Senate Session
Last week, the Senate ended the 2009 – 2010 Legislative Session with no plans to reconvene after Election Day for a “Lame Duck” session (the 28 days between November 2 and 30). The Senate also did not hold a Lame Duck Session in 2008.
The Senate will meet for a ceremonial session on Wednesday, November 17, at 1 p.m., to say farewell to departing members, sign legislation received from the House (i.e., bills previously approved by the Senate and not amended in the House), and adopt congratulatory and condolence resolutions. No legislation will be considered.
Bills Signed Into Law
The following are among the bills signed into law by the Governor:
Senate Bill 260 (Act 69 of 2010): gives the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with county district attorneys to prosecute “sexual abuse of children” offenses;
Senate Bill 699 (Act 70): establishes an Adult Protective Services Program to be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare;
Senate Bill 1327 (Act 71): increases the fees for river pilot services on the Delaware River and Bay beginning in 2012;
House Bill 105 (Act 61): imposes new penalties for impersonating a police officer in Cities of the Second Class (Pittsburgh);
House Bill 106 (Act 62) and House Bill 107 (Act 63): imposes new penalties for impersonating a police officer and new penalties for wearing a police badge in Cities of the First Class (Philadelphia);
House Bill 181 (Act 64): further defines the powers and duties of Game Commission enforcement officers in regard to stops, searches, inspections, and demands for identification;
House Bill 1281 (Act 65): creates the “Privately Operated Community Corrections Facility Act;”
House Bill 1376 (Act 66): requires examinations of continuing care providers;
House Bill 1671 (Act 67): increases the membership of county records committees; and
House Bill 1774 (Act 68): separates marketing and administration of service contracts from insurance.
Bills Sent to Governor
The following are bills sent to the Governor. All bills passed unanimously, unless otherwise indicated.
Senate Bill 53: updates to the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code and changes to the Corporations Code;
Senate Bill 168: gives boroughs the authority to take part in power supply and electric generation projects;
House Bill 196: limits the retail sale of certain over-the-counter cold medicines that can be used to illegally manufacturer methamphetamine;
Senate Bill 298: eliminates inconsistent interpretations of the Clean and Green law while providing exemptions from roll-back taxes;
Senate Bill 411: changes to teachers’ certificates and where certain students are allowed to attend other high schools;
Senate Bill 900: gives municipalities additional tools to prevent and remediate blighted and abandoned properties;
Senate Bill 910: makes civil service requirements for firefighters and police in boroughs consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination;
Senate Bill 912: makes civil service requirements for firefighters in incorporated towns consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination law;
Senate Bill 918: reenacts the General County Assessment Law;
Senate Bill 922: changes the Trauma Stabilization Act to add out-of-state trauma centers;
Senate Bill 1161: allows inmates with short minimum sentences to be moved to community corrections centers for community-based treatment;
Senate Bill 1169: requires defendants to pay court costs after sentencing (passed 44 – 5);
Senate Bill 1429: provides for municipal consolidations and mergers;
House Bill 1196: provides a one year moratorium on the requirement that all new homes have sprinkler systems installed (passed 37 – 12);
House Bill 1609: amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning code to provide for “traditional neighborhood planning developments;”
House Bill 2172: increases the jurisdictional limits of the Pennsylvania Municipal Court and magisterial district judges and changes the number of judges in Chester County;
House Bill 2258: encourages the joint placement of siblings and/or visitation;
House Bill 2273: provides for a $150 application fee for license renewals for the Cervidae Livestock Operation Account (passed 48 – 1);
House Bill 2338: enacts the Children in Foster Care Act;
House Bill 2497: efforts to address Pennsylvania’s pension problems (passed 41 – 8, I was unable to support this measure); and
House Bill 2521: enacts the Anatomic Pathology Service Disclosure Act.
Bills Sent to House
The following bills were sent to the House for further consideration. All bills passed unanimously, unless otherwise indicated.
Senate Bill 428: increases from 10 years to 15 years convicted sex offenders need to register with the State Police;
Senate Bill 873: requires counsel be provided to children at every state of judicial proceedings (passed 48 – 1, Senator Earll lone no vote);
Senate Bill 1379: establishes a recycling program for old textbooks;
Senate Bill 1409: amends the Workforce Development Act to provide for industry partnerships (passed 40 – 9);
Senate Bill 1481: requires disclosure and notice of private transfer fee obligations;
Senate Bill 1490: makes changes in the Delaware River Port Authority (passed 47 – 2);
House Bill 60: establishes the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Program (passed 47 – 2, Senator Eichelberger and I were no votes);
House Bill 174: makes changes to the Public Eating and Drinking Place Law; (passed 39 – 10, I was unable to support this measure);
House Bill 664: changes the definition of “employee” under the Workers’ Compensation law and permits sole proprietors to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits (passed 27 – 22);
House Bill 708: establishes a statewide electronic waste recycling program (passed 48 – 1, Senator Orie was a no vote);
House Bill 1231: establishes a presumption of cancer for certain firefighters under Pennsylvania’s Occupational Disease Law (passed 45 – 4);
House Bill 1394: authorizes leasing of preferential assessment lands for wind power generation;
House Bill 1482: requires healthcare workers to wear photo identification tags while working;
House Bill 1639: makes child custody changes;
House Bill 1926: changes the registration requirements of sex offenders and establishes a Pennsylvania Castle Doctrine (passed 45 – 4, Senators Earll, Hughes, Kitchen, and Tartaglione were no votes);
House Bill 2139: enacts the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System Act;
House Bill 2321: applies the E-911 surcharges to prepaid wireless phones (passed 44 – 5);
House Bill 2477: changes for the Erie Convention Center, abolishes jury commissioners, and exempts certain coroner records from the Open Records Law (passed 41 – 8); and
House Bill 2547: makes exceptions to licensing requirements under the Mortgage Licensing Act.
Time Runs Out for PHIX Bill
House Bill 2106, the establishment of a Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX) finally reached the Senate Communications & Technology Committee, after passing the House 146 – 44. However, there was insufficient time in the 2009 – 2010 legislative session for it to be considered further.
For more information on these issues or other legislative and state topics, or if you are unable to open the bill links, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly website at www.legis.state.pa.us.
As always, please feel free to contact me on any state-related matter that may be of concern to you. I can be reached through e-mail, mfolmer@pasen.gov, or at any one of my district offices.
Sincerely,
Mike Folmer
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