The Senate unanimously passed legislation that would standardize and improve training for county directors of Veterans Affairs. Under currently law, county commissioners appoint the director, with minimal guidance on standards and requirements. Senate Bill 302 would professionalize, standardize, and expand the training for the directors as well as require accreditation for the position.
The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously passed a bill that will continue state and federal modernization of banking rules under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Senate Bill 380 clarifies regulations regarding “electronic remittance transfers,” which generally refers to consumers sending money to foreign individuals or companies. Under new federal regulations, such transfers will now be covered through the consumer protections contained in the federal Electronic Transfer Act. Senate Bill 380 aligns state law with the federal regulations.
The bill now goes to the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved legislation that addresses deficiency judgments when real property collateral is located in more than one county by designating the Court of Common Pleas in one of the counties as the “deficiency court.”
Under Senate Bill 84, the deficiency court would be designated by the location where the collateral real property with the highest adjusted value. This court is the venue for the fair market valuation of all of the collateral real property located in Pennsylvania. The judgment creditor would petition the deficiency court to determine and fix the fair market value of all of the real property collateral.
The real property collateral would be valued before any sheriff’s sale, but would be subject to redetermination at the request of either party to protect against changes in value. A petition for redetermination of the fair market value following a sheriff’s sale must be brought within six months.
The bill is now in the House Judiciary Committee.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 333, which eliminates the Philadelphia Traffic Court from the state constitution.
Philadelphia currently has a total of 122 judges, seven of whom are Traffic Court judges, who are not required to be attorneys. No other county has a separate traffic court.
An investigative report commissioned by the state Supreme Court found that judges routinely made, accepted and granted third-party requests for preferential treatment for politically connected individuals with cases in Traffic Court. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Traffic Court offices and judges’ homes in 2011 and is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation.
The bill is now in the House.
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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 334, which eliminates the Philadelphia Traffic Court from the Judicial Code.
Under the bill, the responsibilities of the Philadelphia Traffic Court would be transferred to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. This legislation was drafted so that its provisions can take effect until the constitutional amendment in Senate Bill 333 is finally approved.
Philadelphia currently has a total of 122 judges, seven of whom are Traffic Court judges, who are not required to be attorneys. No other county has a separate traffic court.
An investigative report commissioned by the state Supreme Court found that judges routinely made, accepted and granted third-party requests for preferential treatment for politically connected individuals with cases in Traffic Court. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Traffic Court offices and judges’ homes in 2011 and is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation.
The bill is now in the House.