GREENLEAF TALLIES 2001-2002 SESSION ACCOMPLISHMENTS

HARRISBURG – Looking back on the recently concluded legislative session, Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf said he is pleased with the passage of more than 30 of his initiatives, including laws for the protection of school students and staff from pesticide exposure, the expansion of the automobile lemon law to cover leased vehicles, and the extension of the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse.

“A number of my bills and resolutions were signed into law last session while some proposals were passed as amendments to other measures or in the form of similar House legislation.  I am gratified that these new laws—many of which I have advocated for several years—are now in place to serve the citizens of the commonwealth,” Greenleaf said.

The following acts authored by Senator Greenleaf were passed in the 2001-2002 legislative session:

--Act 127 of 2002 provides for improved compensation of multi-county grand jurors; eliminates venue shopping in medical malpractice cases by requiring that a trial must be held in the county where the cause of action occurred; and adds a requirement to Megan’s Law to provide for speedy notification to police of changes in a sex offender’s residence, employment or student status.

--Act 86 of 2002 enables a victim of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil action until 12 years after reaching age 18, and also extends the criminal statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses for up to 12 years after the offense or 12 years after a child victim turns 18.

--Acts 21, 22, and 28 of 2002 allow local elected officials to speak out on an issue that may later come up for a vote. Prior to passage, local officials were barred as a result of court decisions from voting on an issue on which they had previously expressed an opinion in an official or unofficial capacity.

--Act 35 of 2002 requires all public school districts to implement integrated pest management (IPM) plans by January 1, 2003, to reduce the use of chemicals for pest control on school grounds and in buildings. The measure was passed with a companion act (Act 36 of 2002) providing for parent and staff notification prior to usage of pesticides and setting standards for reentry after application of chemical pest controls.

--Act 109 of 2002 permits a person convicted of a crime to request a DNA test to show innocence.

--Joint Resolution #1 of 2002’s passage in the 2001-2002 legislative session fulfills half the requirement for a proposed constitutional amendment to allow child witnesses and child victims to testify by electronic means when a court has so decided.  The measure must pass again in the 2003-2004 legislative session in order to be placed on the ballot for the state’s voters to decide in a referendum.

--Act 207 of 2002 places state-chartered credit unions on equal footing with federally chartered credit unions in terms of electronic financial services, financial counseling services, loan-related products, membership standards, and trustee/custodial services.

--Act 215 of 2002 creates additional common pleas court judgeships in nine counties to help handle increased caseloads.

--Act 57 of 2002 adds Pennsylvania to the list of states ratifying the updated Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Parolees and provides for state representation on the national commission that regulates the movement of parolees between states.

--Act 50 of 2002 establishes the Uniform Principal and Income Act to provide guidelines for trustees in separating principal and interest.

--Act 94 of 2001 expands the automobile lemon law to include leased vehicles.  A companion act (Act 117 of 2002) requires notation on the title of a vehicle returned to the manufacturer as defective so that subsequent buyers are aware the car’s history.

--Act 103 of 2001 prohibits the sale of fur or skin of a dog or a cat or its use in a product.

--Act 34 of 2001 makes Associations Code changes relating to fictitious and corporate names.

--Act 102 of 2001 establishing Bill of Rights Day in the commonwealth on December 15.

Additionally, an amendment offered by Greenleaf to help second-class counties in their efforts to provide a system of trails for recreation and non-motorized transportation was enacted as part of Act 170 of 2002.  The Greenleaf measure amends the Second Class County Code on eminent domain by clarifying that, for the purpose of recreational land acquisition, a trail is a park.

The senator also noted success in the passage of Senate resolutions he sponsored on prostate cancer awareness, anti-terrorism, the National Day of Reconciliation, and Chemistry Week.  Also approved were his resolutions calling for an investigation of toxic mold and providing for task forces to review and update the state’s real property law and to examine the costs involved in housing aging and ill state prisoners.

Among Greenleaf-sponsored proposals that passed the General Assembly in bills offered by House members or other senators are an updated open records law, an expanded paralyzed veteran pension standard, the establishment of a do-not-call list to reduce telemarketing calls, protections against unsolicited faxes and e-mails, an appropriation to Fox Chase Cancer Center for cancer research, improved background checks on school employees, and a state anti-terrorism statute.  Additionally, the senator’s proposal to remove the “gag rule” that prevented judicial candidates from speaking out on issues during judicial elections was accomplished through a United States Supreme Court decision and a subsequent Pennsylvania Supreme Court rule change.  Administrative actions by the Department of Public Welfare and the State Board of Education, respectively, addressed Greenleaf’s proposals to provide for smoking cessation services, such as “the patch,” to state medical assistance recipients, and to allow local school boards to make their own decisions on the concept of placing seals designating achievement in state standardized tests on high school diplomas.