My Bills
SB 1382: John David Dryer Memorial Interchange
Designates an interchange at the intersection of Routes 136 and I-70, Washington County, as the Officer John David Dryer Memorial Interchange. Officer Dryer was a prominent veterinarian and East Washington Borough Police Officer who lost his life in the line of duty on December 19, 2011.
SB 169: Updates to the Small Games of Chance Law
Increases prize limits on Small Games of Chance for the first time since 1988 to help nonprofit associations raise revenue to support their communities and sustain their organizations.
*Many of the provisions of SB 169 were successfully signed into law on February 2, 2012, through Act 2 of 2012 (HB 169).
SB 1220: Criminal Record Expungement
Allows individuals convicted of certain nonviolent misdemeanors of the second and third degree to apply to have the record expunged if they have been free from arrest or prosecution for ten and seven years, respectively.
SB 1179: Accuracy of Speed Timing Devices
Extends the calibration cycle for certain speed timing devices from 60 to 180 days. This has proven to be a cost saving measure for local governments and no issues with calibration have been found.
SB 1386: Eliminating Costly Fuel Requirements in Western PA
Responds to current fuel shortage issues as well as advances in technology by eliminating costly mandates for low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline and Stage II vapor recovery systems. These requirements are exclusive to southwestern Pennsylvania and result in higher prices at the pump. SB 1386 would allow the Pittsburgh region to utilize the same conventional gas as the rest of the state.
SB 846 & SB 1213: Public Utility Infrastructure Improvement
SB 846 and SB 1213 would make it easier for water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities to make infrastructure improvements by enabling them to recover infrastructure investment costs in a more timely fashion. Currently, these utilities can only recover costs through expensive and time-consuming general rate cases, ultimately paid for by consumers.
*Many of the provisions in SB 846 and SB 1213 were successfully signed into law on February 14, 2012, through Act 11 of 2012 (HB 1294).
SB 1232: Redefining Motorcycle in the Vehicle Code
Includes motorcycles with two additional stabilizing wheels in the definition of “motorcycle.” This change allows the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to implement regulations and standards for motorcycles and motorcyclists that utilize rear stabilizing wheels.
*The provisions of SB 1232 were included in HB 1399, which was signed into law on December 22, 2012 (Act 129 of 2011).
SB 240: The Lupus Education and Awareness Act
Establishes a permanent program and a taskforce charged with the responsibility of working with government agencies to promote education about lupus’ symptoms, treatment and whom it affects.
SB 567: Alex’s Law
Increases penalties for drivers who operate a vehicle without a license, and further defines “habitual offender” to specifically include those convicted of driving with a suspended or revoked license where the infraction occurred as a result of a DUI. This legislation is in memory of a constituent of mine, Alexzandra Loos, who was 15 years old when she was struck and killed by such a habitual offender.
SB 707: Military Leaves of Absence
Extends to military spouses the same protections granted to members of the military when they take an educational leave of absence due to a deployment.
SB 706: Emergency Shut-off Controls for Self-service Gas Pumps
Enhances the safety of self-service gasoline pumps by updating the requirements for emergency shut-off controls. SB 706 incorporates the National Fire Protection Association standards into the Combustible and Flammable Liquids Act.
SB 848: Nursing Staff-to-Patient Ratios
Amends the Health Care Facilities Act to include specific provisions for nursing staff-to-patient ratios in various hospital units based on the nature of care provided.
SB 1231: Determination of Paternity
Requires the courts to order DNA testing, a blood test, or both when paternity is disputed in a case where a child is less than five years old. Current law only requires blood paternity testing, and the law does not allow for DNA testing when a case involves a married couple.
SB 688: Solar & Natural Gas Supply Chain
Amends the Alternative Energy Investment Act to require the Department of Community and Economic Development, in cooperation with local industrial resource centers, to develop alternative and clean energy supply chain initiatives to assist the development of clean energy industries.
SB 1229: Sales Tax on Discounted Items
Clarifies the amount considered taxable when applying a coupon or discount during purchase of an item by mandating the sales tax only be imposed on the portion remaining after the discount is applied.
SB 852: Cost Sharing for Borough Road Work
Allows for cost-sharing between PennDOT and boroughs in the Commonwealth for certain road-related work. Currently, PennDOT policy holds that a borough is solely responsible for storm water facility maintenance on state highways in the borough.
SB 1233: Licensure of Plumbing Contractors
Provides for the licensing of plumbing contractors in Pennsylvania and the establishment of the State Board of Plumbing Contractors within the Department of Labor and Industry.
SB 1219: Customer-Generator and Net-Metering
Amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to enable all electric utility customers to take advantage of the benefits of net metering through virtual meter aggregation.
SB 708: Gun Owner Rights
Protects the rights of law-abiding gun owners during declared states of disaster emergencies by forbidding the Commonwealth from seizing legally-held firearms.
SB 1230: Auto Sales in Multiple Locations
Allows licensed vehicle salespersons to utilize their license to sell vehicles for up to three separate dealers. Currently, auto salespersons are only permitted to do business at one dealership.
SB 709: Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association Funding
Allows funds donated to fire companies to be used for emergency medical services (EMS) training and paramedic training.
SB 928: National Integration of Pennsylvania’s Instant Check System for Firearms Purchase
Revises Pennsylvania’s system of background checks for firearms dealers by integrating the Pennsylvania Instant Check System into the FBI’s National Instant Check System (NICS). Integration into the NICS could save the state over $2 million.
SB 1240: Mine Safety Workers Retirement
Allows certain mine workers employed by the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety in DEP to purchase credit for prior non-state service that is required for their employment and certification by DEP.
SB 710: “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”
Designates March 30 of each year as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”
SB 1009: Sleep Centers Designation
Standardizes the licensing and regulation of sleep centers by amending the Health Care Facility Act to add a definition for “sleep center” and include them among the health care facilities that are overseen by the Department of Health.
SB 1010: Emergency Vehicle Definition Expansion
Amends the definition of “emergency vehicle” to include an official or privately owned vehicle used in answering an emergency call when operated by a chief or operations director of a county hazardous materials response team.
SB 1015: “Military Airborne Unit” Special License Plates
Amends the Vehicle Code to provide for a special registration plate for veterans and members of the United States military airborne units.
SB 1235: Third Class City Fire Tax
Gives Third Class cities the option to levy and collect a fire tax not to exceed three mills. The revenues from this tax may be used to purchase, renew or repair fire equipment, to provide training of fire personnel and purchase and erect a fire house.
SB 847: “Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Business” Registration Plates
Allows owners of miscellaneous motor vehicle businesses with established places of business to display a special registration plate when the vehicle is operated on the highway in lieu of registering each vehicle individually.
SB 849: Utility Economic and Environmental Impact Study
Directs the Public Utility Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study to assess the impact of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS) on the commonwealth’s manufacturing economy, energy prices, energy production and consumption, real personal income, and the gross domestic product.
SB 1212: Pennsylvania First Act
Amends the Commonwealth Procurement Code by providing Pennsylvania companies first preference in state contracting matters.
SB 1031 and SB 1032: Pension Increase for Paralyzed Veterans and Blind Veterans
Assists disadvantaged veterans by increasing the pension for paralyzed and blind veterans for the first time since 1999 from $150 to $200 per month.
SB 1236: Municipal Electrical Authorities under the PUC
Provides for the oversight of municipal electric authorities by the Public Utility Commission to ensure that the operations of these authorities receive the same oversight as other entities involved in electricity.
SB 851: Contributions to the Lupus Foundation
Allows Pennsylvanians to designate a portion of their state income tax refund to benefit the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania or the Lupus Foundation of America’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.
SB 1011: Blood-Borne Pathogen Standard Act
Requires the Department of Health to adopt a blood-borne pathogen standard to govern emergency services personnel and public health care employees’ exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
SB 1218: Prescription Drug Donation Program
Establishes a board charged with launching a program under which health-care facilities and pharmacies may voluntarily work together to repackage and redistribute donated drugs to applicable clinics. These drugs would then be supplied to eligible residents.
SB 1012: Updating the Private Detective Act
Improves the protection and security of all Pennsylvanians by amending and updating the Private Detective Act of 1953 to ensure this Act is current with crimes that have been added to the Crimes Code post 9/11.
SB 1013: EMS Direct Reimbursement
Requires insurers that handle and approve claims in which emergency service entities incur an expense to directly reimburse the emergency service organization.
SB 1215: Firefighter Retirement
Defines Commonwealth Firefighters and Firefighter Instructors as state employees for purposes of eligibility in the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System.
SB 1014: Telephone Solicitation Calls
Amends the Telemarketer Registration Act of 1996 to further define the term “telephone solicitation call” and place restrictions on the exemption of organizations granted tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
SB 1016: Lethal Weapons Training for Officers
Provides for the training and licensing of watch guards, protective patrolmen, detectives and criminal investigators carrying and using lethal weapons in their employment.
SB 1214: Freedom to Breastfeed Act
Protects the rights of women to breastfeed at work.
SB 1216: Substitute Teacher Unemployment
Provides eligibility for unemployment compensation to ancillary employees of all educational institutions located in the Commonwealth.
SB 1217: Economic Development and Fiscal Accountability Act
Requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to submit an annual economic development budget report to provide for greater departmental accountability.
SB 1234: Onsite Sewage Systems
Exempts property owners from having to acquire a permit or plan revision for the installation of an individual onsite sewage system for a residential structure on a contiguous tract of land of 100 acres or more.
SR 166: Study on Natural Gas Conversion for State Fleet Vehicles
Directs the Department of General Services to engage in a study to determine the associated costs and feasibility of converting and retrofitting State-owned vehicles with compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas engines for the purpose of modernizing the State fleet.
SR 167: Gateway Tolling Study Resolution
Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on the fiscal impact of gateway tolling on interstate highways in Pennsylvania.
