The Senate approved House Bill 566 by a vote of 43-5. The measure allows a contractor or subcontractor to suspend work on a construction project, without penalty, if they have not received payment per the terms of their contract.
Contractors may stop work if 30 days have passed without payment, and if they have provided written notice within 10 days of their intent to suspend work.
The legislation amends the conditions under which owners can legally withhold payment for deficient items and mandates if the owner provides the contractor with a good faith reason to withhold payment within 14 days of receipt of the invoice.
The bill became Act 27 of 2018.
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The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1952, which creates a new law for the registration of sexual offenders.
The measure eliminates gaps in reporting requirements for persons whose prior requirements may have been invalidated when the state Supreme Court ruled that the Sexual Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) violated constitutional protections against ex post facto laws.
The new law expands the group of former offenders who are criminally liable if they fail to register, receive counseling and report. It also allows a person who files a petition for exemption from filing requirements to file successive petitions seeking exemption every five years thereafter. Sexually violent predators must undergo more frequent verification, and individuals with temporary housing must provide verification and register every 30 days.
House Bill 1952 became Act 29 of 2018.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 189 which would grant crime victims the right to attend criminal trials unless the court determines the victim’s testimony would be altered if the victim heard other testimony in the proceeding. The legislation requires the court to allow the victim the fullest attendance possible and to state on the record the reason for any exclusion.
The bill was referred to the House Judiciary committee on May 22.
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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 257, which would amend the insurance company law to provide for quality eye care for insured residents. The legislation would allow for an insured with an in-network provider to select an out-of-network vision care supplier.
If the in-network provider recommends an out-of-network supplier, they would be required to give written notice that the supplier is not in-network, that the insured has the option of selecting in-network and that financial obligations for the insured may be different with the out-of-network supplier.
The legislation would also provide for discount access programs for non-covered vision services. A vision provider would be able to opt out of the contractual obligation to provide these discounts if the provider gives written disclosure to the insured discount program.
The bill was referred to the House Insurance Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 439, which would provide for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in child care facilities and impose penalties for failing to comply with the prescribed standards.
The bill was referred to the House Health committee on May 23.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 630, which provides for the licensure of limited lines travel insurance producers. The bill outlines requirements for the sale of travel insurance, for authority of limited lines travel insurance producers and for registration and training of travel retailers.
Senate Bill 630 became Act 26 of 2018.
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The Senate approved Senate Bill 652 by a vote of 28-20. The bill would make it a specific crime to trespass at critical infrastructure facilities. Grading for such an offense would be in the range of third-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony, depending on whether the offender is a minor and whether there is intent to cause damage.
The bill includes an exemption for those who enter a critical infrastructure facility to prevent a serious threat to public health or safety and for law enforcement officers in pursuit of a suspect.
The bill was referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy committee on June 13.
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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 801 which would amend the third-class city code to allow for the purchase of used personal property from volunteer emergency service organizations without competitive bidding.
The bill was referred to the House Local Government Committee.
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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 802 which would amend the first-class city code to allow Philadelphia to purchase used personal property from volunteer emergency service providers without seeking bids.
The bill was referred to the House Local Government Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 803 which would amend the second-class township code to allow for the purchase of used personal property from volunteer emergency service organizations without competitive bidding.
The bill was referred to the House Local Government Committee on May 23, 2018.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 804, which would allow incorporated towns to purchase of used personal property from volunteer emergency service organizations without competitive bidding.
The bill was referred to the House Local Government committee on May 23.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 897, which would clarify that when restitution is owed to crime victims, the court must prioritize payment to the individual first, followed by any affected government agency.
The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1031, which would formalize a system for the state Insurance Department to conduct its examination of insurers. The legislation outlines specifics to utilize best practices in the industry as well as to increase transparency and efficiency. The department would also be required to publish an annual analysis report that would include the total amount billed to insurance companies for examinations conducted during the prior fiscal year.
The bill was referred to the House Insurance committee on May 22.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1038, which would allow residual funds from candidates or suspended political campaigns to be donated to nonprofit organizations.
The bill was referred to the House State Government Committee on May 24.
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The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1092, which would toughen sentencing guidelines for domestic violence crimes committed in the presence of a child.
The bill was referred to the House Judiciary committee on May 24.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1101, which would amend the law on car titles for stolen vehicles.
Under the bill, a recovered-theft title would only be required if repair costs are more than half of the vehicle’s replacement value.
If the owner has received a certificate of salvage and payment and the vehicle is later found, passes inspection and shows that the damage does not exceed half of the replacement value, the owner could apply to PennDOT for an unbranded title.
The bill was referred to the House Transportation Committee on May 24.
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The Senate approved Senate Bill 1104 by a vote of 48-1. The bill would reduce the number of credits required for vocational education certificates I and II from 78-60. Applicants for vocational intern certificates would be required to demonstrate four years of wage-earning experience.
The bill was referred to the House Education Committee on May 24.