WEEKLY SESSION NOTES

 

Senate Republican Policy Committee

Sen. Joe Scarnati, Chairman

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

 

Senate Bill 983 (Wonderling) would amend the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 to require local registrars to transmit a copy of the death certificate of individuals who were at least 18 years of age at the time of their death to the county board of elections of the county in which the person resided at the time of his or her death.  The measure would also permit a local registrar to issue blank, pre-signed permits for the disposal of dead bodies and fetal remains to funeral directors.  The funeral director or person in charge of interment or removal would be required to file a certificate of death or fetal death with the local registrar within 96 hours after the death or the finding of a dead body or fetal remains.  Passed:  49-0.

 

Senate Bill 1297 (Kitchen) would designate the third Saturday in June as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day” in Pennsylvania and require the Governor to issue a proclamation each year calling upon the residents of the Commonwealth to participate in events and activities to commemorate this traditional celebration of independence, human rights, and African-American culture.  Passed:  49-0.

 

Senate Bill 1305 (Vance) would amend the Administrative Code of 1929 to establish additional provisions governing the transfer of state funds between appropriations.  Under the new provisions, transfers could only be made as expressly authorized by law.  In addition, the Secretary of the Budget would have to provide written notice of the transfer to the chairmen and minority chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees at least 10 days prior to the transfer.  Transfers would be subject to review by the Attorney General for form and legality.  A copy of the approval from the Attorney General would be submitted to the State Treasurer with the request for transfer.  Agreements between agencies or other documents providing for transfers would be deemed public records under the Right to Know Law.  The bill would also require the Secretary of the Budget to provide written notice to the chairmen and minority chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees 10 days prior to inter-fund transfers by the Treasurer and for loans from the Motor License Fund proposed under Section 11 of Article VIII of the Pennsylvania Constitution.  Passed:  28-21.

 

Senate Resolution 311 (Erickson) calls on the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct at least three public hearings throughout Delaware County to obtain additional input on its plan to divert air traffic from the Philadelphia International Airport over Delaware County and to afford residents and local government officials an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

Senate Resolution 348 (Robbins) designates the week of October 16 through 22, 2006 as “Infection Prevention Week” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  49-0.

 

Senate Resolution 365 (C. Williams) designates the month of November 2006 as “Hydrocephalus Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

 

House Bill 1285 (McCall) would amend Title 74 (Transportation) and Title 75 (Vehicles) to further provide for certain types of hearings.  The bill would amend Title 74 to prohibit the Department of Transportation from using the services of its employees as hearing officers with respect to certain activities and proceedings.  These proceedings would include:  appeals from the Department’s denial or recall of an occupational limited license; appeals from the Department’s cancellation, denial or recall of a probationary license; requests for record review; hearings to request credit toward serving driving privilege or vehicle registration suspensions; appeals from the Department’s refusal to issue a certificate of title for reasons other than failure to pay a required fee or tax in connection with or resulting from the acquisition or use of a vehicle; and, any other matter as determined by the Department by regulation.  A hearing officer utilized by the Department for these proceedings would be vested with the same authority and duties as a department hearing officer under the provisions of 67 Pa. Code Ch. 491 (relating to administrative practice and procedure.)  An adjudication by a hearing officer utilized by the Department under these provisions would be appealable in accordance with 67 Pa. Code § 491.12 (relating to exceptions). 

 

The measure would amend Title 75 to provide that a person whose operating privilege has been suspended or revoked could request, at any time during the suspension or revocation, a hearing if the person believes that credit toward the person’s suspension or revocation has not been given by the Department under Section 1540 (regarding surrender of license).  The Department would be required to provide a hearing and issue its final ruling within 60 days following the hearing or submission of any post-hearing filings.  The bill would abrogate the provisions of 67 Pa. Code § 491.3 (b) (2).  Passed:  49-0.

 

Executive Session

 

Nominations to Various Boards and Commissions.  (See Attached)  Confirmed:  49-0.