2011
Senate Action
Legislation of Note Passed by the Senate
Budget
Act 1A of 2011
reduces state spending by $1.1 billion and maintains essential state services
without increasing taxes despite a large deficit. The final spending plan
boosted basic and higher education funding over Gov. Corbett's original
proposal.
Government Reform
Senate Bill 105 directs the Independent Fiscal Office to create and maintain a searchable,
database-driven budget website that the public can access. (House version
signed into law as
Act 18 of 2011.)
Act 56 of 2011 increases the maximum penalty for violations of the state Sunshine Law
and bars an agency from making a payment on behalf of a government official for
violating the act.
Act 60 of 2011 requires that any state agency seeking to implement a
regulation describe the data on which the regulation is based as well as a
detailed explanation of how the data was obtained and why it is acceptable.
Act 79 of 2011 enables the governor to declare a state of fiscal emergency
in Harrisburg, which would be triggered by the city's inability to meet its
financial obligations and failure to adopt a financial recovery plan under Act
47.
Act 61
of 2011
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, their
locations and amounts requested - and post the information online.
Act 110 of 2011 opens birth records to
the public 105 years after the date of birth and death records 50 years after
the date of death.
Senate Bill 109 requires all paid advertising by state government to include
the statement "Paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars."
Senate Bill 162 requires state and local government agencies to notify the
public of data breaches involving personal information within one week.
Act 84 of 2011,
Act 85 of 2011,
Act 86 of 2011,
Act 87 of 2011,
Act 88 of 2011,
Act 89 of 2011,
Act 90 of 2011,
Act 91 of 2011,
Act 92 of 2011,
Act 93 of 2011,
Act 94 of 2011,
Act 95 of 2011,
Act 96 of 2011,
Act 97 of 2011 reduce costs to taxpayers by raising the level at which counties,
local governments and school districts must go through the formal bidding
process.
Senate
Bill 354 protects privacy by prohibiting the governor, the Department of
Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency from participating in the Real
ID Act of 2005 or any regulations promulgated under the act.
Senate Bill 304
requires the state Department of Environmental Protection 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.
Job Creation
Act 17 of 2011
prevents lawsuit abuse by reforming the practice of joint and several liability
so that defendants are only responsible for paying their fair share of damages
in a civil case.
Act 67 of 2011 permanently establishes the Industry Partnerships Program as part of the
state's workforce development strategy, bringing together businesses and
organizations within an industry to address common workforce needs.
Act 27 of 2011
extends the sunset provisions of the First Industries Program to July 15,
2015, assisting with the financing of economic development projects primarily
related to agriculture and tourism.
Act 6 of 2011 continues federal unemployment compensation benefits through the end of the
year, reforms the Pennsylvania unemployment compensation system to save
nearly $120 million annually, and allows employers facing the prospect of
layoffs to implement a temporary shared-work program.
Act 65 of 2011 authorizes licensed motorcycle dealers to sell motorcycles on
Sundays, giving Pennsylvania motorcycle dealers a level playing field with
neighboring states.
Nominations
The Senate confirmed 205 gubernatorial nominees,
including 18 members of the Governor's Cabinet, along with members of the Public
Utility Commission, the Liquor Control Board, PHEAA, the Board of Pardons, the
Board of Probation and Parole, the Historical and Museum Commission, the
Philadelphia School Reform Commission, and many other agencies, boards and
commissions.
Environment and Energy
Act 2 of 2011 establishes adequate and safe spacing between natural gas well clusters and
workable coal seams.
Act 57 of 2011 provides one-quarter of any fine under the state Clean Air Act above $50,000 to
the municipality in which the violation occurred for local projects designed
to reduce air pollution, to improve parks and trails, or to create open space.
Senate Bill 1100 establishes reasonable fees on gas drillers, sets strong
environmental safeguards, and strengthens oversight of the Marcellus Shale
drilling industry.
Senate Bill 995 requires Marcellus Shale well operators to post signs bearing their GPS
coordinates and other emergency response information at all well sites and share
those coordinates with appropriate state and local officials.
Senate Bill 325 creates a statewide registry for Class 1 Marcellus Shale pipelines and
requires operators to report the location and aggregate miles of the pipeline to
the Public Utility Commission, which is given authority to conduct safety
inspections and investigations.
Senate Bill 460 requires natural gas producing companies to list production detail and
all deductions on royalty check stubs.
Senate Bill 367 provides new options for the leasing of state-owned real
property for mining or removal of valuable coal, oil, natural gas, coal bed
methane, limestone and mineral resources.
Senate Bill 303 requires DEP to deposit any Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act-related fine
money into the HSCA Fund, which is used to clean up hazardous sites. Civil
penalties under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act - up to $25,000 per offense -
could not be used to supplant other funds within DEP.
Senate Bill 469 encourages landowners to make land and water areas available
to the public for recreational purposes by limiting their liability.
Public Safety
Act 7 of 2011 bans synthetically produced drugs, including concentrated bath salts,
designed to mimic the effects of other drugs.
Act 66 of 2011 provides immunity from prosecution for minors for underage drinking and
possession of alcohol if they call 911 to help an intoxicated friend in
an emergency situation.
Senate Bill 273 strengthens the Castle Doctrine by removing the "duty to retreat" clause when
an individual is threatened by an attacker in any place that individual has a
right to be, including home or vehicle. (House version enacted as
Act 10 of 2011.)
Act 98 of 2011 prohibits texting while driving.
Act 81 of 2011 limits the number of passengers
who may ride in a vehicle operated by a junior driver and requires minors with a
learner's permit to complete 65 hours of practical driving.
Senate Bill 775 requires individuals arrested for serious crimes to submit
DNA samples, authorizes a new type of DNA search to help identify suspects in
unsolved crimes, and implements important privacy protections.
Senate Bill 539 increases penalties for those driving under the influence
with a minor in the vehicle to $1,000 and 100 hours of community service for
first offense, $2,500 and six months imprisonment for a second offense and two
years imprisonment for subsequent offenses.
Senate Bill 58 allows a victim of sexual assault who has not sought criminal charges to
petition a court to order protection from the offender.
Senate Bill 397 establishes a pretrial procedure to determine if a defendant
in a capital penalty trial is a person with mental retardation.
Senate Bill 100 requires the Department of Corrections to establish a
comprehensive program to reduce recidivism, makes more nonviolent offenders
eligible for alternative sentencing programs and establishes a county program
providing predictable and immediate sanctions on offenders who violate
probation.
Senate Bill 595 authorizes 19 cities across Pennsylvania to enact ordinances
to use red-light cameras to improve traffic safety at intersections.
Senate Bill 444 helps non-profit organizations such as volunteer fire
companies and veterans clubs raise more money for community activities by
allowing for increased prize limits.
Emergency Preparedness
Senate Bill 444 helps non-profit organizations such as volunteer fire
companies and veterans clubs raise more money for community activities by
allowing for increased prize limits for small games of chance.
Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee Disaster Relief:
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Senate Bill 1264 provides for supplemental state assistance to those
who have exhausted federal flood benefits and qualify under income eligibility
guidelines.
-
Senate Bill 1266 authorizes $150 million bond for flood-related
highway, bridge and rail rehabilitation projects, as well as flood control and
disaster mitigation projects.
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Senate Bill 1267 provides for real estate tax abatement for
properties substantially damaged by flooding.
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Senate Bill 1268,
Senate Bill 1269,
Senate Bill 1271 authorize county-by-county lists of highways,
bridges and rail facilities damaged by the flood that require repair and
rehabilitation, and flood control and disaster mitigation projects.
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Senate Bill 1297 establishes a low-interest loan program for small
businesses damaged by flooding.
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Senate Bill 1323 provides interest rate assistance and loan
guarantees to assist farmers in recovering from the natural disasters.
Education
Act 25 of 2011 gives voters a stronger say over property tax increases by
reducing the number of exceptions school districts can use when seeking to raise
taxes above inflation without a referendum.
Senate Bill 1 creates an opportunity scholarship program for students in
low-achieving schools and includes several provisions to improve accountability
and expand development of charter schools and cyber charter schools.
Senate Bill 858 gives districts the option to hire superintendents who have a graduate degree
in business or finance. (Enacted in School Code,
Act 24 of 2011.)
Senate Bill 872 removes the requirement for school districts with dual enrollment programs
to establish a concurrent enrollment committee and relaxes some state mandates for
participating schools.
Senate Bill 224 places a lifetime employment ban in schools for those who have been
convicted of serious violent offenses, and a 10-year ban for any other felony
crime. (Enacted in School Code,
Act 24 of 2011.)
Senate Bill 343 restricts the state Department of Education to collecting only information identifying
individual college students when specifically required by law, and requires
it to describe in detail its legal authority to collect the information and
allow students to opt out of the system. (Enacted in School Code,
Act 24 of 2011.)
Health Care
Act 59 of 2011 makes HIV testing a routine part of general medical care as recommended
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Senate Bill 3 extends Pennsylvania's prohibition on using public funding for elective
abortions to the proposed new insurance system created by the federal health care law.
Act 122 of 2011 requires the Department of Health to apply to abortion
facilities the same regulations applicable to ambulatory surgical facilities.
Senate Bill 5 creates the Community-Based Health Care Program in the Department of
Health to provide grants to community-based health care clinics.
Act 121 of 2011 requires that individuals who receive methadone treatment services
covered by Medicaid receive treatment at the clinic closest to their residence
if they are using taxpayer-funded transportation.
Children and Families
Act 62 of 2011 allows a parent to request a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth"
from the state Department of Health.
Act 9 of 2011 allows a licensed hunter with an antlered deer permit to give the permit to a
young hunter who is participating in a mentored youth hunting program.
Senate Resolution 250
creates the Task Force on Children Protection to conduct a sweeping review of
Pennsylvania laws and procedures governing child protection and the reporting of
child abuse.
Act 111 of 2011 brings Pennsylvania into compliance with the federal
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and ensures the commonwealth meets
national standards to strengthen sex offender registration and notification.
Senate Bill 227 requires all family day care providers in Pennsylvania to have liability
insurance as a condition of their state certification.
Juvenile Justice Reform:
-
Senate Bill 815 Eliminates waiving counsel in juvenile delinquency hearings.
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Senate Bill 816 Creates a victim advocate devoted to juvenile justice.
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Senate Bill 818 Requires judges to state on the record the reasons behind disposition orders.
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Senate Bill 817 Prohibits shackling of juveniles in the courtroom.
Senate Bill 850 amends state law to presume that all juvenile defendants are
indigent in order to ensure each are represented by an attorney and offers
juveniles the same protections whether they are tried in juvenile court or
before a magisterial district judge for a summary offense. The bill also defines
the crime of cyber bullying by minors.
Act 101 of 2011 increases awareness and prevention of traumatic head injuries among
Pennsylvania's scholastic athletes.
Senate
Bill 349 improves safety at tanning salons and requires parental consent for minors.
Transportation
Senate Bill 344
establishes Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), contractual agreements that allow
for greater private sector participation in the delivery and financing of
transportation needs and improvements.
Military Veterans
Act 64 of 2011 allows all Commonwealth hunting license-issuing agents to sell reduced-fee
hunting licenses to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Pennsylvania National Guard.
Senate Bill 264 provides for honor guard burial details at Washington Crossing National
Cemetery. (House version enacted as
Act 38 of 2011.)
Senate Bill 159 authorizes Pennsylvania to enter
into an interstate compact to help students in military families cope with the
frequent relocations associated with active duty service.
Act 76 of 2011 requires that at least one member of the State Civil Service
Commission be a military veteran to ensure compliance with required hiring
practices such as "Veterans' Preference."
Illegal Immigration
Senate Bill 9 ensures that illegal aliens who live in Pennsylvania are not receiving public
benefits such as Medicaid, welfare and in-state college tuition.
Senate Bill 637 requires all contractors and subcontractors in publically funded projects to
verify via the national E-Verify system that their employees are legally
permitted to work in Pennsylvania.
Consumer Protection
Senate Bill 27 extends a consumer's right to seek reimbursement under the Puppy Lemon Law
for illnesses, and extends the time period for certifying illnesses.
Agriculture and Farming
Senate Bill 390 allows the transportation of wider equipment
on Pennsylvania roads and permits farm equipment transportation at night if
proper safety precautions are taken.
Senate Bill 1323 provides interest rate assistance and loan
guarantees to assist farmers in recovering from the natural disasters.
Act 78 creates the Pennsylvania Preferred Act to better promote PA
agricultural commodities.
Congressional Redistricting
Act 130 of 2011 redraws Pennsylvania's Congressional districts based on U.S.
Census data to ensure state residents receive equal representation in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
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