Senate Bill 1 PN 1711(Piccola): Senate Bill 1 establishes a new Article XXV-B (Opportunity Scholarships and Educational Improvement Tax Credit) to provide for public to public and nonpublic school choice programs, reestablishes the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program with amendments and makes changes to the Charter School Law. Senator Hughes offered Amendment A05824, which add a 4 year pilot program requiring district operated hope academics in low performing schools where one or more students use a scholarship. The amendment was defeated 20-29. Senator Schwank offered Amendment A05738, which would reduce the State funding to scholarship enrollments from 100% to 50%. The amendment failed 19-30. Senator Leach offered Amendment A05821, which would change terms of handicapped person to person with disability and add sexual orientation to the list of attributes that participating private schools may not discriminate against. The amendment failed 19-30. Senator Ferlo offered Amendment A05830, which would increase the EITC to $200 Million and eliminate the scholarship language from the bill. The amendment was broken up into two parts, which were defeated by 21-28 on each portion. Senator Hughes offered Amendment A05823, which would eliminate scholarship and adds a 4 year Pilot Program for hope academics in low performing schools. It was defeated 17-32. After the defeat of the previous amendments, the bill on final passage was approved 27-22.

Senate Bill 367 PN 1718 (D. White): Establishes the Indigenous Mineral Resources Development Act which authorizes the Department of General Services (DGS) to lease State-owned land and land owned by the State System of Higher Education or grant a right of way for the purpose of removing mineral resources. The bill was approved 47-2

House Bill 1459 PN 1765 (Ross): Amends the Third Class City Code to provide for promotion procedures for civil service employees. The bill was approved 49-0

House Bill 1460 PN 1766 (Ross): Amends the First Class Township Code to provide for examinations, background investigations and promotion procedures for civil service police and firemen. The bill was approved 49-0

House Bill 1461 PN 2625 (Ross): Amends the Borough Code to provide for examinations, background investigations and promotion procedures for civil service police and firemen. The bill was approved 49-0

Real Property Disposition Plan No.1 of 2011; Resolution B was adopted 49-0

Executive Nominations 

The following Nominee was approved 49-0:

The Honorable William Ian Gabig, Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board