Senate Accomplishments
Bills Passed/Other Action
2009 - 2010

Accomplishments 2007-2008

• Enacting a Responsible State Budget
• Reforming State Government
• Improving Health Care
• Supporting Education
• Fighting Crime
• Creating Jobs

• Environment and Energy
• Improving Emergency Response
• Supporting Farmers
• Assisting Military Veterans
• Strengthening Consumer Protection
• Transportation and Public Safety
• Reducing Illegal Immigration

ENACTING A RESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET
 

Senate Approves "Fiscally Responsible" FY 2009-10 Budget Proposal
The State Senate approved a fiscally responsible budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2009-10 that cuts spending and includes no new taxes, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Jake Corman (R-34).
Senator Corman said Senate Bill 850, which now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration, reflects the serious economic challenges Pennsylvania faces – rather than putting off difficult decisions that could only further exacerbate the fiscal crisis. The $27.3 billion budget proposal cuts spending just over 1 percent from the current year and includes no new taxes.
The budget allocates more than $728 million in stimulus funds for basic education, and another $720 million in stimulus funds will go directly to Pennsylvania school districts through existing funding streams. The Senate-passed budget proposal represents a strong starting point for controlling spending, avoiding tax hikes, and positioning Pennsylvania for economic recovery.
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Effort to Reform Budget Process Moves Forward
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), approved legislation intended to fundamentally reform Pennsylvania's budgeting process while increasing transparency and accountability in state government.
Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Browne, would establish a Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO), a non-partisan bi-cameral agency with expertise in financial matters.  The LFO would have access to the same agency and department financial information as the Governor's Budget Office. 
While the Governor and Legislature must agree on spending during budget negotiations, the Administration currently has sole discretion over setting the revenue projection for the upcoming fiscal year. Under Senate Bill 1, the LFO would submit a preliminary revenue estimate during the second week of February, a week after the Governor traditionally presents his budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The LFO would then submit a binding revenue estimate for the upcoming fiscal year by June 15.
Senate Bill 1 also requires state agencies and departments to submit their budget requests to the LFO at the same time they submit them to the Office of the Budget. Pennsylvania is currently one of only eight states where the Legislature does not receive the agency budget requests.
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GOP Leaders Seek to Set Core Guidelines FOR Federal Stimulus Spending
Senate Republican leaders announced their sponsorship of a resolution outlining core principles that the Senate will follow when determining how federal stimulus money will be spent in Pennsylvania.
The resolution is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman (R-Centre).
The senators said that funding should be distributed based on the following principles:     

• Maximize the use of the funds to address current deficits and revenue shortfalls. 
• Avoid the permanent expansion of current programs and the creation of new programs and ensure funds are appropriated to programs that will most efficiently utilize the money to stimulate the economy, create and preserve jobs and protect taxpayers. 
• Avoid the acceptance of federal stimulus funds that require the permanent expansion of benefits and thereby place additional costs on the Commonwealth and its taxpayers.

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Senate Approves Bill Providing Oversight of Federal Stimulus Dollars
The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would provide transparency and oversight of all federal stimulus dollars spent in Pennsylvania. 
Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), would create a bipartisan 11-member commission to track, monitor and report on all funds distributed to Pennsylvania as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill would create reporting standards for state agencies to determine exactly how and where these additional funds will be used and require the state to establish a searchable database of individual stimulus projects for the public to review online.
The commission will be made up of four members of the governor's cabinet, one member appointed by each of the four legislative caucuses, and three members of the general public appointed by the governor, the Senate President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.   
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Senate Approves Transfer of Funds to Ease Budget Deficit
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) to transfer much-needed revenue into the state's General Fund budget, helping to close a budget deficit without increasing taxes on working Pennsylvanians.
Senate Bill 490 would transfer $174 million from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the General Fund to help address the state's $2.3 billion budget deficit.
The governor's plan for balancing the budget is predicated on transferring $174 million to the General Fund. The legislation accomplishes that. It does so while leaving more than enough money to fund Pennsylvania's environmental programs.
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REFORMING STATE GOVERNMENT | Back to Top
 

Senate GOP Reform Package: Taxpayer Transparency Act Approved
This measure is part of a Senate Republican package designed to continue changing the culture of state government by increasing accountability and transparency.
The Taxpayer Transparency Act, a key Senate Republican reform measure to expand the public's access to state spending records, was approved by the Senate by a 30-19 vote.
Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), would direct the Department of the Treasury to create and maintain a searchable budget database-driven website that the public can access, for free.
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Senate GOP Reform Package: Crackdown on Sunshine Law Violations Approved
These measures are part of a Senate Republican package designed to continue changing the culture of state government by increasing accountability and transparency.
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) that would increase penalties for violating the "Sunshine Law" governing open, public meetings.  
Senate Bill 101 would increase the maximum fine for intentional violations from $100 to up to $1,000 for a first offense, and up to $2,000 for a subsequent offense.
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 110, sponsored by Senator Smucker, which would improve public access to, and expand information contained in, state plane logs.  This measure was prompted by a critical audit report from the state Auditor General.
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GOP Legislation Would Return Funds From Legislative Accounts
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced legislation that would transfer a significant portion of surplus funds from legislative accounts to the General Fund.
Senate Bill 10 would leave sufficient funds in legislative accounts to continue operations for up to four months in the event of an emergency or budget impasse. The bill would require that all funds in excess of this reserve be returned to the General Fund after each fiscal year.
It is estimated that the legislation will return over $100 million to the General Fund this year to help balance the budget. Since 2006, the yearly appropriation to the Senate has dropped six percent, and the number of employees in the Senate Republican Caucus has been reduced approximately nine percent.
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Senate Committee Advances Gaming Reform Bill
Bipartisan legislation to make significant reforms to the law governing casinos in Pennsylvania was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, chaired by Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie).
Senate Bill 711, sponsored by Senator Earll, would make numerous changes to the law regulating casinos in Pennsylvania. It would reestablish the prohibition on political campaign contributions by individuals and entities subject to the Gaming Act, bar outside employment by members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and extend the ban on felons receiving gaming licenses.
Several senators from both parties were directly involved in the process of writing Senate Bill 711, including Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland).
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Senate Adopts Rule Prohibiting Robo-Call Funding
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) applauded the Senate's unanimous adoption of a rule to prohibit Senate funds from being used for automated telephone -- or "robo" -- calls.
Senate Resolution 6, adopted unanimously, goes into effect immediately. Senator Pileggi and Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow introduced a similar resolution last session.
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Senators Unveil Package of Gaming Reform Bills
A group of Senators led by Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) and Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) unveiled a wide-ranging, bipartisan package of reform bills intended to tightly regulate the gaming industry and provide greater accountability and transparency.
Among the measures in the reform package are bills to more tightly regulate the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, protect against conflicts of interest, and prevent criminals from obtaining gaming licenses.  Other measures would put the State Police or Attorney General in charge of licensing investigations, rather than the Gaming Board, and establish tighter financial suitability rules for license applicants.  The bills would also require detailed audits and crack down on transportation costs.
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Senate Passes Bill to Ensure State Regulations are Based on Reliable Data
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) to help ensure that state regulations are based on reliable data and sound science was unanimously approved April 1 by the Senate.
Senate Bill 136, the Data Quality Act, would expand the scope of review by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission to include the examination of the quality of data, studies, reports and information underlying state regulations being implemented. The state agency seeking to implement a regulation would have the responsibility to provide to the IRRC a sufficient description of any data upon which the regulation is based as well as a detailed explanation of how the data was obtained and why the data is acceptable.
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IMPROVING HEALTH CARE | Back to Top

Senate Republicans are renewing their efforts to improve health care access and expand Pennsylvania’s health care safety net through the HealthNET PA legislative package. HealthNET PA expands access to health care and medicine to uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians more quickly, and at a fraction of the cost of other state and national proposals.

HealthNET PA: Senate Votes to Expand Small Business Insurance Access
The Senate approved a HealthNET PA measure that will extend continuation of group health insurance policies for former employees and dependents, making the option available to approximately 150,000 individuals who work for employers with 2 to 19 employees and who change jobs.
Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-Indiana), will create a Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Plan. The federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provides former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to continuation of health coverage at group rates for up to 18 months. However, COBRA benefits only apply to employers with 20 or more employees. SB 442 will extend the COBRA guidelines in Pennsylvania to group plans that employ 2 to 19 employees. (House Bill 1089, Act 2 of 2009, is identical to Senate Bill 422.)

Also signed into law is House Bill 84 (Act 1 of 2009), which permits health insurers to withhold payment to providers in the event of a preventable serious adverse event. It is similar to legislation spearheaded by Senator White, Senate Bill 443.
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HealthNET PA: Senate Approves Bill Extending Insurance to Young Adults
The Senate unanimously approved HealthNET PA legislation that will extend health insurance coverage to adult dependents up to the age of 30.
Act 4 of 2009, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), will extend insurance to adult dependents up to the age of 30 who are not married, have no dependents, are residents of the Commonwealth or are enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher education and are not provided insurance coverage or eligible for government benefits.
The largest segment of the uninsured in Pennsylvania -- roughly half -- is young adults age 18 to 34.
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HealthNET PA: Senate Approves Health Care Volunteer Education Bill
The Senate approved HealthNET PA legislation that would credit volunteer time by health care professionals toward their continuing education requirements.
Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), would allow physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses or certified registered nurse practitioners to apply volunteer time served in a community-based health care clinic towards the completion of no more than 20 percent of their mandatory continuing education hours required by their individual licensure boards.  
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HealthNET PA: Health Information Technology Act Approved by Committee
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), approved HealthNET PA legislation that would establish a Health Information and Technology Program.
Under Senate Bill 700, sponsored by Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), the program would provide loans to health care providers and health information centers to implement health information technology systems. 
A health information technology system is an automated system that integrates health records, clinical activities and data sharing in such areas as pharmacy ordering and tracking, and laboratory testing, as well as data sharing among health care facilities, physicians, and health insurers, and other transaction-monitoring that promotes patient safety and efficiency in the delivery of health care.

Senate Approves Bill Reauthorizing Health Care Cost Containment Council
The Senate passed legislation reauthorizing the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4).
Under Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), PHC4 would be reauthorized until 2014.  The council collects data from hospitals, freestanding ambulatory surgery centers and some managed care plans, and provides it to consumers in a comparative format so they may make educated decisions on the purchase of their health care.
PHC4 has required legislation to extend its existence periodically since its founding in 1986.  The authorizing statute expired most recently on June 30, 2008, and the council was temporarily extended by executive order until June 30, 2009.
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SUPPORTING EDUCATION | Back to Top
 

Senate Approves Measure to Block Costly New Graduation Tests
The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation that would halt implementation of a costly new graduation test across Pennsylvania.
Senate Bill 281, sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), would prohibit the state Department of Education from imposing any new statewide requirement for high school graduation without legislative approval.
Senator Orie introduced Senate Bill 281 to put a halt to a $201 million contract that the Department of Education signed with an out-of-state company to develop a new end-of-year test called the Keystone Exams.  Under the department's original proposal, all students would be required to pass ten subject area tests in order to graduate.
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Senator Orie, which would allow students with severe allergies to carry epinephrine medication -- such as EpiPen auto-injectors -- upon approval by the student's physician and parents.
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Senate Approves Safe Schools Package
The Senate approved a legislative package sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) that would make significant changes to Pennsylvania's Safe Schools Law by ensuring those with criminal records are banned from employment in the Commonwealth's schools and improving the reporting requirements between school districts and local law enforcement.
Senate Bill 55 would establish a lifetime ban on working in schools for those who have been convicted of serious violent offenses, including sexual violence and crimes against children.  It also prohibits anyone convicted of any other felony crime from working in a school setting for at least 10 years.
Senate Bill 56 requires the Education Department to create an Office for Safe Schools within the agency and be charged with overseeing its work, rather than outsourcing that function as is currently done.  It also requires school entities to submit their violence reports to their local police department to verify the school's report.  An Auditor General's report found the department was not verifying the violence statistics it received from schools and that it was failing to monitor school violence.
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Legislation Protecting Tax-Exempt Status of Charter Schools Approved
Legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) to protect the tax-exempt status of charter schools was approved by the Senate, 49 to 0.
Senator Pileggi noted that charter schools are public schools and should be treated as such. In most of Pennsylvania, there is no confusion on this point. Unfortunately, some local charter schools have received real estate tax bills and were forced to go to court to fight this inequity.
Senate Bill 687 explicitly states that all school property owned by a charter school or an associated non-profit foundation, or leased to a charter school at or below fair market value, which is used for public school purposes is exempt from taxation.
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Senate Acts to Simplify Financial Reporting Requirements for Schools
The Senate approved legislation to simplify annual financial reporting requirements to prevent duplication with the annual audit filed by local education agencies.
Under current law, all financial accounting and reporting of school districts and intermediate units must be in accordance with generally accepted accounting and reporting standards.
Under Senate Bill 287, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), the annual financial reports filed by school districts and intermediate units would be exempt from this requirement and the Department of Education would be required to establish a separate reporting standard for these reports. The standard would have to conform to fund level reporting criteria only.

Teacher Strikes the Focus of Education Committee's Public Hearing
The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), convened a public hearing on teacher strikes and the impact walkouts have on Pennsylvania students, academic achievement and performance, and the public education system.
According to the Allegheny Institute, Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states to allow public school workers to strike.  Nearly 90 public school strikes occurred in the state between 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 school years, which averages to at least ten strikes per year.  Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher strikes.
Those taking part in the hearing included critics of teacher strikes as well as state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak.
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FIGHTING CRIME | Back to Top
 

Senate Approves Gordner Bills to Combat Methamphetamine
The Senate approved a four-bill package targeting the continuing problem of illegal production of methamphetamine.
Sponsored by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia), the bills will make it more difficult to obtain the ingredients necessary to produce methamphetamine, add new protections for children and clean up the environmental damage caused by illegal meth labs. The senator introduced the legislation with the support of Pennsylvania Attorney General Thomas Corbett and local law enforcement.
Senate Bill 124 provides for the specific offense of operating a methamphetamine laboratory, and increases penalties if the lab is operated near a school, day care center or playground.
Senate Bill 125 provides for penalties for possessing the ingredients necessary for the production of methamphetamine.
Senate Bill 126 provides for defendants to be assessed the environmental clean-up costs associated with methamphetamine laboratories.
Senate Bill 127 combines the criminal provisions of Senate Bill 124 and the environmental provisions of Senate Bill 126.
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Senate Votes to Authorize Problem Solving Courts
The Senate unanimously approved legislation aimed at improving public safety while providing more extensive supervision of non-violent offenders through problem solving courts. 
Problem solving courts, which include mental health courts and drug courts, divert non-violent offenders from more costly jail cells and encourage rehabilitation through extensive supervision. Such courts are being used across the nation to save money and help offenders who have particular issues including drug addiction and mental health issues.  
Senate Bill 383, sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), would statutorily authorize the implementation of problem solving courts in the Commonwealth. It does not mandate them. 
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Committee Approves Review of Juvenile Justice System
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), approved legislation that seeks to prevent further cases of corruption in county juvenile courts and restore public confidence by establishing an Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice.
Senate Bill 949 was drafted by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) in response to an alarming case of corruption uncovered in Luzerne County, which resulted in hundreds of juveniles being improperly sentenced and inappropriately placed in detention centers.
The measure would create an 11-member commission, appointed by the Chief Justice, General Assembly and Governor, to conduct a thorough review of juvenile justice procedures, practices and rules and regulations and to pursue remedies and reform. 
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Senate Acts to Increase County Coordination of Juvenile Assistance
The Senate approved legislation that will enable county agencies to work in a cooperative manner to address family issues.
Senate Bill 531, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), provides for county interagency sharing of juvenile records, including the contents of drug and alcohol, mental health, and education records.
The senator noted that county agencies often have information about many of the same individuals or families, but because of confidentiality concerns, are unable to legally and officially transmit information about at-risk persons or families. Senate Bill 531 would facilitate the distribution of information between relevant agencies to prevent further victimization or criminal conduct of individuals in a family.
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Legislation Would Expand Self-Defense Law
Legislation that would establish the Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania to protect gun owners who act in self-defense was announced by Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Franklin).
The measure would remove the "duty to retreat" clause when an individual is threatened by an attacker in any place that individual has a right to be, including the individual's home or vehicle. The bill would provide important protections against criminal prosecution or civil litigation for those who act to defend themselves.
Under Senator Alloway’s bill, an individual would need to demonstrate a reasonable belief that he or she was in imminent danger in order to use lethal force. Twenty-three states have established the Castle Doctrine.
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CREATING JOBS | Back to Top
 

Prevailing Wage Moratorium Offered to Stimulate Economic Growth
Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) introduced legislation that would place a moratorium on prevailing wage requirements for municipal and school construction projects while the state recovers from the recession.
Senate Bill 695 would stimulate construction projects in Pennsylvania by placing a three-year moratorium on prevailing wage requirements. It is estimated that the moratorium would reduce labor costs by up to 25 percent, providing a valuable incentive for school districts and municipalities to begin work on new construction projects. 
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ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY | Back to Top
  

Senate Votes to Increase Accountability in Environmental Spending
The Senate approved several bills increasing transparency and accountability in state spending on environmental initiatives. The Senate approved the following bills, sponsored by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango):
Senate Bill 115 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to post and maintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website, and to provide the same to the standing Senate and House oversight committees. The State Implementation Plans are the Commonwealth's formal submittals to the Environmental Protection Agency detailing how the government will comply with various air quality standards. This legislation would ensure that the plans are readily available for public and legislative review and comment.
Senate Bill 116 requires the DEP to annually compile a comprehensive report on all of the special funds and restricted accounts that it administers.
Senate Bill 117 requires state agencies which receive funding under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Key '93) to submit annual reports to the governor and General Assembly - including a description of projects and amounts requested - and post the information online.
Senate Bill 118 requires DEP to deposit any HSCA-related fine money into the HSCA fund. Any business which causes a hazardous spill or release is obligated under the HSCA statute to pay 100 percent of recovery and cleanup costs, and is also liable for significant fines.

Senate Approves Deadline Extension for PA Climate Change Action Plan
The Senate unanimously approved legislation to extend the deadline faced by the state Department of Environmental Protection for submitting a Pennsylvania Climate Change Action Plan.
Act 70 of 2008 requires DEP to submit a plan by October 9. The department has acknowledged it will miss the deadline, but it cannot do so without a statutory extension. Senate Bill 829, sponsored by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango), extends the deadline by three months. 
The measure ensures that the public has a 60-day public comment period before the plan is finalized, and ensures an opportunity for the public's comments and recommendations to be incorporated into the final plan.
The DEP's Climate Change Advisory Committee voted to endorse passage of Senate Bill 829.
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Senate Votes to Expand Gas Well Reporting Requirements
Legislation that would expand requirements for reporting gas well data to the Department of Environmental Protection was unanimously approved by the Senate.
Pennsylvania law requires annual well reporting, but stipulates that this information be kept confidential for five years. However, many states, such as Texas, already post this information online on a regular basis.
Senate Bill 297, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), would require a six-month report and an annual report of all oil and natural gas well production to be posted on the DEP website.

Senate Approves Coal Bed Methane Well Dispute Act
The Senate approved legislation introduced to establish a special review board to arbitrate coal bed methane well disputes.
Currently, disputes between surface land owners and the holders of mineral rights for those properties are often resolved in county courts after a lengthy, expensive and acrimonious process for all parties involved.
Senate Bill 275, sponsored by Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), creates a three-member Coal Bed Methane Review Board to consider objections and attempt to reach an agreement on issues such as the location of coal bed methane wells and/or access roads.
The Coal Bed Methane Review Board would be made up of a member appointed by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, a member appointed jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Pennsylvania Coal Association, and a member appointed jointly by the deans of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of Penn State University.
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Sen. McIlhinney Introduces Legislation to Protect Drinking Water Supplies
Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks) introduced legislation that would strengthen the state's Safe Drinking Water Act by extending greater protections for drinking water sources.
The senator noted that drinking water supplies can be contaminated by runoff pollution, industrial discharges, spills and various land uses. Senate Bill 777 would establish critical zones for surface water intakes and wellhead protection areas for community groundwater wells to help prevent contamination.
The bill would also require the Department of Environmental Protection to establish statewide minimum standards for wellhead and surface water intake protection. Under Senate Bill 777, violators would be subject to fines of up to $2,500 and up to 90 days in jail. Willful or negligent violations of the law could lead to fines of up to $50,000 and up to two years in jail for each offense.
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Committee Holds Public Hearing on Marcellus Shale Issue
The Senate Majority Policy Committee held an April 9 public hearing in Williamsport on the multiple issues surrounding the Marcellus Shale gas reserves.
The hearing, led by Committee Chairman John Pippy (R-Allegheny) and Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), included discussion with local government officials, industry representatives, environmental organizations and other experts. The state's recoverable gas resources are estimated to be worth about $500 billion.
Among the issues surrounding natural gas drilling that the hearing focused on were taxation, infrastructure and land reclamation. The environmental impact, including the effect on water quality, was also discussed.
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IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE | Back to Top
 

Senate Acts to Modernize State's Emergency Medical Services Law
The Senate approved legislation that would modernize, standardize and improve Pennsylvania's Emergency Medical Services Law to ensure high levels of patient care and greater public safety.
Senate Bill 240, sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), would replace the existing Emergency Medical Services Law with one that is more coordinated and responsive to the current EMS needs of the state.
In the 1980s, most EMS organizations were adjuncts of local fire companies.  But today, only about a third are volunteer. Changes in workforce, technology and service configurations have all made it necessary to revamp the existing law to reflect current practices and protocols.
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SUPPORTING FARMERS | Back to Top
 

Bills Proposed to Solidify Nutrient Trading Program
Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York) and Rep. Eugene DePasquale (D-York) introduced legislation that seeks to strengthen Pennsylvania's nutrient credit trading policy.
A more robust nutrient credit trading program is seen as providing a lower cost alternative for some wastewater treatment plant upgrades prompted by implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy (CBTS).  It also can provide a mechanism to accommodate growth because additional nutrient discharges associated with new housing must be offset by reductions elsewhere.
Senate Bill 767 and House Bill 1213 establish authority for the nutrient credit trading program in statute and require its formation through the regulatory process, to allow stakeholders to have more input into its design.  The bills also create a state board that would be authorized to serve as a clearinghouse for the purchase and sale of credits as a supplement to direct exchanges between buyers and sellers.
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ASSISTING MILITARY VETERANS | Back to Top
 

Senate Expands Reduced Fishing, Hunting Fees for National Guard Members
The Senate voted to expand eligibility guidelines for programs that allow National Guard members to qualify for free or reduced-price hunting and fishing licenses.
The bill would reduce from 180 to 60 the number of days members of the Pennsylvania National Guard must be deployed overseas to qualify.
Senate Bill 301 is sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) and covers fishing licenses. Senate Bill 302, sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), covers hunting licenses.

Senate Acts to Make High School Diplomas Available to Vietnam Vets
Legislation extending the honorary diploma program known as "Operation Recognition" to Vietnam veterans was approved by the Senate.
Senate Bill 674, sponsored by Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), amends the Public School Code to allow school districts to establish such a program in order to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans who were unable to graduate due to their military service.
Act 73 of 2001 established "Operation Recognition," providing school districts the authority to grant high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans of World War II. Act 187 of 2002 extended the program to Korean Conflict veterans, but Vietnam veterans have not yet been included in the program.
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STRENGTHENING CONSUMER PROTECTION | Back to Top
 

Mortgage Fraud Prevention Legislation Becomes Law
Legislation that would help protect consumers from mortgage fraud has been approved by the Senate and House of Representatives and signed into law.
Act 10 of 2009, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), would prohibit a mortgage broker or originator from being the exclusive recipient of communications to a consumer. The legislation would prevent brokers from withholding information about interest rates, fees or monthly payments, and it would ensure that consumers are informed of the terms of their mortgage.
A companion bill, Act 7 of 2009, would help to prevent fraud by protecting mortgage company employees who report illegal activities or take part in an investigation, hearing or inquiry. The legislation would prevent an employer from taking actions such as reducing an employee's salary or benefits, changing the terms of employment, or firing an employee. Currently, those protections only apply to these employees when they report a violation of the state Banking Code, but not if they report a violation of other law.
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Bill Strengthening Personal Data Breach Notification Approved
State agencies and local governments would be required to notify the public of data breaches involving personal information within one week under legislation unanimously approved by the Senate.
Senate Bill 155, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), was drafted after reports of three separate thefts of state-owned computers containing personal information. Although those computers included at least 17,800 Social Security numbers and other personal information of approximately 400,000 state residents, the state agencies involved did not notify the public until two or three weeks after the incidents.
Current law requires the public to be notified of such incidents "without unreasonable delay." Senate Bill 155 would put a specific one-week notification requirement in place for breaches involving state agencies and local governments.
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TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY | Back to Top
 

Bill to Ban Texting While Driving Approved by Committee
The Senate Transportation Committee, chaired by Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), unanimously approved legislation that would make it illegal for motorists to text while driving.
Senate Bill 143, sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), would make texting while driving a secondary offense if a motorist has been cited for another violation and would carry a fine of $100.  Pennsylvania would join 10 other states that have prohibited texting while driving for all classes of drivers.  Eight more states prohibit texting by novice drivers or certain specialized driving classifications.   
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REDUCING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION | Back to Top