March 22, 2012
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 623, which would require the Department of General Services to set an annual contracting goal of not less than 5 percent for contracts of small businesses owned by veterans. Currently, these targets exist for businesses owned...
March 14, 2012
SB 209 PN 1981 (M. White): Establishes a new Article XVI-C (Equity in Interscholastic Athletics Disclosure) in the Public School Code of 1949 requiring public school entities report athletic opportunities afforded male and female students annually on a disclosure form...
March 13, 2012
HB 424, PN 3197 (Godshall) – Amends Act 72 of 1983 (The Public Adjuster Licensing Law) regarding administration and enforcement of public adjusters. A vote of 48-0 was recorded. SB 623, PN 2002 (Tomlinson) – Amends Title 62 (Procurement) by creating a new chapter...
March 12, 2012
SB 276, PN 1977 (Argall) – This legislation amends the Downtown Location Law to expand the factors that should be considered when determining where to local a state office facility and requires that the agency coordinate with local historical and economic development...
March 9, 2012
By a narrow 26-23 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 934, the controversial Voter ID bill that will require voters to present photo identification each time they vote. Democrats railed against the Republican pushed initiative, calling it a “solution in search of a...
March 6, 2012
SB 1301, PN 1803 (Williams) – This bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assessments of persons and property, to add definitions of boards of the Homestead Property Exclusion to include the body with...
March 5, 2012
SB 1049, PN 1717 (Kasunic) – This bill would amend Title 30 (Fish) to provide the Fish and Boat Commission with license issuing flexibility. A vote of 48-0 was recorded. SB 1324, PN 1945 (Yaw) – This bill amends Title 42 (Judiciary) providing for actions regarding...
February 23, 2012
By a 31-19 vote, the Senate approved controversial legislation that taxes and regulates the gas drilling industry. The conference committee report (approved 4-2 on a party line basis) on House Bill 1950 establishes a drilling “impact fee” on a sliding scale over 15...
February 23, 2012
By a vote of 43-7, the Senate approved a measure that allowed 17,000 Pennsylvanians to continue to receive extended unemployment benefits. The legislation, Senate Bill 1375, was needed for the state to draw down federal money that would pay for the extension. The...
February 8, 2012
SB 405 PN 1534 (Browne):Amends § 301.1 of The Local Tax Enabling Act to clarify when a political subdivision may levy a business privilege tax (“BPT”). Senator Blake offered Amendment A05908, which would amend the BPT. The amendment was defeated 19-37. The bill was...
