PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU UPDATE PA SENATE BILLS of INTEREST 2009-2010 LEGISLATIVE TERM (through August 21, 2009) Bills appearing in red indicate those bills that have been introduced or have moved in the legislature since the last report Bill Number & Prime Sponsor SB 5 Erickson Summary Would establish a program and provide annual appropriations and state assistance for development and operation of community-based health clinics to provide first care treatment to local residents, to be administered through the Department of Health, and would provide tax credits to businesses financially supporting these clinics. PFB Position NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY Status Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 6 Brubaker
Would establish a state Commission NOT ADDRESSED on Stimulus Accountability to IN PFB POLICY review and monitor the disposition of funds made available to the Commonwealth through the 2009 federal stimulus package. Would impose limitations in NOT ADDRESSED increases in the amount of total IN PFB POLICY state expenditures that may be made from the previous year, and would require refunds of surplus tax revenues to taxpayers. Would require a person who is applying for any state benefit to provide valid documentation of the person’s identity and affirm by affidavit that he or she is a US citizen or is lawfully authorized to be present in the United States, and would require state agencies receiving applications for benefits from alien applicants to verify the accuracy of the applicant’s claimed status through the federal Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement program. NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
PASSED by the SENATE In the HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 7 Folmer
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 9 Scarnati
PASSED by the SENATE In the House STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 21 Kitchen
Would establish a Green Work Force Training Program to provide state grants of up to $250,000 per entity and up to $5 million per year for job training in industries that provide energy efficiency and renewable energy. The program would be administered by the Department of Labor, in consultation with DEP. Would prohibit a person from purchasing more than one handgun within a 30-day period, except for a licensed firearms dealer, law enforcement agent or person whose handgun was stolen and who properly reported the theft with authorities. Persons violating would be criminally liable of committing a third degree misdemeanor offense for the first violation and a third degree felony offense for second and subsequent violation. Would impose mandatory registration of all firearms (with limited exceptions) acquired by a resident of a city of the first class (Philadelphia), and would require all persons within 48 hours of transferring ownership of any firearm in Pennsylvania to file a transfer report identifying the person to whom the transfer was made. Persons violating these requirements would be criminally liable of a third degree misdemeanor.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY Committee
SB 27 Washington
OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 35 Tartaglione
OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 36 Tartaglione
Would require an owner or OPPOSES possessor of a firearm to report the loss or theft of the firearm within 24 hours after the loss or theft is discovered. Persons violating this requirement would be criminally liable of a summary offense and a fine of up to $500.
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
2
SB 37 Greenleaf
Would allow individuals less than STUDYING 65 years of age whose household income is more than twice the Federal poverty level to acquire state adult basic health insurance coverage if he or she has not insured for at least 3 months. Would also allow small business employers (2 to 50 persons) to purchase state adult basic insurance coverage for employees if the employer has not provided coverage for at least 12 months. Would also provide to small business employers a state income tax credit for 50% of costs incurred in providing adult basic insurance coverage to qualified adult employees (maximum credit of $30,000 per year). Would require the Insurance Department to develop 10 basic health insurance plans that that insurers may offer for individuals and small group employers (2 to 100 employees). Plans developed by the Insurance Department would not be required to offer or provide state-mandated health benefits, but insurers offering any such plan would also have to offer a health insurance policy that does provide all state-mandated health benefits. STUDYING
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 38 Greenleaf
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
3
SB 39 Greenleaf
Would authorize small employers (2 to 50 employees) to form and establish health insurance cooperatives to facilitate group purchasing of health insurance. Health insurance cooperatives would be required to be licensed with the Insurance Department, submit to and obtain approval of business plans from the Department, and provide financial information and periodic reporting that ensures the financial soundness of the cooperative’s operation. Cooperatives would be able to accept self-employed businesses and employers of greater than 50 employees for membership, but would be required to accept any small employer who agrees to pay the cooperative’s membership fee and insurance premium and abide by the cooperative’s bylaws. Cooperatives would not be allowed to self-insure. Would amend the dog purchaser protection provisions of the Unfair Trade Practices Act to extend the period in which discovery of contagious or infectious illness or discovery of congenital or hereditary defect by a veterinarian may occur for the purchaser to be eligible for reimbursement of purchase or treatment costs. For contagious or infectious illness, the bill would extend the period of discovery from 10 to 14 days. And for congenital or hereditary defects, the bill would extend the period of discovery from 30 to 90 days. Would exempt from real property tax any increase in property taxes imposed by a school district that would occur to homes owned and resided in by a person 65 years of age and older with an household income of $40,000 or less.
STUDYING
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 50 Greenleaf
OPPOSES
In the SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION & PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE Committee
SB 51 Greenleaf
OPPOSES Exemption too narrow
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
4
SB 55 Piccola
Would extend the scope of criminal activity for which a person is prohibited from employment in a public or private school, would authorize school administrator to direct an employee and require the employee to submit a current report of the employee’s criminal history. Would expand the scope of purchases subject to state sales tax to include food and clothing purchases. Would proportionately reduce assessment of inheritance tax and eliminate inheritance tax entirely in 2012 for property passing to grandparents, parents and lineal descendants; 2015 for property passing to sisters and brothers; and 2017 for property passing to all others. Would amend the PA Constitution to reduce the number of Senatorial districts from 50 to 40 and districts of the House of Representatives from 203 to 121, beginning in 2011. Would authorize the Commonwealth to incur $400 million dollars in bond debt to provide grants and loans to municipalities and public utilities for capital improvements to public water and sewer systems, and would establish a Water and Sewer Systems Bond Sinking Fund to receive and administer revenues generated from bond issuance. Would remove authority of the Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission to declare species as “endangered” or “threatened.”
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
PASSED by the SENATE Awaiting Committee Assignment in the Hosue
SB 70 Piccola
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 80 Alloway
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 82 O’Pake
OPPOSES
In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 86 Musto
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
Reported from Original Senate committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 91 D. White
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE GAME & FISHERIES Committee
5
SB 92 Erickson
Would amend the current required minimum percentage levels and timetables for electrical utilities to secure electricity generated from alternative and renewable energy sources to increase the percentage levels after 2020 and establish in years 2026 and afterward minimum levels of 20% of electricity secured from Tier I alternative energy resources, 3% from solar resources, and 13% from Tier II alternative energy resources. The bill would also require after 2015 that at least 3% of the electricity marketed to PA customers be secured through advanced coal or gas systems that capture high levels of carbon dioxide for sequestration (up to 90 percent by 2024). The bill would also direct the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop and establish a network to sequester carbon dioxide through use of natural geologic formations and construction of sequestration facilities and assess fees for development of the network and construction and securing of supporting facilities. Would provide a state income tax credit of up to $2,500 per year for costs incurred to analyze and improve energy efficiency in buildings efficiency in buildings.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 93 Williams
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
6
SB 97 Williams
Would prohibit a person from obtaining or transferring a handgun unless the person is a licensed dealer or has secured a permit the person receiving the handgun has obtained a permit to receive it. Would prohibit persons with mental disorders, persons with physical defects, persons with drug dependency and persons convicted of criminal offenses from obtaining permits. Permits would not be required for passing of a handgun by death to an heir.
OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 98 Williams
Would limit the scope of persons OPPOSES eligible to obtain a license to carry a handgun to persons who have good reason to believe carrying a firearm is needed to protect injury to the person or to property. Would amend the PA Constitution to prohibit either chamber of the General Assembly from voting on any legislation during lame duck session. Would create the criminal offense of Operating a Methamphetamine Laboratory, punishable as a felony. Would establish criminal penalties under the state Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act for possession of ephedrine products with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and for operating a methamphetamine laboratory, punishable as felonies. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption that possession of minimum quantities of ephedrine products is for purposes of manufacturing methamphetamine. OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 106 Ward
Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 124 Gordner SB 125 Gordner
SUPPORTS
PASSED by the SENATE In the HOUSE JUDICIARY Committee
SUPPORTS
PASSED by the SENATE Reported from Original House Committee Currently in the HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
7
SB 126 & 127 Gordner
Would establish criminal penalties under the state Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act for operating a methamphetamine laboratory, and would require persons convicted of violation to provide reimbursement of costs for clean up of environmental hazards related to operation of the laboratory.
SUPPORTS
PASSED by the SENATE In the HOUSE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 136 Erickson
Would require that a state agency SUPPORTS that proposes regulations provide a detailed explanation of how the data forming the basis for the regulation was obtained and why the data empirically supports the need for the regulation. Would also authorize the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and the General Assembly to disapprove any proposed regulation that fails to provide sufficient data to support the regulation. Would create and establish a program for testing and disclosure of automotive fuel to be administered under the PA Department of Agriculture. Would amend the PA Constitution to authorize the use of revenues from state fuels taxes and motor license fees for mass transit development. Would amend the PA Constitution to allow assignment of tax assessment values to real property on the basis of the property owner’s costs to acquire the property. Would exempt from state sales tax the purchase of building materials used in the construction or repair of roofed animal housing structures NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
PASSED by the SENATE In the HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 138 Greenleaf
Reported from Senate committees ON THE SENATE FLOOR
SB 154 Greenleaf
OPPOSES
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
SB 160 Tomlinson
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 169 Brubaker
SUPPORTS & SEEKS FURTHER AMENDMENTS
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
8
SB 172 Brubaker
Would expand the scope of real properties eligible for which counties, municipalities and school districts may freeze the rate of real property tax to include properties in which an agricultural conservation easement is acquired to restrict land use to agriculture.
OPPOSES
Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 173 Tartaglione
Would provide for automatic annual OPPOSES increases in rates of mandated minimum wages to be paid employees required to receive minimum wages based on the increase in Consumer Price Index for consumers in the PA-NJ-MDDE region. Would provide to self-employed taxpayers an exclusion in state income taxes equal to one-half of federal self-employment taxes paid. Would amend the PA Constitution by providing authority of citizens to enact or repeal laws and state constitutional amendments by initiative and referendum. SUPPORTS
In the SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY Committee
SB 178 Greenleaf
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 192 Piccola
OPPOSES
In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 199 Pippy SB 201 Pippy
Would authorize “disaster losses” to AMENDMENTS offset other classes of income for NEEDED state income tax purposes. Would amend the PA Constitution OPPOSES by reducing the number of members of the House of Representatives from 203 to 163 and the number of Senators from 50 to 40 Would provide for verification of votes recorded for an individual voter by paper printout and for preservation of paper verifications recorded. Would make it a criminal offense for receiving a simulcast transmission of greyhound races for commercial purposes, punishable as a misdemeanor. SUPPORTS
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 202 Pippy
In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 214 Greenleaf
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE COMMUNITY, ECON. & REC. DEVELOPMENT Committee
9
SB 245 Gordner SB 248 Gordner
Would exclude purchases of fire prevention and safety equipment from state sales tax.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
Would establish a lower retail liquid SUPPORTS fuels tax (9 cents per gallon) on gasoline blends that contain at least 15% ethanol and diesel blends that contain at least 20% biodiesel. Would allow taxpayers to reduce taxable income for state income tax purposes by offsetting gains by once class of income with losses incurred in another class. Would amend the PA Constitution by prohibiting school districts from imposing real property tax on homestead property. Would provide an alternative process to court action for resolution of disputes between surface landowners and coal bed methane well operators related to location of wells and supporting service roads through a Coal Bed Methane Review Board to be created under the bill. Decisions rendered by the Board under this process would be tied to the process for permitting a coal bed methane well operator must obtain under the state Oil and Gas Act for well drilling and operation. The bill would not change existing legal rights of coal bed operators to receive “reasonable accommodation” of surface land access to extract coal bed methane. Would prohibit a firearms manufacturer or dealer from importing or selling any firearm unless it is a “personalized firearm” that limits the individuals who may fire the weapon. SUPPORTS
SB 253 Corman
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 258 O’Pake
AMENDMENTS NEEDED
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 275 D. White
SUPPORTS
PASSED THE SENATE In the HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 295 Hughes
OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
10
SB 297 Yaw
Would require gas and oil well operators to file reports every 6 months that provide well-specific information on production of gas or oil and make filed reports available on the Internet. Would amend the Clean and Green Act to clarify and limit assessment of rollback taxes on the use of land enrolled in clean and green for drilling and operation of gas or oil wells. Would provide for the opportunity for referendum approval for the convening of a constitutional convention to look at and propose amendments to any provision of the PA Constitution other Article I (individual rights). Would create an offense under the Game & Wildlife Code for hunting exotic animals obtained from a zoo for a fee. Would prohibit and assess civil penalties for use of “nontherapeutic” antibiotics in animals for health or growth management. Would also require that priority be given in use of appropriations for animal health or agricultural research to development of alternatives to use of antibiotics in animals. Would authorize and require the development and administration of a comprehensive, statewide singlepayer healthcare plan through the Pennsylvania Health Care Board. Would establish uniform standards for licensing and regulation of direct shipment of wines to Pennsylvania residents.
SUPPORTS & SEEKS FURTHER AMENDMENTS
PASSED by the SENATE Reported from Original House Committee In the HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 298 Yaw
SUPPORTS & SEEKS FURTHER AMENDMENTS
Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 340 Folmer
OPPOSES
SB 396 Leach
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE GAME & FISHERIES Committee
SB 398 Leach
OPPOSES
In the SENATE AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS Committee
SB 400 Ferlo
OPPOSES
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 454 Ferlo
STUDYING
In the SENATE LAW & JUSTICE Committee
11
SB 455 Ferlo
Would provide for the opportunity for referendum approval for the convening of a constitutional convention to look at and propose amendments to state constitutional provisions governing the size, function and compensation of the General Assembly. Would impose a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years, without parole, for crimes committed with certain specified semiautomatic firearms. Would provide for a state income tax credit for unreimbursed payment of health insurance premiums.
OPPOSES
In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 500 Stack
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 501 Folmer
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 502 Folmer
Would terminate mandated NOT ADDRESSED coverage of numerous health IN PFB POLICY insurance benefits required under current law to be covered for mental illness, hospital expense, surgical expense, major medical expense, disability, accidents, emergency services, maternity and post partum care, women’s preventative care, nursing care and child immunization. Would terminate mandated coverage of numerous health insurance benefits required under current law to be covered for emergency services, maternity and post partum care, women’s preventative care, nursing care, and child immunization. Would limit income eligibility for medical assistance under state welfare programs to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Would authorize state and local governmental employees to establish health savings accounts and provide tax exemptions to employees who pay into a health savings account. 12 NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 503 Folmer
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 504 Folmer
In the SENATE PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE Committee In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 505 Folmer
SB 506 Folmer
Would provide to a small business employer (normally fewer than 100 employees, including a sole proprietor) who purchases and provides a high-deductible health plan to employees and who makes a contribution to employees’ health savings accounts a tax credit of 25% of contributions made for the benefit of employees only and 50% for the benefit of employees and their spouses and dependents. Would establish a state high-risk health insurance pool, managed by a nonprofit association and board of directors, to provide health insurance plan coverage to persons who are denied health insurance coverage under health plans normally offered to the public for medical reasons. Would allow and guarantee the right of individuals to purchase health insurance from insurers outside the Commonwealth, regardless of whether the insurer is licensed to offer insurance in the Commonwealth.
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 507 Folmer
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 508 Folmer
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 509 Folmer
Would terminate the Medical Care NOT ADDRESSED Availability and Reduction of Error IN PFB POLICY (Mcare) fund for liability insurance of medical professions, beginning in 2012, with establishment of a Health Care Provider Rate Stabilization Fund to assist in the transition of professional liability coverage from Mcare to the private sector. Would eliminate the graduated premium subsidy to be provided to families whose children are eligible for coverage under the state CHIP program and require all families to purchase such coverage at cost. NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 510 Folmer
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
13
SB 511 Folmer
Would establish maximum level of income for eligibility for coverage under the state adultBasic insurance program at 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Would establish a more comprehensive program for integrated watershed-based planning, management and regulation of stormwater effects from development among counties and municipalities in the watershed basin, including design criteria and performance standards to be met by owners of property in the basin. Upon development of plans, municipalities within the basin would be required to adopt or amend zoning, subdivision and land development, construction and other ordinances to be consistent with the stormwater management plan developed. DEP would be responsible to develop “model ordinances” to guide municipalities in drafting and adoption of ordinances that would be compatible with comprehensive stormwater planning and management. Would amend the Solid Waste Management Act to increase the criminal penalties for intentional, knowing or reckless violation of the Act’s requirements, based on the amount of solid waste involved in the violation. For each violations involving between 100 to 500 cubic yards, the penalty would be a fine of between $2.500 and $25,000 per day a/o imprisonment of up to 7 years per violation; and for violations involving more than 500 cubic yards, the penalty would be a fine of between $5.000 and $50,000 per day a/o imprisonment of up to 7 years per violation.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE BANKING & INSURANCE Committee
SB 524 Erickson
OPPOSES
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 546 Rafferty
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
14
SB 547 Rafferty
Would amend the Solid Waste Management Act to authorize DEP to assess an additional penalty of up to $50,000 for 3 or more violations of the same regulation within a 90day period. Would create the criminal offense of Failure to Provide Identification to Law Enforcement Authorities, which would apply to a person who fails to provide identification or information to a law enforcement officer when the officer has reasonable suspicion the person has committed a violation and has notified the person is suspected of violation and is the subject of an official investigation. The offense would be punishable as a misdemeanor. Would provide to owners and operators of agritourism and agritainment enterprises a limited immunity from civil liability for injuries that occur to patrons while participating in an agritourism and agritainment activity. Would transfer authority to bring legal and other enforcement actions for violation of weights and measures standards from the Department of Agriculture (PDA) to the Attorney General. PDA would retain authority in certifications, investigations and other administrative activities. Would amend the PA Constitution to reduce the size of the legislature to 121 members in the House of Representatives and 30 members in the Senate.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 573 Corman
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
Reported from Original Senate Committee ON THE SENATE TABLED CALENDAR
SB 600 Brubaker
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 664 Logan
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION & PFOFESSIONAL LICENSURE Committee
SB 684 Vogel
OPPOSES
In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
15
SB 685 Dinniman
Would authorize business firms that contribute to charitable health care organizations to receive state tax credits of up to $200,000 annually, with an annual limitation of $25 million in total tax credits that may be authorized. Would authorize the establishment of public-private partnerships for management and improvement of transportation facilities, with the State Transportation Commission being responsible for oversight and administration of publictransportation agreements. Would suspend imposition of prevailing wage requirements on public construction projects between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2012. Would authorize individuals to receive up to $100 annually in state income tax credit for costs incurred in using public transit systems. Would create and establish a program to provide per-acre incentive payments (up to $100,000 total) for transitioning farm production to crops used in the production of cellulosic ethanol. Would amend the PA Constitution to prohibit municipalities and school districts from imposing any real property tax on homestead property after June 30, 2010, and authorize the General Assembly to enact legislation that allows for graduated rates of state personal income tax.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 693 Rafferty
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
Reported from Original Senate Committee ON THE SENATE TABLED CALENDAR
SB 695 Brubaker
SUPPORTS & SEEKS FURTHER AMENDMENTS
In the SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY Committee
SB 696 Fontana
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 698 Waugh
SUPPORTS
Reported from Original Senate Commitee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 717 Logan
AMENDMENTS NEEDED
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
16
SB 718 Logan
Would prohibit municipalities and school districts from imposing any real property tax on homestead property after June 30, 2010, and would impose an added state sales tax and an added and graduated state income tax, with revenues from these taxes committed to the Property Tax Elimination Relief Fund for distribution to local taxing districts. Would direct the PA State Police to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the US Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice for training and certification of state police officers having authority to enforce federal immigration laws in the Commonwealth. Would prohibit the State Gaming Board from issuing a license for operation of a gambling facility in a municipality without prior referendum approval by the voters of that municipality.
AMENDMENTS NEEDED
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 723 Rafferty
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE LAW & JUSTICE Committee
SB 727 Rafferty
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE COMMUNITY ECON. & REC. DEVELOPMENT Committee
SB 744 Rafferty
Would prohibit employers from OPPOSES hiring illegal aliens, require employers to register and file with state and local agencies verifying that the employer has not hired illegal aliens, and require employers under contract with the Commonwealth which will result in than $10,000 in wages or other employment compensation to be paid to employees to verify the employment status of employees used through the federal e-verify system. Would extend the current caps on electrical utility rates through December 2012. SUPPORTS
In the SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY Committee
SB 754 Boscola
In the SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION & PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE Committee
17
SB 767 Vance
Would authorize and direct the development and administration of nutrient credit trading through a newly created Nutrient Credit Trading Program Board, which would be responsible for developing rules and processes for certification of marketable credits.
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 777 McIlhinney
Would require special NOT ADDRESSED demonstration of no adverse IN PFB POLICY impacts in “critical water areas” that supply community water systems before any DEP permit may be issued in such areas, and would give municipalities authority to enact ordinances that restrict land uses in “critical water areas” that may adversely cause contamination of surface water intake or ground water supplies. DEP would also be directed to develop regulations for model ordinances. Would exempt from real property tax any increase in property taxes imposed by a school district that would occur to homes owned and resided in by a person 65 years of age and older with an income of $65,000 or less. Would require referendum approval before any permit for establishment of any new municipal waste landfill or expansion of existing landfill may be granted. Would amend the PA Constitution by providing authority of citizens to enact or repeal laws and state constitutional amendments by initiative and referendum. Would establish a process for nonbinding referendum on three proposals for property tax reform “selected” for consideration by the General Assembly. The referendum would take place during the 2009 general election. OPPOSES Exemption too narrow
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 789 Boscola
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 803 Boscola
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee In the SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT Committee
SB 804 Boscola
OPPOSES
SB 818 Argall
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
18
SB 843 Browne
Would make organizing or conducting trap shoots or block shoots with live animals or fowl a criminal offense under the animal cruelty law, punishable as a summary offense. Would require law enforcement agencies to inquire on the citizenship and immigration status of any person who is arrested for felony offenses and offenses involving violence of a minor. Would require municipalities to include “algae based fuel production” as part of agricultural production and industrial production in zoning ordinances. Would reduce the total amount of funds that may be annually applied from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund to provide grants to counties for administrative costs related to county conservation easement purchase programs to $200,000 (currently $750,000), and would reduce the maximum amount a county may receive in grants for administrative costs to $10,000 (currently $25,000). Would provide a limited exemption from requirements for “securing loads” to certain specified material being transported in the course of agricultural harvesting activity. Would require PennDOT to review and revise required levels of bonding by operators receiving permits to operate vehicles in excess of posted weight limits, and would create a rebuttable presumption that a permitted operator caused damage to a posted road that experienced damage.
OPPOSES
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 853 Orie
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 866 Leach
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee In the SENATE AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
SB 884 Waugh
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
SB 926 Folmer
AMENDMENTS NEEDED
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
SB 930 Stout
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
19
SB 931 Stout
Would require each county to impose a $2.50 surcharge on dog license fees, with proceeds being used by the county to provide funding to humane societies in the county or in neighboring counties that accept stray dogs captured by the county. Would authorize a landowner who receives notice of application of biosolids on a neighboring property to request DEP to test the landowner’s private water supply for nitrates, coliform and E.coli prior to biosolids application, at DEP’s expense. Would authorize the establishment of public-private partnerships with state and local transportation agencies for management and improvement of state and municipal transportation infrastructure. Would amend provisions governing requirements for payment of state estimated income tax by allowing the taxpayer to meet his or her requirements through payment of estimated taxes due for the same period in the previous tax year. Would amend the Crimes Code to double the amount of maximum fine that may be imposed for criminal offenses Would repeal the exemption from requirement for Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board review and approval of proposed condemnation projects within agricultural security areas currently provided to public utilities.
OPPOSES
In the SENATE AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS Committee
SB 945 Waugh
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY Committee
SB 948 Wonderling
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
SB 952 Tomlinson
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
Reported from Original Senate Committee In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 961 Leach
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE JUDICIARY Committee
SB 965 Dinniman
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS Committee
20
SB 966 Dinniman
Would require county agricultural conservation easement purchase programs to be administered in a manner that requires landowners applying for sale of easements to consolidate separately deeded parcels into a single deed prior to sale of the easement. Would amend the Vehicle Code to better facilitate agricultural transportation. The bill would specifically exempt from registration requirements all trailers used around the farm; provide for greater distance allowance for registration-exempt farm vehicles subject to annual inspections; provide greater distances that agricultural ATVs may be operated between farms; and provide greater width allowances for implements of husbandry that are operated, hauled or towed during daytime hours. Would impose a severance tax on the gross value of gas extracted for commercial production and sale equal to 5% of the gross value of the gas produced plus 4.7 cents per 1000 cubic feet equivalent. Revenues generated from the tax would be allocated on the basis of 50% to the state’s General Fund, 22% to the Environmental Stewardship Fund, 22% to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for the benefit of municipalities burdened by gas development and 6% to the Game and Fish Commissions. Would make numerous amendments to the Vehicle Code governing farm vehicles and equipment to facilitate their operation around farms and between farms and local agribusiness centers.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS Committee
SB 980 Gordner
SUPPORTS & SEEKS FURTHER AMENDMENTS
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
SB 997 Dinniman
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
SB 1016 Argall
SUPPORTS
In the SENATE TRANSPORTATION Committee
21
SB 1026 Kasunic
Would amend the Game and Wildlife Code provisions governing the auctioning of elk hunting licenses to increase the number of elk licenses available for auction from 1 to 2 but limit the scope of elk to be hunted to bulls, and transfer the authority for auctioning of licenses to the Governor.
NOT ADDRESSED IN PFB POLICY
In the SENATE GAME & FISHERIES Committee
SB 1032 Robbins
Would reduce the statutorily OPPOSES prescribed level of state funds to be transferred from the state General Fund to the state Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund for fiscal year 2009-2010 for use in purchases of easements under the state farmland preservation program from $20.485 million to $15.826 million. Would change the rates of capital OPPOSES stock franchise tax applicable to calendar years 2009 through 2013 to increase the rate to 2.89 mills in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and establish rates of 1.89 mills and 0.89 mills for years 2012 and 2013.
In the SENATE APPROPRIATIONS Committee
SB 1043 Mellow
In the SENATE FINANCE Committee
22