Monday, June 13, 2005

Senate Bill 406 (Pippy) would designate State Route 65 in the vicinity of Leetsdale, Allegheny County as the James E. Russo Highway.  James Russo serve as an Allegheny County district justice for 29 years.  Passed:  48-0. 

Senate Bill 502 (Greenleaf) would amend the Landlord and Tenant Act to require a landlord entering into a residential lease to disclose to a prospective tenant the property's flood history.  The landlord would also be required to disclose that the tenant could determine whether the property is located in a flood plain by contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to provide the address and telephone number of the nearest office of that agency.  The required disclosures could be given in the lease agreement.  A lease could not be invalidated solely because of the failure of any person to comply with these provisions.  However, any person who willfully or negligently violates the provisions of the section would be liable in the amount of actual damages suffered by the tenant as a result of the violation.  This provision could not be construed so as to restrict or expand the authority of a court to impose punitive damages or apply other remedies applicable under any other provision of law.  Passed:  48-0. 

Senate Bill 573 (Gordner) would amend the Fourth through Eighth Class County Assessment Law to require that the tax rates in fourth through eighth class counties be adjusted following a countywide reassessment to ensure that the reassessment is revenue neutral.  After the tax rates have been adjusted, the governing body of the applicable taxing authority would be required to cast a separate vote if it wants to raise the tax rate consistent with the limitations placed on the amount of an increase under current law (five percent for a county or municipality and 10 percent for a school district). Passed:  48-0. 

Senate Bill 599 (D. White) would make two highway designations in Seward, Westmoreland County.  The bill would: 

• Designate State Route 56 in Seward, Westmoreland County as the Ricky Hafer Highway  PFC Hafer, age 21, served with distinction in the 101st Airborne Division until his death on November 15, 2003 in a midair collision of two Black Hawk Helicopters in Iraq; and,

• Designate State Route 711 in Seward, Westmoreland County as Aaron Rusin Boulevard.  Army Specialist Rusin, age 19, served with distinction in the United States Army until his death on October 10, 2004 by sniper fire while patrolling in Iraq.  Passed:  48-0.

Senate Resolution 123 (Boscola) urges the Governor to create a task force to study flooding problems and to establish plans and procedures to reduce flooding in the Commonwealth.  Adopted by Voice Vote

Senate Bill 126 (Wenger) would designate the bridge carrying State Route 322 over the Conestoga River in Earl Township, Lancaster County as the Representative Leroy M. Zimmerman Memorial Bridge.  Representative Zimmerman served in the General Assembly from 1994 through December 2002.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Bill 141 (Erickson) would designate the bridge over Chester Creek on State Route 926 in Westtown Township, Chester County as the L. Charles Scipione Bridge.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Bill 677 (Pileggi) would designate the section of State Route 322 beginning at its intersection with U.S. Route 1 and ending at its intersection with Interstate 95 in Concord, Bethel and Upper Chichester townships in Delaware County as the Senator Clarence D. Bell Memorial Highway.  Senator Clarence D. Bell served as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly longer than any other person in Pennsylvania history and served in the military during World War II, where he received the United States Army Legion of Merit and the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Resolution 124 (Wonderling) directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to determine the advantages and disadvantages of creating a separate cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs.  Adopted by Voice Vote. 

Senate Resolution 126 (Thompson) designates the week of June 19 through 25, 2005 as "Biosciences Week" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  48-0. 

House Bill 1178 (Marsico) would repeal Act 1109 of 1872 that incorporated the State police of Crawford and Erie counties.  Passed:  50-0. 

State System of Higher Education Property Request No. 1 of 2005 (Resolution A)  Adopted:  50-0. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 

Senate Bill 651 (Rhoades) would amend the Library Code to allow the waiver of standards provisions enacted for fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05 to continue in fiscal year 2005-06 if the appropriation for libraries in fiscal year 2005-06 is less than that provided in fiscal year 2002-03.  The change would permit local libraries or library systems to request from the State Librarian a waiver of standards on hours of operation, staff professional development, collections expenditures, or other appropriate standards.  Under these provisions, the board of directors of a local library could adopt a resolution to apply for a waiver if meeting any of the standards would place an economic hardship on the library's operating budget.  The application would have to specify the need for the waiver and provide supporting data and information to explain the benefits to be obtained by the waiver.  The State Librarian would have 30 days to act on the application.  If the State Librarian fails to act within 30 days, the application would be deemed approved.  If the application is disapproved, the basis for the disapproval would have to be transmitted to the library's board of directors.  The board would have the ability to submit a revised application.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Bill 679 (Musto) would amend the Public School Code to make changes to the continuing professional development program for educators.  Under the bill, the Department of Education would be required to notify in writing educators who have not met their continuing professional development requirements.  The notice would have to be mailed to the most recent address on file with the Department.  Educators who have completed sufficient credits or hours for compliance would be notified electronically.  The measure would also extend the first five-year compliance period until April 30, 2006 for certain educators.  The extension would apply to educators who were certified prior to May 1, 2001; were not provided written notice as required under the act; and, have not satisfactorily completed their continuing education requirements.  Upon enactment of the legislation, the Department would be required to provide immediate notice to persons who have not satisfied their continuing professional development requirements under the first five-year compliance period.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Bill 706 (M. White) would designate the bridge carrying State Route 8, Main Street, in Butler, Butler County over the Connoquenessing Creek, the B&P Railroad, the B&LE Railroad and Quarry Street, as the General Richard Butler Bridge.  During the Revolutionary War, Richard Butler served with General George Washington at Valley Forge and was involved in the battles of Saratoga, Yorktown, and Monmouth.  Among other noteworthy accomplishments, General Butler was instrumental in establishing Allegheny County as a separate political entity from Westmoreland County and when Allegheny County was divided in 1800, an area north of Pittsburgh was named Butler County in his honor.  Passed:  50-0. 

Senate Bill 721 (Lemmond) would designate a portion of State Route 6 in Wyoming County and a portion of State Route 92 in Susquehanna County as scenic byways.  This designation would prohibit the placement of outdoor advertising devices within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way or more than 660 feet, outside of urban areas, if the sign is visible from and is meant to be read from the main-traveled way.  Certain signs, such as highway and directional signs, would be exempt from the prohibition.  Passed:  50-0. 

House Bill 402 (Fabrizio) would name state roads in the City of Erie and Allegheny County and re-designate a bridge in Luzerne County.  Specifically, the bill would:

• Designate the portion of State Route 4016, known as West 38th Street, in the City of Erie, from Glenwood Park Avenue to Peach Street as the Michael A. Cannavino Way.  Michael A. Cannavino was a popular and beloved politician and athlete who served on Erie City Council.  In 1965, Michael Cannavino died just days before the General Election he was expected to win for the office of Mayor of Erie;