Post Session Report :: Monday, January 31, 2017

SB 69 PN 159 (Eichelberger): This bill amends Title 18 (Crimes Code) Section 5511 (regarding cruelty to animals) by adding the term “equine animal” and provides for the lowering of the level of culpability for general animal cruelty offenses. The bill was approved...

Post Session Report :: Monday, January 30, 2017

SB 138, PN 92 (Yaw) – Amends the Oil and Gas Lease Act to generally provide for the payment of royalties within 90 days after production, to authorize inspection of records to ensure proper payment, and to ensure coverage for joint ventures.  A vote of 48-0 was...

Transit Worker Protection Now!  General Assembly Dawdles, Workers Assaulted

Op-ed by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione

For transit workers, the news hasn’t changed much and it certainly hasn’t gotten better.  It’s the same story, year after year: “SEPTA

bus driver taken to hospital after men throw liquid on her,” “Man charged with assault in punching, beating of SEPTA bus driver,” “Bus driver shooting sparks calls for safety.”

Post Session Report :: Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Executive Nominations The following nominees were approved, 48-0: Bryan R. Lentz, State Civil Service Commission Syed Ali-Zaidi, Trustee, Clarion University of Pennsylvania Neil R. Weaver, Trustee, Clarion University of Pennsylvania J Alex Hartzler, Trustee, The...

Post Session Report :: Wednesday, October 26, 2016

SB 385 PN 2081 (Rafferty): This bill reforms and modernizes the Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Act and provides for an additional funding mechanism under the act. The Senate concurred the House amendments 46-2. SB 1265 PN 2183 (White): This bill...

Post Session Report :: Tuesday, October 25, 2016

SB 1311 PN 2061 (Vance): This bill amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) and Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to address grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights, definitions pertinent to child protective services, and definitions pertinent to...

Senate Democratic Wrap-up for the Week of October 23, 2016

The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1496, which would toughen penalties against felons who illegally possess guns. Under the bill, it would be a first degree felony (10-20 years) rather than a second degree felony (5-10 years) if it is a second offense; or the...

Post Session Report :: Monday, October 24, 2016

Monday, October 24, 2016 HB 162, PN 3955 (Benninghoff) – This legislation amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) by permitting an adult adoptee access to their original birth certificate without the consent of their birth parents. It also allows for the birth...

Post Session Report :: Wednesday, October 19, 2016

HB 447 PN 1037 (Saylor): This bill would amend the Landlord and Tenant Act to include provisions that would limit the rent that could be charged by a landlord to one’s estate if an individual died while renting a residential unit. The bill was approved 50-0. HB 683 PN...