Monday, March 29, 2004
Senate Resolution 209 (Corman) congratulates the
Pennsylvania State University on the commencement of its
sesquicentennial celebration and reaffirms its designation as
Pennsylvania's land-grant university. Adopted by Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 222 (Schwartz) designates April 20,
2004 as "Love-A-Teen Day" in Pennsylvania. Adopted by Voice
Vote.
House Bill 1597 (Crahalla) would repeal Act 28 of 1870,
which provides for an obsolete and archaic evaluation and
approval process for the drainage of swampy land and wetlands
belonging to several property owners. Passed: 50-0.
Executive Session
Nominations to Various Boards and
Commissions. (See Attached) Confirmed: 50-0.
Tuesday,
March 30, 2004
Senate Resolution 223 (Conti) designates the week of May
2 through 8, 2004 as "Pennsylvania Wine Week." Adopted by
Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 224 (Conti) commemorates the 70th
anniversary of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Adopted by Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 225 (Madigan) observes April 7, 2004
as "World Health Day" in Pennsylvania. Adopted by Voice
Vote.
Senate Resolution 226 (Stack) recognizes the month of
April 2004 as "Autism Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
Adopted by Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 227 (Madigan) designates the week of
April 4, 2004 as "Rural Road Safety Week" in Pennsylvania.
Adopted by Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 228 (D. White) designates the week of
April 18 through 24, 2004 as "Pennsylvania One Call System
Week." Adopted by Voice Vote.
House Bill 506 (Reichley) would amend Section 4107 of
the Crimes Code to add language to clarify that a person commits
the offense of deceptive or fraudulent business practices if the
person "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly" engages in any
of the actions outlined in the section. The changes would also
specify that an individual may be charged with the offense of
deceptive or fraudulent business practices if the individual
"induces others to rely on" false or misleading written
statements for the purpose of obtaining property or credit,
promoting the sale of securities, or to induce an investor to
invest in a business venture. Passed: 50-0.
House Bill 1206 (Maher) would amend the Local Tax
Enabling Act to clarify that the amendments made to the act by
Act 166 of 2002 would apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2002. (Act 166 of 2002 increased the low-income
exemption from $5,000 to $10,000 and tied the definitions of
"earned income" and "net profits" to relevant provisions of the
Tax Reform Code.) The bill would also exempt all active duty
military pay from the local earned income tax. Concurrence
in House Amendments to Senate Amendments: 50-0.
Executive Session
Nominations to Various Boards and
Commissions. (See Attached) Confirmed: 50-0.
Wednesday, March 31,
2004
Senate Bill 10 (Brightbill) would establish the
Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program to provide for
new state-level tax increment financing options. The program,
to be administered by the Department of Community and Economic
Development, would provide multiyear grants to issuing
authorities toward the payment of debt service on projects.
Financial assistance could not exceed 10 years for industrial
enterprises, retail enterprises or manufacturers, or 20 years
for hospitals, convention centers or hotel establishments. The
project user must issue a firm commitment that the project will
be used upon its completion and a party other than the
Commonwealth must be responsible for repayment of the project's
debt. In addition, a project must not pledge the full faith and
credit of the Commonwealth in financing arrangements and must
create additional full-time jobs and preserve existing full-time
jobs.
Tax revenue generated from the project must
be greater than or equal to the aggregate amount of the grants
during the initial two years. For the third year,
anticipated revenues must be greater than or equal to the
aggregate amount of the grants for that year. For the
succeeding two year period, anticipated revenues are to be
greater than or equal to the aggregate amount of the grants
during that two-year time period.
The project
user must submit financial information prepared, or reported on,
by an independent certified public accountant to the
Department. If the project is solely for infrastructure, a
portion of the project must be funded under Act 113 of 1990,
known as the Tax Increment Financing Act. The Secretary of the
Budget would establish a maximum annual amount for the grant.
Grants awarded to an applicant must be linked to the incremental
growth in revenues realized by the Commonwealth from the sales
tax, the hotel occupancy tax, and the Pennsylvania employer
withholding tax. Concurrence in House Amendments: 50-0.
Senate Bill 305 (Waugh) would amend the Vehicle Code to
require any male who applies for a learner's permit,
identification card, driver's license or renewal, and who is at
least 18 years of age, but less than 26, to comply with the
requirements of section 3 of the Military Selective Service
Act. The applicant's signature on the application would serve
as an indication that he has already registered with the
Selective Service System or consents to registration. The
Department of Transportation would be required to include a
notice about these requirements on the application and forward
to the Selective Service System the necessary personal
information of the applicants required to comply. Within 60
days of forwarding the information, the Department would have to
notify the applicant in writing that the information has been
forwarded. The Department would be required to obtain
reimbursement of the costs it incurs from the Selective Service
System. If it is unable to obtain reimbursement, the Department
would not have to provide notice to the applicant. Passed:
47-3.
Senate Bill 799 (Conti) would require the Pennsylvania
State Police to provide criminal background reports requested by
the State Harness Racing Commission or the State Horse Racing
Commission for applicants requesting licensure. The commission
could exempt applicants for positions not related to the care or
training of horses, racing wagering, security or the management
of licensed corporations from this requirement. Passed:
50-0.
Senate Bill 1026 (LaValle) would amend Title 64 (Public
Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) to establish a new
independent authority known as the Commonwealth Financing
Authority governed by a seven member board made up of the
Secretaries of Community and Economic Development, Budget and
Banking and four appointments made by the Senate and House. The
Governor would appoint a chairperson for the Board. Legislative
appointees could not be members of the General Assembly or staff
of a member of the General Assembly. Consent of at least five
members of the Board, with at least four of the consenting
members being the legislative appointees, would be necessary to
take certain actions on behalf of the Authority. These actions
include: adopting bylaws; hiring professionals; authorizing
bonds; approving projects and contracts; and, adopting
guidelines relating to programs. A majority of the board would
be necessary to take any other action on behalf of the
authority.
The Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED) would provide administrative services and
staff to the authority and the board. The board would reimburse
the department for these services. The authority would have the
ability to borrow money, issue bonds, obtain lines and letters
of credit and incur debt and administer certain economic
stimulus programs created in the legislation. There is a cap of
$250 million per year over four years for the issuance of bonds
to finance projects under this act. The amounts found in the
following program descriptions are the maximum per program over
those four years.
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First Industries: $150
million to provide loans, grants and loan guarantees for
projects related to the development of tourism and
agriculture, with two-thirds devoted to agriculture. Planning
grants are authorized up to a total of $10 million.
-
Business In Our Sites:
$300 million to prepare industrial-business sites for future
development. Municipalities, authorities and other public
agencies could apply for site preparation loans or grants,
while a private developer could apply for a loan under this
program. Eligible site preparation costs include
environmental assessment and remediation, demolition and
infrastructure. Grants of up to $5 million require a
50 percent match. Planning grants are authorized up to a
total of $10 million.