The Senate approved legislation that would place restrictions on junior drivers.
Under House Bill 67, junior drivers would be prohibited from using cell phones except to call 911.
Pointing to the state’s seat belt law as a good example of emphasizing education over penalizing drivers, the senators changed House Bill 67 from a “primary offense” to a “secondary” violation.” For secondary offenses, drivers can only be cited if they are stopped and prosecuted for a differing “primary offense.”
Another amendment that would have banned cell phone use for drivers of all ages was tabled following a largely party-line vote.
The bill would also limit the number of passengers under 18 if the driver has a junior license. For the first six months that the junior driver is licensed, there would be a limit of one passenger under 18. After the first six months the junior driver would be limited to three passengers under 18.
The bill is now in the House Rules Committee.
The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1720, which would criminalize “organized retail theft.”
Under the bill, a person commits organized retail theft if the person organizes, finances or manages any of the activities of an organized retail theft enterprise.
An organized retail theft enterprise is a corporation, partnership or any other type of association, whether or not legally formed, that is operated for the purpose of receiving stolen property or retail theft.
If the retail value of the stolen merchandise is between $5,000 and $19,999, the offense would be graded a third degree felony. If the value of the stolen merchandise is at least $20,000, the offense would be a second degree felony.
The bill is now in the House Rules Committee.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 214, which would outlaw the digital simulcast of greyhound racing in Pennsylvania. Violators who conduct, hold, or operate races for public display would face a first degree misdemeanor with a fine of up to $10,000.
Criticized by some as cruel to animals, live greyhound racing is already banned in Pennsylvania.
The bill is now in the House Gaming Oversight Committee.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 441, which would allow a certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant to do employment medical examinations for teachers and other school district personnel.
The bill would provide alternative pathways for teacher and administrator certification and would require the Department of Education to approve post-baccalaureate programs for residency, intern and administrator certifications.
The bill started out identical to Senate Bill 1011 before being heavily amended in the House. Most of the provisions that passed the Senate were removed in the House.
The measure is now back in the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 620 with a unanimous vote.
The measure would amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to require the issuance of a certificate of stillbirth, upon request of the parent, by the Department of Public Welfare for any fetal death previously filed with the department. The fee for issuance would be the same as a death certificate.
This legislation was prompted because of lobbying efforts by mothers who lost their babies to stillbirth, but wanted the option of having a “certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth” as a way to acknowledge the child they lost.
The measure now goes to the House.
The Senate unanimously concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 828, which would allow non-profit groups to sell food that was prepared in private homes.
Currently, food offered for sale in Pennsylvania must be from a source that is licensed or inspected by the Department of Health.
This bill would also require the non-profit organization to inform consumers that the food for sale was prepared at a private residence.
The bill is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 918, which would consolidate the current county assessment laws, except in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties.
The bill would preserve the anti-windfall provisions for school districts. Also, anti-windfall limitations would be made uniform for all counties and municipalities. The bill would abolish the office of elected assessor and any person appointed to the position of chief assessor must currently be licensed as a Certified Pennsylvania Evaluator (CPE).
In addition, the bill requires that any net proceeds from a lease or sale of a parking authority garage in Pittsburgh must be deposited into the city’s municipal pension system fund or with the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System. The transfers must be done by October 30, 2011.
The measure is in the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1011 with a vote of 46-1. The measure would provide alternative pathways for teacher and administrator certification and require the Department of Education to approve post-baccalaureate programs for residency, intern and administrator certifications.
It would also allow a certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant to perform employment medical examinations for teachers and other school district personnel. It would retain the Harrisburg School District’s status as an Education Empowerment District and focus on the Harrisburg Board of Control established by the Education Empowerment Act. The extension of the Board of Control would expire June 30, 2013 and the remaining provisions of the Education Empowerment Act would expire as scheduled on June 30, 2010. Over the course of the next three years, control of the Harrisburg Board of Control would shift from the appointed Board of Control to the elected school board.
The measure is now back in the House.
The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1026, which would allow for a “Governor’s Elk Tag.”
Currently, the Game Commission is authorized to conduct an auction with an authorized wildlife conservation organization for an elk tag. The contracted organization is limited to 20 percent of the proceeds from the auction. The commission would utilize the remainder of the funds for the elk program.
This legislation would transfer the authority to conduct the auction from the Game Commission to the governor’s office.
It would also create a five-person Elk Tag Conservation Committee to select a wildlife conservation organization to auction off a special “Elk Conservation Tag.”
The committee would be composed of appointees from the governor, and majority/minority chairs of the Game and Fisheries Committee. Appointees would serve without compensation for two year terms.
Proposals would be submitted to the committee from wildlife conservation organizations. The committee will choose the wildlife conservation organization by a majority vote. An organization cannot be selected to hold the auction in consecutive years.
The bill would also establish and enhance a mentored youth hunting program and allow the commission to establish regulations exempting certain limited youth hunting activities.
The bill is now in the House Game and Fisheries Committee.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1176 with a unanimous vote. The bill would amend the “Surface Mining and Conservation and Reclamation Act” (Act 173 of 1992) allowing for fees under the act to be adjusted by regulations to provide that fees under the act may be adjusted by regulations distributed by the Environmental Quality Board.
This legislation would simply make what DEP is already doing official. Currently, the department is proposing to increase the coal mining fees through regulation. By doing this, it would allow more time and requires more comment and response from the regulated community. With all the other environmental programs that the department administers the fees are increased through regulation so this is making the coal mining fees consistent with those programs.
The measure goes to the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1196 with a unanimous vote. The measure would amend the “Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act” (Act 156 of 1980) allowing for fees under the act to be adjusted by regulations distributed by the Environmental Quality Board.
This legislation would simply make what DEP is already doing official. Currently, the department is proposing to increase the coal mining fees through regulation. By doing this, it would allow more time and requires more comment and response from the regulated community. With all the other environmental programs that the department administers the fees are increased through regulation so this is making the coal mining fees consistent with those programs.
The measure goes to the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1197 with a unanimous vote. The bill would amend the “Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act” (Act 318 of 1968) allowing for fees under the act to be adjusted by regulations distributed by the Environmental Quality Board.
This legislation would simply make what DEP is already doing official. Currently, the department is proposing to increase the coal mining fees through regulation. By doing this, it would allow more time and requires more comment and response from the regulated community. With all the other environmental programs that the department administers the fees are increased through regulation so this is making the coal mining fees consistent with those programs.
The measure now goes to the House.
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