Senate News

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December

• State Senator Mary Jo White (R-21) Will Not Seek Re-Election 12/29/11
• Senator Jane Earll (R-49) Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2012 12/16/11
• Adam Walsh Legislation Passes Senate, Goes to Governor for Signature 12/14/11
• Ward Bill Limiting State-Funded Transportation to Methadone Clinics Headed to Governor 12/14/11
• Senate Passes Rafferty Measure to Encourage Transportation Public Private Partnerships 12/14/11
• Ward's Task Force on Child Protection Approved by Senate 12/13/11
• Committee approves bill addressing Highmark-UPMC impasse 12/13/11
• Committee Approves Bill to Help PA Businesses 12/7/11
• Senate Committee Passes Rafferty Bill to Strengthen Arson Laws 12/7/11
• Senator Pileggi's Legislation to Strengthen DNA Laws Passes Senate 12/6/11
• Senate Approves Rafferty's DUI Legislation 12/5/11
• Secretary of the Senate Mark Corrigan to Retire 12/1/11

November

• Pennsylvania's School Choice Movement Must Address the 'Bottom 5%' 11/30/11
• Third hearing on UPMC-Highmark dispute set for Wednesday 11/29/11
• Senate Passes Brubaker Farm Equipment Transportation Measure 11/16/11
• Joint Panel Holds Two Days of Hearings on Flood Mitigation and Stormwater Management 11/16/11
• Bi-Partisan Flood Relief Package Clears Senate 11/16/11
• State Senate Approves Legislation to Provide Drilling Impact Fees; Bill Increases Environmental Safeguards, Addresses Zoning Issues 11/15/11
• Senate Endorses Orie's 'Adam Walsh' Child Protection Bill 11/15/11
• Two Days of Joint Senate Hearings Set on Flood Mitigation and Stormwater Management 11/14/11
• Senator Kim Ward Announces Legislation to Broaden Mandated Child Abuse Reporting at Institutions of Higher Learning 11/14/11
• Media Advisory - Senate, House Game and Fisheries Committees to Examine Hatchery Cost Savings 11/10/11
• Committees Approve Baker Bills to Provide State Aid to Flood Victims 11/1/11
• Senator Browne's Concussion Bill Headed to Governor 11/1/11
• Senate Approves Tomlinson's Texting-While-Driving Ban, Sends Bill to Governor 11/1/11
• Rafferty Bill to Improve Meth Lab Cleanup Procedures Passes Committee 11/1/11

October

• Senate Approves Senator Browne's Tanning Salon Bill 10/31/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Education Committee to Hold Hearing on Special Education Funding 10/31/11
• Yaw to Introduce Measure Creating Agriculture Disaster Recovery Program 10/27/11
• Senate Approves Resource Extraction Options on State Land 10/26/11
• Senate Approves Piccola-Williams Legislation Calling for School Choice Expansion 10/26/11
• Senate Approves Bill Permitting Cities to Use Red-Light Cameras to Improve Traffic Safety 10/25/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Appropriations Panel to Hold Hearing At Millersville University on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education 10/25/11
• Senate Majority Policy Committee Discusses Health Care Clinics and the Uninsured, Urges House Action 10/25/11
• Senate Judiciary Committee Amends, Passes 'Adam Walsh' Bill 10/25/11
• Education Committee Advances Piccola-Williams Amendment to Senate Bill 1 10/25/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Majority Policy Committee to Hold Hearing on Health Care Clinics and the Uninsured 10/24/11
• Senate Approves Bill Providing for Valley Forge Appointments 10/19/11
• Corman Proposes Transportation Funding Legislation; Says Time is Now to Address Road and Bridge Needs 10/19/11
• Senate Approved Greenleaf's Juvenile Justice Amendments 10/19/11
• White's Capital Punishment Bill Approved by Senate 10/18/11
• Greenleaf's Criminal Justice Reform Act Passes PA Senate 10/18/11
• Piccola Applauds Senate's Passage of Financial Recovery Bill for Harrisburg 10/18/11
• Senate Transportation Committee Approves Rafferty Bills Addressing Drunk Driving 10/18/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Panels to Hear Testimony on Storm-Related Issues Concerning Utility Services 10/17/11
• Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee to Continue Probe of ODP Past Payment Practices 10/17/11
• Senate Panel Hears Prevailing Wage Testimony in Chambersburg 10/12/11
• MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Education Committee Hearing to Highlight Legislation Impacting the State System of Higher Education 10/12/11
• Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Examines Quail, Pheasant Management 10/11/11
• Senate Appropriations Committee to Hold Hearings At Temple & Lincoln Universities on Higher Education Issues 10/5/11
• Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Housing Needs, Affordability 10/4/11
• Committee Explores Changes to State Definition of Child Abuse 10/4/11
• House Sends Brubaker Agriculture Education Measure to Governor's Desk 10/3/11
• Scarnati Responds to Governor Corbett's Shale Proposal 10/3/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Hearing to Examine Quail, Pheasant Management 10/3/11

September

• Orie Resolution Designates October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in PA 9/30/11
• Senate Finance Committee Hearing Examines Pension Issues, Possible Solutions 9/29/11
• Vance Committee Exposes Wasteful Spending 9/28/11
• Senate Approves Bill Opening Vital Statistics for Research 9/27/11
• Senate Passes Two Brubaker Bills To Save Local Tax Dollars 9/27/11
• Lawmakers Announce Agreement on Financial Recovery Legislation for Harrisburg 9/27/11
• Brubaker to Host Prostate Cancer Awareness Event Tuesday 9/26/11
• Senator Pileggi: Senate Approves Bill Requiring Prompt Notification of Personal Data Breaches 9/21/11
• Senators Unveil Flood Relief Package 9/19/11
• Senator Gordner to Hold Capitol News Conference on Flood Legislation 9/15/11
• Senator Pileggi Unveils Proposal to More Fairly Allocate Electoral College Votes 9/13/11
• Senate Committee to Hold Hearing at University of Pittsburgh on Higher Education Issues 9/8/11
• Senate Aging and Youth Committee Examines Long Term Care Issues 9/7/11
• Piccola Calls City Officials' Latest Actions 'Reckless' & Urges Governor To Enforce Law and Plan for State Takeover 9/1/11
• Senate Panel to Hold Hearing in State College on Higher Education Issues 9/1/11

August

• Independent Fiscal Office's First Director Named 8/30/11
• Senate Education Chair Reacts to Auditor General's Recommendations 8/29/11
• Senate Education Committee Hears Testimony on Chairmen's Charter School Bill 8/25/11
• Senate Education Committee Chair Comments on Resignation of Philadelphia Superintendent 8/23/11
• Senator Pileggi: First-Ever Pennsylvania Redistricting Website Unveiled 8/18/11
• Senate Education Committee Announces Summer & Fall Hearing Schedule 8/11/11
• Hearing on UPMC-Highmark Dispute Set for Sept. 13 8/4/11

July

• Brubaker Introduces Measure to Improve Water Quality, Reduce Run-Off Pollution 7/11/11
• Governor Signs Two Erickson Bills Into Law 7/7/11
• Governor Signs Yaw Bridge Naming Bill 7/7/11
• Safety Initiatives Sponsored by Piccola Included in Final School Code 7/6/11
• Rafferty Bill Promoting Good Samaritan Behavior Headed to Governor's Office, Expected to be Signed into Law 7/1/11
• White Bill to Post "Key '93" Project Funding Online Sent to Governor for Enactment 7/1/11

June

• Senate Sends Brubaker Industry Partnerships Bill to Governor's Desk 6/30/11
• Senator Vogel's Bill to Extend First Industries Program Passes Senate and House Unanimously 6/30/11
• Senator Pileggi: Local Communities to Receive Fair Share of Air Pollution Fines 6/30/11
• Legislature to Return $50 Million Surplus for Public Schools 6/30/11
• Senate, House Approve PennWatch Act 6/30/11
• Senator Smucker Floor Remarks – SB 101 Concurrence 6/30/11
• Education Chair Issues Statement on School Choice Legislation 6/29/11
• Corman Bill Providing Birth Certificates in Cases of Stillbirth Set to Become Law 6/29/11
• Baker's Wellsite Safety Bill Passes Senate 6/28/11
• Senate Adopts Piccola Bill Calling for State Oversight of Harrisburg's Financial Crisis 6/28/11
• Governor Signs Senator Corman's Lawsuit Reform Legislation 6/28/11
• Omnibus Public School Code Amendment Approved by Education Committee 6/27/11
• Senate Approves Ward Bill Limiting State-Funded Transportation to Methadone Clinics 6/23/11
• Senator Vogel's Bill to Ban Synthetic Drugs Signed Into Law 6/23/11
• Senate Approves Browne's Concussion Bill 6/22/11
• Senate Sends Castle Doctrine Legislation to Governor's Desk 6/20/11
• House Sends Alloway Mentored Youth Hunting Legislation to Governor's Desk 6/17/11
• Gordner Bill to Continue Federal Unemployment Benefits and Save State Costs Heading to Governor 6/17/11
• Orie Bill Would Expedite Repayment of Money Borrowed from Property Tax Relief Fund 6/16/11
• Senator Vogel's Bill to Ban Synthetic Drugs Awaits the Governor's Signature 6/15/11
• Piccola Unveils Legislation Calling for State Takeover of Third Class Cities In Gridlock Regarding Their Fiscal Recovery 6/15/11
• White: Committee Approves Marcellus Shale Impact Fee 6/14/11
• Committee Chairmen Applaud Panel's Endorsement of Senate Bill 1087 6/14/11
• Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to Consider Marcellus Shale Impact Fee 6/13/11
• Brubaker Bill Would Save Surplus to Fund Pension Obligations 6/9/11
• Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Statement Addressing Route 422 Tolling Rumors 6/9/11
• Senate Approves Tomlinson Bill to Ban Texting, Cell Phone Use While Driving 6/8/11
• Senate Passes Baker Bills to Bring Reforms to Juvenile Justice System 6/8/11
• Senate Passes Erickson Bill to Ensure State Regulations are Based on Reliable Data 6/8/11
• Senate Approves Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Elective Abortions 6/7/11
• Senate Approves Family Day Care Bill Sponsored by Piccola, Improving Safety Measures 6/7/11
• Yaw's Oil and Gas 'Invoice Itemization' Bill Passes Senate 6/6/11

May

• Local Impact Fee Would Help Protect Communities Where Drilling Takes Place 5/26/11
• Senate Committee Approves Baker Bill on Wellsite Safety 5/25/11
• Senators Orie and Rafferty to Introduce Legislation in Response to Statewide Investigating Grand Jury Report on the Establishment and Issuance of Gaming Licenses 5/25/11
• Senate Unanimously Passes Rafferty Bill Promoting Good Samaritan Behavior 5/24/11
• PA Senate Approves Ward Bill Requiring Verification of Workers for Publicly-Funded Projects 5/24/11
• Senate Passes Greenleaf's Puppy Lemon Law Amendments 5/24/11
• Senate Approves Scarnati Legislation To Deny Public Benefits to Illegal Aliens 5/24/11
• Corman Bill Creating a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth" Unanimously Passes Senate 5/24/11
• Senate Approves Pileggi Bill to Give Affected Communities Fair Share of Air Pollution Fines 5/23/11
• Brubaker Legislation Would Freeze COLAs for Legislators, Government Officials 5/16/11
• Scarnati Introduces Local Impact Fee Bill on Marcellus Shale Companies 5/16/11
• Gov. Corbett Signs White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams into Law 5/13/11
• Scarnati Bill Would Allow Small Businesses to Pay Their School Taxes in Installments 5/11/11
• Alloway, Blake Announce Formation of Military Installations and Base Development Caucus
• Senator Vogel's Bill to Ban Synthetic Drugs Passes Senate 5/10/11
• Senate Passes Waugh Legislation to Ease Hiring Restrictions for School Superintendents 5/10/11
• Senate Approves Brubaker Dual Enrollment Mandate Relief Proposal 5/10/11
• Senate Passes Legislation to Ban Sale of 'Bath Salts' 5/10/11
• Transportation Panel Approves Bill to Prohibit Texting, Cell Phone Use While Driving 5/10/11
• Senate Committee Approves McIlhinney Shared-Work Amendment to Prevent Layoffs 5/10/11
• Scarnati Supports Legislation Certifying that Employees on Public Construction Projects are Legal Citizens 5/10/11
• Senate Approves Piccola's Legislation Establishing Tougher School Hiring Policies 5/10/11
• Senate Approves Brubaker Workforce Development Bill 5/9/11
• Senate Passes Tomlinson Bill to Allow Motorcycle Sales on Sunday 5/5/11
• Senate Passes Greenleaf's Sexual Violence Victim Protection Act 5/4/11
• Ward Legislation Limiting State-Funded Transportation to Methadone Clinics Approved by Committee 5/4/11
• Senate Passes Erickson's Community-Based Health Care Clinics Initiative 5/4/11
• White Committee Unanimously Supports DCNR Nomination, Eight Bills 5/3/11
• Folmer Reform Bill Passes Senate 5/3/11
• Senate Passes Alloway Mentored Youth Hunting Legislation 5/2/11
• Senate Endorses Student Privacy Bill Sponsored by Piccola 5/2/11

April

• Senate Approves Senator Browne's PennWatch Act 4/27/11
• White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams Heads to Governor for Enactment 4/27/11
• Senate Passes Erickson Bill to Streamline Routine HIV Screening 4/27/11
• Senator Smucker Remarks on Senate Passage of Increased Penalties for Sunshine Law Violations 4/26/11
• Scarnati: Surplus Account Back to General Fund 4/21/11
• Brubaker Legislation Would Ensure Dairy Farmers Receive Existing Premiums 4/18/11
• Committee Approves Juvenile Justice Bills 4/12/11
• Senate Passes Bill to Authorize Honor Guard for Military Burials at Washington Crossing National Cemetery 4/12/11
• Senate Approves Yaw Bill to Rename Bridge for Little League Founder 4/11/11
• Brubaker Bill Would Reduce Pension Costs for School Districts 4/7/11
• Erickson's Community-Based Health Care Clinics Initiative Approved by Committee 4/7/11
• Senate Committee Endorses Piccola Bill Improving Safety of Family Day Cares 4/6/11
• White Bill to Post Project Funding Online Approved by Senate 4/6/11
• Senate State Government Committee Approves E-Verify Legislation 4/6/11
• Senate Approves Baker Bill to Improve Pipeline Safety 4/6/11
• Senate Finance Committee Supports Meuser Nomination, Approves Taxpayer Protection Legislation 4/6/11
• Senator White Reintroduces Pension Reform Bill 4/5/11
• Education Committee Approves Legislation Providing Mandate Relief & Taxpayer Protections 4/5/11
• Senator Pileggi Comments on Redistricting Process 4/5/11

March

• Brubaker Legislation Would Give Taxpayers More Control Over Property Tax Hikes 3/29/11
• Charter School Reform Bill Unveiled by Education Committee Chairmen 3/28/11
• Education Chairs & Senators Unveil Mandate Relief Package 3/22/11
• Ward Announces Measures to Limit Taxpayer-Funded Methadone Treatment Services 3/22/11
• Legislative Reapportionment Commission to Hold First Public Hearing on March 23 3/16/11
• Pileggi to Introduce Major DNA Law Reforms 3/15/11
• Folmer's Legislation Would Highlight Contracts Between Department of Education and State Intermediate Units 3/14/11
• Media Alert - Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee to Meet 3/14/11
• Senate Committee Approves Two Tomlinson Bills to Aid Veterans 3/8/11
• Committee Unanimously Supports Schoch for Transportation Secretary 3/8/11
• Senate Passes Alloway Castle Doctrine Legislation 3/8/11
• Brubaker Introduces Legislation to Reduce Costs for Public Building Projects 3/8/11
• Senate Approves Robbins' Military Families Compact Bill 3/7/11
• Senators Rafferty, Pileggi Announce Legislation to Strengthen Pennsylvania's Arson Laws 3/3/11
• Sen. Browne, Rep. Mundy Reaffirm Commitment to PA Youth 3/2/11
• Committee Unanimously Supports Krancer Nomination for DEP Secretary 3/2/11
• Senate Approves White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams 3/2/11
• Committee Unanimously Backs Nominee for State Police Commissioner 3/2/11
• Senate Passes Alloway Castle Doctrine Legislation 3/1/11
• Piccola & Williams Applaud Committee's Endorsement of Senate Bill 1 3/1/11

February

• Senate Passes Legislation to Expand Sales of Reduced-Fee Military Hunting License 2/28/11
• Senate Panel to Consider Nomination for DEP Secretary 2/23/11
• Senator Mary Jo White Applauds Governor Corbett's Repeal of Rendell Policy 2/23/11
• Education Chairs Lead Effort to Make School Data Available to Public 2/23/11
• Brubaker Legislation Would Dedicate Funding to Food Banks 2/23/11
• Push Begins Anew For Juvenile Protection Laws 2/18/11
• Legislative Leaders Certified as Members of the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission 2/18/11
• Rafferty Bill Would Promote Good Samaritan Behavior 2/17/11
• Alloway Introduces Legislation to Make Tax Credits Available to Small Breweries 2/16/11
• Piccola Refutes Teachers' Union's Cost Figures 2/16/11
• Brubaker Re-Introduces Bill to Expand Health Care to Low-Income Pennsylvanians 2/16/11
• Brubaker Re-Introduces Industry Partnerships Legislation 2/15/11
• Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Approves Five Bills 2/14/11
• Committee Approves Baker Bill to Improve Pipeline Safety 2/14/11
• Senate Finance Committee Approves Browne Bill to Create Online Budget Database 2/14/11
• Media Advisory - Senate Judiciary Committee to Hear from National Expert on Evidence-based Programs to Reduce Prison Costs 2/10/11
• Senate Education Committee Endorses School Safety Measure 2/8/11
• Piccola's Student Privacy Bill Advances 2/8/11
• Rafferty's Private - Public Partnership Legislation Voted Out of Transportation Committee 2/8/11
• Education Committee Approves Browne's Concussion Bill 2/8/11
• Education Committee Ok's Compact for Military Families 2/8/11
• Committee to Hold Public Hearing on State Stores Privatization 2/7/11
• Senate Committees to Hold Hearing on Philadelphia Abortion Clinic 2/3/11
• Brubaker Introduces Bills to Promote Agriculture Transportation, Entertainment  2/3/11
• News Advisory: Senate Committees to Hold Hearing on Philadelphia Abortion Clinic 2/3/11
• Brubaker Re-Introduces Budget Reform, Cost-Effective Travel Proposals 2/1/11

January

• Senate Majority Policy Committee Examines Local Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling 1/27/11
• Browne, Briggs Introduce Proposed Safety in Youth Sports Act 1/26/11
• Committee Approves Extending Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Abortions 1/27/11
• Alloway Re-Introduces Legislation to Expand Self-Defense Law 1/26/11
• Brubaker Re-Introduces Legislation to Establish Two-Year Budget Cycle 1/25/11
• Alloway Re-Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Death Tax 1/25/11
• Corman to Introduce Legislation Calling for Licensing and Annual Inspections of Abortion Facilities in PA 1/21/11
• Piccola Challenges School Boards' Choice Stance 1/21/11
• Piccola Praises Governor-Elect Corbett's Education Secretary Nominee 1/13/11
• Brubaker Elected Chairman of Chesapeake Bay Commission 1/11/11
• Williams and Piccola Unveil School Choice Plan 1/11/11
• Scarnati Announces Special Election for 11th District 1/5/11
• Scarnati Sworn In As Senate President Pro Tempore 1/4/11