WEEKLY SESSION NOTES
Senate republican policy committee – Joe conti, chairman

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 

Senate Bill 877 (Thompson) would create the Confidence in Law Enforcement Act.  The measure would prohibit state and local agencies from employing or continuing to employ an individual as a law enforcement officer if he or she has been convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor, or has been convicted of a similar offense in another jurisdiction.  Under the provisions of the bill, the officer would be immediately suspended from employment as a law enforcement officer until final disposition of the charge or acceptance into ARD, whichever occurs first.  In the case of a member of the Pennsylvania State Police, a law enforcement officer would immediately be suspended from employment until final disposition of the charge or acceptance into ARD, whichever occurs first.  If a judge terminates the ARD prior to completion of the program, the suspension would be reinstated until final disposition of the charge.  A certified copy of a conviction would be sufficient evidence to terminate a law enforcement officer.  The act could only be modified or suspended by order of a court or an act of the General Assembly.  The act would not apply to convictions occurring before the effective date of the act.  The act would take effect July 1, 2004, or immediately, whichever is later.  Concurrence in House Amendments:  50-0. 

Executive Session 

The Honorable Gerald J. Pappert – Attorney General of Pennsylvania.  Confirmed:  50-0. 

Nominations to Various Boards and Commissions.  (See Attached)  Confirmed:  50-0. 

Wednesday, January 21, 2004 

Senate Resolution 191 (Pileggi) declares the week of January 25 through 31, 2004 as "Catholic Schools Week" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  49-0. 

House Bill 500 (Freeman) would create the Elm Street Program Act.  The bill would establish the Elm Street Program within the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to assist municipalities in preparing and implementing a revitalization strategy for established residential neighborhoods, which are in close proximity to either a Main Street Program project or an existing commercial district.  The program would provide basic grants for a maximum of five years per project for administrative costs associated with the hiring of a professional Elm Street Manager, residential reinvestment grants for infrastructure and structural improvements, and planning and development grants.  The program would also provide an assessment of the applying municipality's need for the establishment of a neighborhood improvement district, a review of local comprehensive plans and zoning and other land use ordinances to foster the viability of established residential neighborhoods, with a balanced mix of commercial, civic, employment and residential uses, and a review of educational and recreational opportunities and facilities. 

Eligible municipalities would have to have an established residential neighborhood in need of revitalization in close proximity to an existing commercial district, provide evidence of support by local residents, merchants and government officials, and commit to provide a minimum of a 10 percent match for any Department grants.  The Department would waive or reduce the match requirement if it determines that a hardship exists.  The Department could approve more than one project within the boundaries of a municipality.  Under the provisions of the bill, multiple projects could occur simultaneously or at different periods of time.  The Department would also be permitted to consider applications submitted by two or more municipalities as a single application for a single project area.  The Department would have to give priority to projects with an established residential neighborhood that was already in existence prior to 1951. 

The Department would have to establish limits on the amount of money available per project area so as to distribute the available funds as fairly as possible throughout the Commonwealth.  No more than 20 percent of the funds appropriated or allocated to the program in any fiscal year could be granted to municipalities in any county.  In addition, the aggregate amount of grants in any fiscal year could not exceed the amount appropriated to the Department for the program in that fiscal year or the amount allocated to the program by the Department in the event that the funding is included in an appropriation also containing funding for other programs.  Further, no funds from the program could be expended to develop or convert farmland to residential, commercial or industrial uses.  The sum of $5 million of the state funds appropriated to DCED for the New Communities Program in the General Appropriation Act of 2003 would be allocated to the Department to make grants as authorized under the act.  The act would expire on June 30, 2011, unless reenacted prior to that date.  Passed:  49-0.