the Controlled Substance, Drug Device and Cosmetic Act.
The bill is now on the governor’s desk.
The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 602, which would allow for expanded function dental assistants.
This bill would allow expanded function dental assistants to polish teeth, provide fluoride treatments, place contouring amalgam and other restorative materials and take impressions of teeth for athletic appliances.
The bill would also ensure that expanded function dental assistants are represented on the State Board of Dentistry.
The bill will now go to the Governor.
The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would amend the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to provide for environmental costs associated with methamphetamine production.
Under Senate Bill 126, a person who is convicted of an offense involving the operation of a methamphetamine laboratory would be ordered to reimburse the appropriate agency for the costs of cleaning up the environmental hazards associated with the lab.
The bill was amended in the House that makes technical changes to various sections of the Controlled Substance, Drug Device and Cosmetic Act.
The bill is now on the governor’s desk.
The Senate unanimously passed a package of bills from the Local Government Commission and the Township Supervisors of Pennsylvania.
Senate Bill 1059 would amend the First Class Township Code to allow the board of commissioners to enter into an employment agreement with the township manager and the township manager would serve at the pleasure of the board. Senate Bills 1060, 1061, and 1062 provide the same language for the position in Second Class Townships, incorporated towns, and in boroughs (borough manager) respectively.
Senate Bill 1063 would give city council the power to create the position of city administrator or manager and appoint someone to serve in that position whenever a vacancy exists. The appointed city administrator or manager would not have to be a resident of the city if approved by city council.
There is potential for this package of bills to save local governments money by avoiding legal costs or paying for the length of a contract after the administrator has been removed.
The package of bills is now in the House.
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