Senate Democratic Wrap-up for the Week of October 16, 2016
The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 49, which adds a $100,000 death benefit to members of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol. The Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act already provides $100,000 in death benefits to law enforcement officers,...Post Session Report :: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
SB 286 PN 1437 (Rafferty): This bill amends Act 200 of 1931, which provided for Pennsylvania to enter into a compact with the State of New Jersey to establish the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA). The Senate concurred the House amendments 37-13. HB 49 PN 2546...Post Session Report :: Monday, October 17, 2016
SB 535, PN 1973 (Vulakovich) – SB 535 amends Title 75, the Vehicle Code, to allow for the use of radar by local police departments. Senator Vulakovich offered amendment A10090 which prohibits the issuance of points unless the speed limit was exceeded by at...Post Session Report : Wednesday, September 28, 2016
SB 340 PN 2098 (Eichelberger): This bill reforms the Local Government Unit Debt Act (in Title 53 (Municipalities Generally), which addresses indebtedness and borrowing for units of local government, as well as guarantees of other government entities by local...Post Session Report : Tuesday, September 27, 2016
SB 1086 PN 1509 (Rafferty): This bill allows the Department of Transportation to suspend registration of motorists who fail to pay tolls on the Turnpike until the motorist makes the payment. The bill was approved 48-0. SB 1235 PN 1894 (Baker): This bill amends the...Senate Democratic Wrap-up for the Week of September 25, 2016
The Senate voted 43-2 in favor of House Bill 380, which reduces the amount of time required to establish that a marriage is “irretrievably broken.” This measure reduces from two years to one the amount of time a married couple must be separated before their marriage...Post Session Report :: Monday, September 26, 2016
SB 1155, PN 1998 (Reschenthaler) – SB 1155 amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to create a special registration plate for any person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States, including a member of a reserve component or the National Guard. The Senate concurred...Post Session Report :: Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Executive Nominations The following nominee was approved, 44-0: Bruce R. Beemer, Attorney General of PennsylvaniaState Troopers Raise Retirement Tsunami Warning Flags
Op-ed by state Sen. Jim Brewster
The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association has posted bright flags warning of a potentially devastating trooper retirement tsunami looming just over the horizon. If the storm comes together and the retirement tidal wave hits, it would severely strain police resources, impair our ability to deal with domestic terrorism and dangerously compromise the safety and security of our citizens.
In media reports, the troopers’ association stated that 2,000 Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) troopers will become retirement-eligible within the next three years. These retirements – if they occur in bulk – will swell the current trooper deficit (417 vacancies below the 4,719 authorized complement) and create long-term staffing problems that will reverberate for a decade or more to come.