The Senate approved Senate Bill 9 by a vote of 48-1. The bill would designate the Eastern hellbender as the official amphibian of the state.

The bill was referred to the House State Government committee.

***

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 26 which would release so-called “Project 70” restrictions on some land owned by the Borough of Topton in Berks County and impose restrictions on other land in the borough.

Project 70 allows the state to create debt and issue up to $70 million in bonds to acquire land for recreation, conservation and historical purposes.

The bill was referred to the House State Government committee.

***

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 113, which amends the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act to impose pension and benefit forfeiture on any public official or employee found guilty, pleading guilty or no contest to a crime related to their government position.

The measure applies to felonies or crimes punishable by more than five years in prison.

Previously, only certainly offenses could result in pension forfeiture. Accused officials would skirt the forfeiture penalty by plea-bargaining deals to offenses that were not listed under the forfeiture act.

Senate Bill 113 became Act 1 of 2019.

###