Adjust Text Size

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2011

Senate Weekly Session Wrap

Important Harrisburg Happenings:

Senate Bill 1 Would Provide New Options for Families

The Senate approved legislation on October 26th to provide families with new and expanded options to ensure their children, particularly those in underachieving schools, receive a quality education.

Senate Bill 1, which I co-sponsored, would create an opportunity scholarship program for low-income families trapped in failing schools, expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and reform Pennsylvania's current charter school law.

Under the bill, opportunity scholarships would be available beginning next year for students in low achieving schools ranked in the bottom five percent of schools in Pennsylvania. Beginning in year two, opportunity scholarships would be available for all students residing in attendance boundaries of schools in the bottom five percent.

The bill would expand the EITC program from $75 million to $100 million in the first year and to $125 million in year three.

SB 1 would reform Pennsylvania's Charter and Cyber Charter School Law by: establishing a standard application for all applicants; lengthening the initial term and renewal term for a charter school; clarifying the illegality of enrollment caps for charters; and, providing for direct pay.

More information about specific provisions of SB 1 can be found by clicking here. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

Governor Signs Teen Driver Bill

Governor Corbett signed into law on October 25th a measure intended to increase safety among Pennsylvania's most inexperienced drivers. Act 81 of 2011 limits the number of passengers who may ride in a vehicle operated by a junior driver.

The Senate approved the legislation on September 26th.

The new law prohibits a junior driver from having more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not a member of the junior driver's immediate family unless the junior driver is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

That provision applies for the first six months after the issuance of a junior driver's license. After the six-month period expires, a junior driver is limited to no more than three passengers under the age of 18 who are not members of the driver's immediate family unless the driver is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The new law also requires that minors with a learner's permit complete 65 hours of practical driving, including no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving and five hours of inclement weather driving before testing for a junior driver's license.

Senate Report:

Abandoned Tenant Property Measure Sent to House

The Senate approved legislation on October 25th that will set statewide timeframes for the disposition of personal property abandoned when a tenant leaves a rental unit.

Senate Bill 887, which I introduced, specifically defines the respective rights and duties of tenants and landlords when a tenant leaves behind personal property following the termination of the tenant's occupation of the premises. SB 887 is now before the House Urban Affairs Committee for consideration.

Currently, there is no statewide standard as to what to do with personal property that is left behind by a tenant when they relinquish possession of a rental property. The lack of such guidelines creates confusion with regard to a landlord's obligation on how to treat such property and for what length of time and on the other side, tenants have no clear procedure or confidence that such property will be properly maintained and can be retrieved.

The legislation requires the landlord to notify the tenant of abandoned personal property.  Within 10 days of receiving notification, the tenant must contact the landlord and declare his or her intentions to retrieve the property.  If the tenant does not respond to the notification, the landlord may dispose of the property at the end of 10 days. 

If the tenant does make contact to the landlord within the 10 days, the landlord must hold the property for 30 days, but the tenant will be responsible for any storage fees incurred during that time period.

Senate Approves Resource Extraction Options on State Land

The Senate approved legislation on October 26th that would provide new options for the leasing of state-owned real property for mining or removal of valuable coal, oil, natural gas, coal bed methane, limestone and mineral resources.

Senate Bill 367, which I co-sponsored, would give the Department of General Services (DGS) the option to make and execute the contracts or leases.

Currently, only a few state agencies such as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission are authorized by law to enter into leases for resource development. 

Under SB 367, also known as the "Indigenous Mineral Resources Incentives Development Act," payments or royalties received pursuant to contracts or leases on state-owned land will be equally apportioned into four areas: the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund; the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST); the Commonwealth Financing Authority's H2O PA program; and, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund.

That formula would only apply to revenues from leases on state-owned lands. A separate formula would be used for revenues from leases of land owned by Pennsylvania's state-owned universities. 

Forty percent of the payments or royalties received pursuant to contracts or leases on State System of Higher Education land would be retained by the university where the resources are located and 60 percent would be allocated for distribution among the member universities where no leases exist under a formula determined by the Board of Governors. SB 367 requires that universities use the funds for deferred maintenance or energy efficiency or energy cost savings projects.

SB 367 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Approves Red-Light Cameras Legislation

Nineteen cities across Pennsylvania would be authorized to enact ordinances to use red-light cameras to improve traffic safety at intersections under Senate Bill 595, which was approved by the Senate on October 25th.

SB 595, which I co-sponsored, permits Pennsylvania cities with a population greater than 18,000 and a full-time police force to install red-light cameras. Cameras are already used in Philadelphia; this bill would permit Pittsburgh, Scranton and 17 third-class cities to use the cameras, if approved by the local city council.

A violation under this program would result in a fine of $100 unless a lesser amount is set by local ordinance. No driver's license points will be issued for violations and violations cannot be considered in ratings for car insurance.

All funds generated by the program would go to the state's Motor License Fund and would be used by the Department of Transportation for transportation safety projects. Half of the fines would be used for local projects in the cities that implement the systems; the other half would go to municipalities across the state.

Approximately 500 cities in 25 states now use red-light cameras. According to a report from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent, nonprofit organization, there was a 24 percent reduction in fatalities caused by drivers running red lights in cities where cameras are installed.

SB 595 is now before the House Transportation Committee for consideration.

Contact:

Matt Moyer
(610) 366-2327