Monday, January 23, 2006
Senate Resolution 151
(Boscola) is a concurrent resolution urging the Congress of the
United States to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of
2002. Adopted by Voice Vote.
Senate Resolution 214
(C. Williams) designates the week of January 22 through 28, 2006
as “Long QT Syndrome Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. Long QT
Syndrome is an inherited rhythm disorder of the heart’s
electrical system. Adopted by Voice
Vote.
House Bill 87 (Steil)
would amend Act 442 of 1967, which provides for open space
preservation, to eliminate the requirement that real property
acquired in fee simple by a local government under the act be
offered for resale within two years of the date of acquisition.
The measure would also permit the governing body of a county,
municipality or school district to exempt certain property from
further millage rate increases. These properties would include
those in which open space interested have been acquired by a
local government unit under the act, property subject to an
easement acquired under the Agricultural Area Security Law, and
property from which transferable development rights have been
transferred and retired by a local government without their
development potential having occurred on other lands. The
millage rate freeze would only be effective if the governing
body of each taxing district that imposes a tax on the property
approves the exemption. Passed: 49-0.
Executive Session
Nominations to Various Boards and Commissions.
(See Attached) Confirmed: 49-0.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Senate Bill 660
(Greenleaf) would amend Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and
Fiduciaries) to codify the Uniform Trust Act with some
modifications. Among other changes, the bill would repeal the
Rule against Perpetuities for all interests created on or after
January 1, 2007. (The Rule against Perpetuities provides for
the control of future interests in property, especially real
property.) Additional provisions would provide for
communication between a trustee and the trust’s beneficiaries
and apply the rules for wills to living or revocable trusts that
are used as substitutes for wills. This legislation was
recommended by the Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory
Committee on Decedents’ Estates Laws. The legislation is based
on the Uniform Trust Code which was promulgated by the National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2000, and
amended in 2001 and 2003.
The bill would also make a number of changes to
Title 20 unrelated to the Uniform Trust Act. Among these
changes is the addition of a section to provide a uniform rule
governing the cost of distributing tangible personal property to
beneficiaries and the codification of language pertaining to
pooled trusts. Further, the Department of Public Welfare would
be required to approve the pooled trust of an applicant for
medical assistance. The provisions codifying the Uniform Trust
Act would take effect in 120 days. The other amendments to
Title 20 would take effect immediately or in 60 days.
Passed: 49-0.
Senate Resolution 215
(Regola) declares the week of January 29, 2006 as “Catholic Schools
Week” in Pennsylvania. Adopted by Voice
Vote.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Senate Bill 928
(Thompson) would amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) to authorize a
political subdivision in the Commonwealth to give, grant or lend
services, manpower, materials, supplies, equipment and funds to
another Pennsylvania political subdivisions when a disaster
emergency is declared by the Governor or the political subdivision.
The assistance could also be extended to any political subdivision
in the United States within an area in which the President has
issued a declaration of a major disaster or emergency. The
governing body of the political subdivision providing the assistance
would be required to make a determination that the aid provided
would not be necessary to meet its own current and reasonably
foreseeable needs. The assistance would have to be provided within
60 days of the declaration of the disaster. Advertising and
competitive bidding restrictions and limitations on the disposal of
property would not apply to the assistance. Immunity from civil
liability would also be granted to the political subdivision
providing the assistance. Unless other provisions are made for the
coverage, the political subdivision would be required to provide
workers’ compensation coverage, or arrange coverage with the
recipient of the aid, for its employees whose manpower and services
are being donated. Passed: 49-0.
Senate Bill 986
(Lemmond) would amend the Second Class Township Code to provide for
online or electronic auctions for the sale of township personal
property. The advertisement for electronic auctions must include
the internet address or means of accessing the auction and the date,
time and duration of the auction. During an electronic auction,
each bidder would have the capability to view his or her bid rank or
the high bid price. Bidders could increase their bid prices during
the auction. The record of the electronic auction would have to be
accessible for public inspection. An additional change would permit
a township that has complied with the advertising requirements
included in the law to provide additional public notice of the sale
by bids or public auction in any manner deemed appropriate by the
township. Passed: 49-0.
House Resolution 382
(Frankel) is a concurrent resolution urging Congress to reauthorize
the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.
Adopted by Voice Vote.
