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Dear Friends, I would like to share with you the following Senate Accomplishments for 2011 thus far. This list includes all bills that were approved by the Pennsylvania Senate and those that were signed into law. 2011 Budget Act 1A of 2011 reduces state spending $1.1 billion and maintains essential state services without a tax increase. The Senate plan boosted basic and higher education funding over Gov. Corbett's proposed budget. Government Reform Senate Bill 105 directs the Independent Fiscal Office to create and maintain a searchable, database-driven budget website that the public can access. (House version signed into law as Act 18 of 2011.) Act 56 of 2011 Increases the maximum penalty for violations of the state Sunshine Law and bars an agency from making a payment on behalf of a government official for violating the act. Act 60 of 2011 requires that any state agency seeking to implement a regulation describe the data upon which the regulation is based as well as a detailed explanation of how the data was obtained and why it is acceptable. Act 79 of 2011 enables the Governor to declare a state of fiscal emergency in Harrisburg, which would be triggered by the city's inability to meet its financial obligations and failure to adopt a financial recovery plan under Act 47. Senate Bill 109 requires all paid advertising by state government to include the statement "Paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars." Senate Bill 162 requires state and local government agencies to notify the public of data breaches involving personal information within one week. House Bill 278, House Bill 279, House Bill 284,House Bill 288, House Bill 289, House Bill 290, Senate Bill 282,Senate Bill 285,Senate Bill 286,Senate Bill 290,Senate Bill 292,Senate Bill 295, Senate Bill 296 reduce costs to taxpayers by raising the level at which counties, local governments and school districts must go through the formal bidding process. Senate Bill 354 protects privacy by prohibiting the Governor, the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency from participating in the Real ID Act of 2005 or any regulations promulgated under the Act. Job Creation Act 17 of 2011 restores fairness to the judicial system and prevents lawsuit abuse by reforming the practice of joint and several liability so that defendants are only responsible for paying only their share of damages in a civil case. Act 67 of 2011 permanently establishes the Industry Partnerships Program as part of the state's workforce development strategy, bringing together businesses and organizations within an industry to address common workforce needs. Act 27 of 2011 extends the sunset provisions of the First Industries Program to July 15, 2015, assisting with the financing of economic development projects primarily related to agriculture and tourism. Act 65 of 2011 authorizes licensed motorcycle dealers to sell motorcycles on Sundays, giving Pennsylvania motorcycle dealers a level playing field with neighboring states. Act 6 of 2011 continues federal unemployment compensation benefits through the end of the year, reforms the Pennsylvania unemployment compensation system to save nearly $120 million annually, and allows employers facing the prospect of layoffs to implement a temporary shared-work program. Environment and Energy Act 2 of 2011 establishes adequate and safe spacing between natural gas well clusters and workable coal seams. Act 57 of 2011 provides one-quarter of any fine under the state Clean Air Act above $50,000 to the municipality in which the violation occurred for local projects designed to reduce air pollution, to improve parks and trails, or to create open space. Act 61 of 2011 requires state agencies which receive funding under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Key '93) to submit annual reports to the governor and General Assembly - including a description of projects, their locations and amounts requested - and post the information online. Senate Bill 1100 establishes reasonable fees on gas drillers, sets strong environmental safeguards, and strengthens oversight of the Marcellus Shale drilling industry. Senate Bill 995 requires Marcellus Shale well operators to post signs bearing their GPS coordinates and other emergency response information at all well sites and share those coordinates with appropriate state and local officials. Senate Bill 325 creates a statewide registry for Class 1 Marcellus Shale pipelines and requires operators to report the location and aggregate miles of the pipeline to the Public Utility Commission, which is given authority to conduct safety inspections and investigations. Senate Bill 460 requires natural gas producing companies to list production detail and all deductions on royalty check stubs. Senate Bill 367 provides new options for the leasing of state-owned real property for mining or removal of valuable coal, oil, natural gas, coal bed methane, limestone and mineral resources. Senate Bill 304 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to post and maintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website, and to provide the same to the standing Senate and House oversight committees. Senate Bill 303 requires DEP to deposit any Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act-related fine money into the HSCA Fund, which is used to clean up hazardous sites. Civil penalties under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act - up to $25,000 per offense - could not be used to supplant other funds within DEP. Senate Bill 469 encourages landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting their liability. Public Safety Act 7 of 2011 bans synthetically produced drugs, including concentrated bath salts, designed to mimic the effects of other drugs. Act 66 of 2011 provides immunity from prosecution for minors for underage drinking and possession of alcohol if they call 911 to help an intoxicated friend in an emergency situation. Senate Bill 273 strengthens Castle Doctrine by removing the "duty to retreat" clause when an individual is threatened by an attacker in any place that individual has a right to be, including home or vehicle. (House version enacted as Act 10 of 2011.) Act 98 of 2011 makes Pennsylvania roads safer by prohibiting drivers from texting while driving. Act 81 of 2011, as amended by the Senate, would limit the number of passengers who may ride in a vehicle operated by a junior driver and require minors with a learner's permit to complete 65 hours of practical driving. Senate Bill 1264 provides for supplemental state assistance to those who have exhausted federal flood benefits and qualify under income eligibility guidelines. Senate Bill 1266 authorizes $150 million bond for flood-related highway, bridge and rail rehabilitation projects, as well as flood control and disaster mitigation projects. Senate Bill 1267 provides for real estate tax abatement for properties substantially damaged by flooding. Senate Bill 1268, Senate Bill 1269, Senate Bill 1271 authorize county-by-county lists of highways, bridges and rail facilities damaged by the flood that require repair and rehabilitation, and flood control and disaster mitigation projects. Senate Bill 1297 establishes a low-interest loan program for small businesses damaged by flooding. Senate Bill 1323 provides interest rate assistance and loan guarantees to assist farmers in recovering from the natural disasters. Senate Bill 58 allows a victim of sexual assault who has not sought criminal charges to petition a court to order protection from the offender. Senate Bill 397 establishes a pretrial procedure to determine if a defendant in a capital penalty trial is a person with mental retardation. Senate Bill 100 requires the Department of Corrections to establish a comprehensive program to reduce recidivism, makes more nonviolent offenders eligible for alternative sentencing programs and establishes a county program providing predictable and immediate sanctions on offenders who violate probation. Senate Bill 595 authorizes 19 cities across Pennsylvania to enact ordinances to use red-light cameras to improve traffic safety at intersections. Senate Bill 444 helps non-profit organizations such as volunteer fire companies and veterans clubs raise more money for community activities by allowing for increased prize limits. Education Act 25 of 2011 reduces the number of exceptions school districts can seek when seeking to raise taxes above the inflation index without a voter referendum. Senate Bill 1 creates an opportunity scholarship program for students in low-achieving schools and includes several provisions to improve accountability and expand development of charter schools and cyber charter schools. Senate Bill 858 gives districts the option to hire superintendents who have a graduate degree in business or finance. (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.) Senate Bill 872 removes the requirement for school districts with dual enrollment programs to establish a concurrent enrollment committee and relax some state mandates for participating schools. Senate Bill 224 places a lifetime employment ban in schools for those who have been convicted of serious violent offenses, and a 10-year ban for any other felony crime. (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.) Senate Bill 343 restricts the state Department of Education to collecting only information identifying individual college students when specifically required by law, and requires it to describe in detail its legal authority to collect the information and allow students to opt-out from the system. (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.) Health Care Act 59 of 2011 makes HIV testing a routine part of general medical care as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Senate Bill 3 extends Pennsylvania's prohibition on using public funding for elective abortions to the proposed new insurance system created by the federal health care law. Senate Bill 5 creates the Community-Based Health Care Program in the Department of Health to provide grants to community-based health care clinics. Senate Bill 638 requires that individuals who receive methadone treatment services covered by Medicaid receive treatment at the clinic closest to their residence if they are using taxpayer-funded transportation. Children and Families Act 62 of 2011 allows a parent to request a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth" from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Act 9 of 2011 allows a licensed hunter with an antlered deer permit to give the permit to a young hunter who is participating in a mentored youth hunting program. Senate Bill 1183 brings Pennsylvania into compliance with federal law and ensures the commonwealth meets federally mandated national standards to strengthen sex offender registration and notification. Senate Bill 227 requires all family day care providers in Pennsylvania to have liability insurance as a condition of their state certification.
Senate Bill 815 Eliminates waiving counsel in juvenile delinquency
hearings. Senate Bill 850 amends state law to presume that all juvenile defendants are indigent in order to ensure each are represented by an attorney and offers juveniles the same protections whether they are tried in juvenile court or before a magisterial district judge for a summary offense. The bill also defines the crime of cyber bullying by minors. Senate Bill 200 increases awareness and prevention of traumatic head injuries among Pennsylvania's scholastic athletes. Senate Bill 349 improves safety at tanning salons and requires parental consent for minors. Military Veterans Act 64 of 2011 allows all Commonwealth hunting license-issuing agents to sell reduced-fee hunting licenses to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Pennsylvania National Guard. Senate Bill 264 provides for honor guard burial details at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. (House version enacted as Act 38 of 2011.) House Bill 378 requires that at least one member of the State Civil Service Commission be a military veteran to ensure compliance with required hiring practices such as "Veterans' Preference." Illegal Immigration Senate Bill 9 ensures illegal aliens who live in Pennsylvania are not receiving public benefits such as Medicaid, welfare and in-state college tuition was approved May 24 by the Senate. Senate Bill 637 requires all contractors and subcontractors in publically funded projects to verify via the national E-Verify system that their employees are legally permitted to work in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 27 extends a consumer's right to seek reimbursement under the Puppy Lemon Law for illnesses, and extends the time period for certifying illnesses. Consumer Protection Senate Bill 27 extends a consumer's right to seek reimbursement under the Puppy Lemon Law for illnesses, and extends the time period for certifying illnesses. Farmers Senate Bill 390 would allow for the transportation of wider equipment on Pennsylvania roads and permit farm equipment transportation at night if proper safety precautions are taken. Senate Bill 1323 provides interest rate assistance and loan guarantees to assist farmers in recovering from the natural disasters.
House Bill 1424 creates the Pennsylvania Preferred Act to better
promote PA agricultural commodities. |
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