The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 37, which would allow Pennsylvanians to register to vote online.
The measure would also allow voters to change their party registration, address, or name online. Under the proposal, citizens could register to vote anytime. However, if they register late for an upcoming election, their registration would not take effect until the beginning of the next registration period.
Lawmakers claim such a system would be more simple and convenient, encouraging greater voter participation.
The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 120, which would require candidates to file all campaign reports electronically. The bill would also impose additional registration and reporting requirements.
Under the bill, beginning in February, 2014, all campaign finance reports and statements would need to be filed electronically. Lawmakers said the electronic system would be more efficient and less expensive.
The bill would add a new section that clarifies what financial amounts trigger the need to file certain reports. The legislation would also increase the penalty for a late filing fee from $10 to $25, and hike the maximum fee for a single report from $250 to $500.
The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate approved Senate Bill 10 by a vote of 49-0 vote. The measure would expand the Safe Schools Grant program, which the Department of Education oversees.
The proposal would also provide dedicated funding to for the training and hiring of armed guards in schools. Pennsylvania now provides $500,000 through the Safe Schools Grant program. The bill would increase that funding to $10 million.
The measure now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 381, which would amend Article 9 of the state’s Uniform Commercial Code to deliver better guidance as to the name of a debtor listed on a financing statement. For business entities and other registered organizations, including business trusts, the proper name for perfection purposes would be the name filed with the state and provided on the organization’s charter or other constitutive documents.
The bill is now in the House.
* * *
Senate Bill 308 passed the Senate unanimously. The bill would require the Department of State to post on its Lobbyist Disclosure website all lobbying registration and reporting documents it receives within seven days of the filing.
Aimed at improving transparency in state government, the bill would make internet publication of all lobbying documents more timely. In the past, posting on the department’s website took several months after lobbyist disclosure documents were completed and filed.
The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
The Senate passed Senate Bill 808 by a vote of 38 to 12. The bill would allow most Pennsylvania counties to eliminate the position of jury commissioner.
Under Senate Bill 808, county commissioners in third through eighth class counties could eliminate the position by passing a resolution by a majority vote. Current officeholders would be allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.
The bill is largely designed to help counties save money. The legislation is similar to a bill signed into law last year to eliminate the position in most counties. The law was overturned by the state Supreme Court on procedural grounds.
The bill now goes to the House.
* * *
By wide margins, the Senate passed a pair of bills intended to improve storm-water management.
While regulating storm-water management has largely been left to county and municipal government, Senate Bill 351 makes it clear that local governments have the expressed authority to do so.
Senate Bill 196 amends the law that created the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST) to allow the authority to fund storm-water management projects. Currently, application of PennVEST grants and loans is limited to fresh water projects or sewer projects.
Senate Bill 351 passed 49-1 while Senate Bill 196 passed unanimously. Both bills now go to the House.
# # #