| HB 164 | Payne | (PN 190) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary) providing for sentences relating to rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, offenses against children, and registered sexual offenders; adding an offense for harboring a registered sex offender. The legislation also provides for probationary supervision of registered sex offenders, creates an alert system utilizing GPS technology, provides for restricted travel, and for child protective zones. |
| Bill History: |
01-31-07 H Filed 02-01-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary |
| HB 477 | Nickol | (PN 534) Amends the Public School Code providing for cyber alternative education programs by stating that an applicant may establish a cyber alternative education program. Such program would be considered an alternative education program for the purposes of applying for grant funding. An applicant seeking funding for a cyber alternative education program may: (1) operate the program; (2) contract with a private alternative education institution for disruptive students; or (3) contract with a cyber charter school. The placement of a student in a cyber alternative education program would satisfy the provisions governing exclusions from school, in-school suspension and hearings. |
| Bill History: |
02-16-07 H Filed 02-26-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Education |
| HB 537 | Eachus | (PN 607) Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act adding definitions; further providing for the Health Venture Investment Account; establishing the Biotechnology Commercialization Account; further providing for the investment of fund and accounts; providing for authorized investment for the Biotechnology Commercialization Account; and further providing for use of the Tobacco Settlement Fund and for regional biotechnology research centers. |
| Bill History: |
05-08-07 H Laid on the table 05-21-07 H Removed from the table 05-21-07 H Rereferred to House Appropriations |
| HB 944 | Frankel | (PN 1110) Amends the PA Industrial Development Authority Act including biotechnology enterprises and small business incubators within the scope of the act; and further regulating loans to industrial development agencies. |
| Bill History: |
03-29-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Commerce 06-26-07 H Meeting set for 9:00 a.m., Room 60 East Wing House Commerce 06-26-07 H Meeting cancelled for 06/26/07 House Commerce |
| HB 976 | Bennington | (PN 1139) Amends the act entitled "An act creating and establishing the Legislative Data Processing Committee: providing for its membership; prescribing its powers, functions and duties; and making an appropriation" directing the committee to provide open web based public access to statutes in computer information systems. |
| Bill History: |
06-27-07 H Third consideration 06-27-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:200/N: 0) 06-30-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Rules and Executive Nominations |
| HB 981 | Santoni | (PN 1142) The Electronic Transmission of Fingerprints Act requires the Commissioner of the PA State Police to submit a plan to the Governor and the General Assembly for implementing the electronic transmission of fingerprints by the PA State Police to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for any individual whose Federal criminal history record information is required by Federal or State law as a condition of employment or as a volunteer or person with unsupervised access to children, the elderly or individuals with disabilities. The plan would contain the following: (1) the extent to which the electronic transmission of fingerprints rather than transmission of fingerprint cards will expedite the retrieval of Federal criminal history record information and accelerate the application process; (2) state costs for implementing the electronic transmission of fingerprints for purposes of obtaining Federal criminal history record information for noncriminal justice purposes; (3) recommendations for changes in fees for requests for Federal or State criminal history record information; and (4) whether the PA State Police or a private entity under contract with the Commonwealth should administer requests for Federal or State criminal record history information for noncriminal justice purposes. |
| Bill History: |
03-29-07 H Filed 03-29-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary |
| HB 1142 | Wagner |
(PN 2015) Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act further providing for
definitions, for investment of fund and accounts, for use of Tobacco
Settlement Fund, for the establishment of a health research advisory
committee, for department responsibilities, for National Institutes of
Health funding formula and specified accountability procedures for those
who receive grants and for regional biotechnology research centers;
establishing the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund Program, the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund
Board and the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund; and providing for the sale or
assignment of Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program receipts
and for the issuance of Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program
bond. The Biotechnology Commercialization Account within the Tobacco
Settlement Fund is created and the legislation clarifies that all proceeds
received as a result of investments from the Health Venture Investment
Account would be deposited into the Health Venture Investment Account and
all proceeds received as a result of investments from the Biotechnology
Commercialization Account would be deposited into the Biotechnology
Commercialization Account. The bill further states that investments would
be subject to the board's prudent discretion. The percentage for the funds
deposited by the Legislature for the expansion of the PACENET program is
decreased from eight to four percent while two percent would be deposited
into both the Health Venture Investment Account and the Biotechnology
Commercialization Account. The health research program advisory committee
would be required to meet at least once a year (decreased from twice).
Research grants may be awarded for a period not to exceed five years
(increased from four). Requirements for grants given to institutions with
funding from the National Institutes of Health are further provided for in
the bill as are application requirements for commercialization activities
for regional biotechnology research centers and information they are
required to report upon. The bill also adds Chapter 29, "Bioscience
Research Development" which creates the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund Program and
establishes criteria for the application process for funding and approvals.
It also creates the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund Board and established the
board's makeup and duties. (Prior Printer Number: 1562, 1913, 1975)
|
| Bill History: |
06-25-07 H Third consideration 06-25-07 H Final Passage (Vote: Y:103/N: 98) 07-14-07 S Received in the Senate and referred to Senate Finance |
| HB 1227 | Fleck |
(PN 3196) The Science Technology Partnership Act would establish the
Science Technology Partnership Program to improve science education in
public schools, school districts and nonpublic schools that are members of
science technology partnerships by: (1) making scientific or technical
equipment available to students, (2) augmenting the science curriculum, and
(3) providing additional professional development opportunities to
educators in the sciences. The department would award grants of up to $200,000
per subject area, including chemistry, biology, physics, earth and
space, for each qualified applicant higher education institution. Grants
would be used for the purchase or lease of scientific or technical
equipment and for the development of programs of instruction for members of
a partnership. The bill also states that a higher education institution may
form a science technology partnership with three or more public and
nonpublic schools or school districts. The bill also creates the Science
Education Innovation Grants Program to be awarded to school districts with
hands-on, inquiry-based learning for students. (Prior Printer Number: 1512)
|
| Bill History: |
02-07-08 H Set on the Tabled Calendar 02-07-08 H Removed from the table 02-07-08 H Rereferred to House Appropriations |
| HB 1304 | Fairchild |
(PN 3534) Amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) creating the
Pennsylvania Geospatial Coordinating Advisory Council Act. The bill
establishes the Pennsylvania Geospatial Coordinating Advisory Council
within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and provides
for its general and discretionary powers. The council would encourage
cooperation and cost-sharing among Federal, State and local government
agencies, academic institutions and the private sector to improve the
quality, access, cost-effectiveness and utility of Pennsylvania's
geospatial information and to promote geospatial information and technology
as a strategic resource in this Commonwealth. The council would report at
least annually to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore, the Speaker of
the House and its membership on the status of recommended improvements of
geospatial technology in Pennsylvania. The bill also creates the
Pennsylvania Mapping and Geospatial Technologies Fund to be used for
administrative and personnel costs of the council and its staff and to
further the purpose of the council. (Prior Printer Number: 1609)
|
| Bill History: |
04-07-08 H Set on the Tabled Calendar 04-07-08 H Removed from the table 04-07-08 H Rereferred to House Appropriations |
| HB 1321 | Harhart | (PN 1770) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary) further providing for sex offender information made available on the Internet to include the street address and name of any employment location. |
| Bill History: |
05-11-07 H Filed 06-05-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Judiciary |
| HB 1337 | Stern | (PN 1679) Amends Titles 15 (Corporations & Unincorporated Associations) & 54 (Names) defining "official notice"; providing for official notice requiring the Department of State to establish a certain Internet website; further providing for advertisements by domestic business corporations, by foreign business corporations, domestic nonprofit corporations, foreign nonprofit corporations, domestic cooperative corporation ancillaries, limited partnerships, foreign limited partnerships and limited liability companies and for fictitious name registration; and making an editorial change. |
| Bill History: |
05-18-07 H Filed 05-24-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Commerce |
| HB 1339 | Reichley | (PN 1681) Amends the Tax Reform Code establishing a tax credit for donating used computers to a charitable organization, volunteer firemen's organization, nonprofit education institution or religious organization. Additionally, "taxable income" relating to the corporate net income tax is further defined to state an additional deduction would be allowed from taxable income in the amount of the fair market value of a used computer donated to a charitable organization, volunteer firemen's organization, nonprofit education institution or religious organization. |
| Bill History: |
05-18-07 H Filed 05-24-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Finance |
| HB 1646 | Grucela | (PN 2121) Amends the Public School Code providing for technology grants to be allocated to intermediate units who would purchase and loan equipment to children based on the per capita formula established by the Secretary of Education to benefit students in nonpublic and private schools. In July of 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Education would allocate to each intermediate unit an amount equal to the number of nonpublic school students as of October 1 of the preceding school year who are enrolled in nonpublic schools within the intermediate unit times $30. |
| Bill History: |
06-26-07 H Filed 06-27-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Education |
| HB 1712 | O'Neill |
(PN 4078) Amends the Public School Code stating that the Secretary of
Education would establish State standards for business, computer and
information technology courses no later than June 30, 2009. (Prior Printer
Number: 2273)
|
| Bill History: |
06-26-08 H Reported as amended House Education 06-26-08 H First consideration 06-26-08 H Rereferred to House Rules |
| HB 1827 | Shapiro | (PN 2428) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) prohibiting operators from using handheld mobile telephones, with certain exceptions. A person who violates this prohibition commits a summary offense and would be sentenced to pay a fine of $50. |
| Bill History: |
10-15-07 H Public hearing held in committee House Transportation 03-05-08 H Hearing set for 1:00 p.m., Regional Enterpr...House Transportation 03-05-08 H Discussed in public hearing on driving issues House Transportation |
| HB 1900 | Goodman | (PN 2599) Amends Title 25 (Elections) prohibiting political cyberfraud, and rating the offense as a misdemeanor of the first degree. |
| Bill History: |
10-03-07 H Filed 10-04-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House State Government |
| SB 8 | Wonderling |
(PN 1091) The Medical Safety Automation Fund (M-SAF) Act would establish a
medical safety automation fund to provide grants to health care providers
or regional health information organizations to implement medical safety
automation systems. The medical safety automation fund would provide grants
for the following: (1) Purchase of health information technology necessary
to create an interoperable and integrated medical safety automation system,
(2) Payment of costs and expenses associated with preparation of plans,
specifications, studies and surveys necessary to determine the scope of a
medical safety automation system and the practicality and effectiveness of
its use, and (3) Training of personnel in the use of a medical safety
automation system. The amount of a grant to any specific health care
provider or regional medical safety automation organization would not
exceed $1,000,000 and an applicant for a grant would provide matching funds
in the amount of 100% of the amount of the grant. If the applicant is a
community-based health care provider, the applicant would provide matching
funds in the amount of 50% of the grant. The bill states that to be
eligible for a grant, a health care provider must provide medically
necessary services to individuals regardless of the individual's ability to
pay for the services and must be a participating provider with the
Department of Public Welfare's for individuals eligible for medical
assistance. The bill adds that a health care provider or regional health
information organization must comply with standards adopted by the federal
office of the national coordinator for health information technology. The
department would develop a methodology to determine the grant amount to be
awarded. (Prior Printer Number: 477, 896, 1089)
|
| Remarks: | Without an increase in overall taxation, the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange support full-funding for this legislation to advance patient safety technologies and healthcare quality in Pennsylvania. |
| Bill History: |
06-20-07 H Received in the House and referred to House Health and Human Services 04-09-08 H Discussed in public hearing on PA Health Cl...Senate Public Health and Welfare 06-10-08 H Discussed in HealthNET PA press conf. by Senate Republicans on 6/10/08 |
| SB 9 | Scarnati |
(PN 1924) The Proof of Citizenship for Receipt of Public Benefits Act would
require anybody who applies for public benefits to provide certain
identification and execute an affidavit stating that the person is a U.S.
citizen or legal permanent resident or is otherwise lawfully present in the
U.S. This requirement would not apply to a person under 18 years of age; a
person currently receiving supplemental security income or Social Security
disability income; a person entitled to or enrolled in Medicare Part A or
Part B or both; or a person applying for public benefits on behalf of a
person under 18 years of age. The agency receiving this affidavit would
have to keep it on file. Agencies that administer public benefits have to
verify, through the SAVE program, that each applicant who has executed an
affidavit is an alien legally present in the U.S. Penalties are further
provided for in the bill. (Prior Printer Number: 763, 1771, 1870, 1915)
|
| Bill History: |
04-09-08 S Vote on final passage reconsidered 04-09-08 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 39/N: 10) 04-15-08 H Received in the House and referred to House State Government |
| SB 84 | Tomlinson | (PN 118) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) providing for the offense of phishing by stating that an individual commits the offense of phishing under the following circumstances if the individual, with the intent to defraud or injure anyone or with the knowledge that a fraud is being facilitated or that an injury is being perpetrated by anyone: (1) the individual makes a communication under false pretenses by or on behalf of a legitimate business, without the authority or approval of the business; (2) the individual uses the communication to induce, request or solicit a person to provide identifying information; and (3) the person provides the identifying information to the individual or an accomplice. It would also be a violation for person to sell or distribute any identifying information obtained with the intent to defraud or injure anyone or with the knowledge that a fraud is being facilitated or that any injury is being perpetrated by anyone. The bill also states that the Attorney General would have the authority to investigate and to institute criminal proceedings for any violation or series of violations involving more than one county within the Commonwealth or another state. |
| Bill History: |
02-13-07 S Filed 02-13-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Communications and Technology |
| SB 198 | Kasunic | (PN 240) The Student Internet Access Act requires each school district to establish a program to monitor and control Internet access by students through the purchase of Internet content control software that will allow the school to monitor and control which Internet sites its students will be enabled to access. Each school district, through its board of school directors, would be required to implement a policy for the use of Internet content control software. The department would, upon written application, award grants to school districts from the Internet Content Control Software Fund, established by the legislation, for the purchase of Internet content control software authorized by this act. The fund would be funded by 0.151% of tax receipts under Article II of the Tax Reform Code of 1971. |
| Bill History: |
03-07-07 S Filed 03-07-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Education |
| SB 378 | Tomlinson | (PN 422) Amends the New Economy Technology Scholarship Act further providing for definitions and for scholarships by removing the requirement that an eligible recipient must be a resident of PA. Additionally, the average GPA required is reduced to 2.75 (from 3.0). The work requirement would be postponed in instances where a technology recipient maintains full-time enrollment in a baccalaureate degree program within one year of successful completion of the program for which NETS funds were awarded. SciTech Scholarships are increased to $4,000 (from $3,000) per academic year and would apply for up to four academic years, or five years if the student is enrolled in an approved course of study that requires five academic years to complete. Technology Scholarships are increased to $2,000 (from $1,000) per academic year. |
| Bill History: |
03-13-07 S Filed 03-13-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Education |
| SB 388 | Corman | (PN 436) The Workplace Electronic Message Monitoring Act provides for employees to be notified of electronic monitoring by employers unless the employer has reasonable grounds to believe that a particular employee has violated the legal rights of the employer, involves significant harm to a the employer or another person, and the monitoring is reasonably calculated to lead to evidence of such conduct. An employee whose e-mail communication has been monitored in violation to this is given one year from the date to which the violation was first discovered to bring a civil action against his or her employer. If the employer is found in violation of the employee's rights, the claimant is entitled to a sum of at least $2,000 taking into account actual damages suffered, profits made by the violator, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The provisions of the act cannot apply to a criminal investigation. |
| Bill History: |
03-13-07 S Filed 03-13-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Communications and Technology |
| SB 390 | Corman |
(PN 1540) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) providing for the offense
of phishing by stating someone commits the offense of phishing if a person,
with the intent to defraud or injure anyone or with the knowledge that a
fraud is being facilitated or that an injury is being perpetrated by
another person: (1) makes a communication requesting or soliciting a person
to provide identifying information under false pretenses by or on behalf of
a legitimate business, without the authority or approval of the business;
and receives identifying information; or (2) sells or distributes any
identifying information. The bill provides for grading of the offense. The
attorney general would have the authority to investigate and to institute
criminal proceedings for any violation of this section or any series of
violations involving more than one county in PA or another state. The bill
provides for protection from liability by stating no interactive computer
service provider may be held liable for removing or disabling access to
content that resides on a website or other online location controlled or
operated by the provider which the provider believes in good faith is used
to engage in a violation of this subchapter. The bill also provides for
civil relief and civil penalties. (Prior Printer Number: 438, 1489)
|
| Bill History: |
11-19-07 S Third consideration 11-19-07 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 50/N: 0) 11-21-07 H Received in the House and referred to House Judiciary |
| SB 422 | Corman | (PN 468) Amends the act entitled "An act creating and establishing the Legislative Data Processing Committee: providing for its membership; prescribing its powers, functions and duties; and making an appropriation," by requiring the committee to provide limited public access to statutes in computer information systems for purposes of displaying, copying, and searching. |
| Bill History: |
03-14-07 S Filed 03-14-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Rules and Executive Nominations |
| SB 472 | Robbins | (PN 547) Amends the Public School Code establishing the Science Technology Partnership Program to improve science education in schools and school districts that are members of science technology partnerships by making scientific or technical equipment available to students, augmenting the science curriculum and providing additional professional development opportunities to educators in the sciences. A higher education institution may form a partnership with schools or school districts and may subcontract with a nonprofit organization in order to implement the partnership agreement. A partnership must include a minimum of three public schools or school districts. The legislation provides for criteria for funding and the form of the partnership agreement. The Secretary of Education would annually submit a report on the program to the Governor and General Assembly. |
| Bill History: |
05-13-08 S Third consideration 05-13-08 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 50/N: 0) 05-14-08 H Received in the House and referred to House Education |
| SB 700 | Ferlo | (PN 1067) Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act further providing for definitions, for investment of fund and accounts, for use of Tobacco Settlement Fund, for health research program, for department responsibilities, for National Institutes of Health funding formula and for regional biotechnology research centers; establishing the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund Program, the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund Board and the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund; and providing for the sale or assignment of Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program receipts and for the issuance of Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program bond. |
| Bill History: |
05-31-07 S Filed 05-31-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance |
| SB 711 | Gordner |
(PN 1608) The Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act provides for
the protection of consumers from having spyware deceptively installed on
their computers and for criminal and civil enforcement. Provisions detailed
in the bill include definitions, computer spyware prohibitions, control or
modification, misrepresentation and deception, nonapplicability, criminal
enforcement, penalties, civil relief and construction. (Prior Printer
Number: 925)
|
| Bill History: |
12-11-07 S Third consideration 12-11-07 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 49/N: 0) 12-13-07 H Received in the House and referred to House Judiciary |
| SB 771 | Orie | (PN 866) Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) by increasing the minimum sentence for someone convicted of an offense of rape or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. The bill adds that a consecutive term of imprisonment would be imposed for each victim of an offense if there are multiple victims. The bill also provides for the offense of loitering and prowling by sexual offenders by stating that a person subject to registration under 42 Pa.C.S. 9795.1 who intentionally loiters or maliciously prowls within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, school bus stop or day-care center when children are present commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. |
| Bill History: |
04-20-07 S Filed 04-20-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Judiciary |
| SB 806 | Browne |
(PN 935) Amends the Public School Code providing for an annual report on
the technology grant program. The bill would require the Department of
Education to annually review the operation of any state grant program
designed to provide enhanced technology, laptop computers and other
state-of-the-art resources to schools and submit this report to the Chairmen of
the Appropriation and Education Committees in the House and Senate. The
contents of the report are further provided for in the bill. (Prior Printer
Number: 904)
|
| Bill History: |
09-25-07 S Second consideration 10-23-07 S Set on the Senate Calendar 10-23-07 S Laid on the table |
| SB 807 | Rhoades |
(PN 936) Amends the Public School Code providing for an annual report on
the elementary science curriculum grant programs. The bill would require
the Department of Education to annually review the operation of any state
grant program designed to provide intensive teacher training, professional
development opportunities and teaching resources to elementary level
science teachers and submit this report to the Chairmen of the
Appropriation and Education Committees in the House and Senate. The
contents of the report are further provided for in the bill. (Prior Printer
Number: 905)
|
| Bill History: |
09-25-07 S Second consideration 10-23-07 S Set on the Senate Calendar 10-23-07 S Laid on the table |
| SB 820 | Pileggi |
(PN 1989) Amends the Telemarketer Registration Act providing a mechanism
for consumers to opt out of unwanted automatic political calls. The bill
creates a separate do-not-call list in the Attorney General's office for
automatic political calls to a residential or wireless telephone number.
The list must be completed by September 15, 2008. This list would not apply
to a call on behalf of a political candidate, political party or political
body made by an individual and not by an automatic dialing-announcing
device. A person that makes automatic political calls must obtain the
listing on a biannual basis and restrict calls to those numbers. (Prior
Printer Number: 954, 1712, 1925)
|
| Bill History: |
04-30-08 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 48/N: 1) 04-30-08 S Discussed in press conference by Sen. Pileggi on 4/30/08 05-02-08 H Received in the House and referred to House State Government |
| SB 851 | Boscola | (PN 1004) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary & Judicial Procedure) by adding that information about sex offenders made available on the Internet would include the street address of the offender. |
| Bill History: |
05-09-07 S Filed 05-09-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Judiciary |
| SB 914 | Corman | (PN 1104) The State Contract Information Act provides for the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet at the Treasury Department's website. The Act would require as a general rule for submissions and contracts whenever any Commonwealth agency would enter into any contract involving any property, real, personal or mixed of any kind or description or any contract for personal services where the consideration in the contract is $5,000 or more, a copy of contract would be furnished to the Treasury Department within ten days after the contract is executed on behalf of the Commonwealth agency or otherwise becomes an obligation of the Commonwealth agency. The bill also requires the each Commonwealth agency to provide a summary with each contract to include specific information. Requests for a copy of a contract would be allowed by letter, facsimile or e-mail and processed within five days of the submission of the request and provided to the individual at cost and electronically at no cost. |
| Bill History: |
06-06-07 S Filed 06-06-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate State Government |
| SB 976 | Baker, L | (PN 1182) Amends Title 74 (Transportation) creating a chapter on Intelligent Transportation Systems. The department would be designated the lead agency for implementing 511 service and is the point of contact for coordinating 511 service with telecommunications service providers. The department would promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement this chapter. |
| Bill History: |
01-29-08 S First consideration 02-04-08 S Set on the Senate Calendar 02-04-08 S Rereferred to Senate Appropriations |
| SB 983 | Tomlinson | (PN 1191) Amends the Public School Code providing for technology grants to be allocated to intermediate units who would purchase and loan equipment to children based on the per capita formula established by the Secretary of Education to benefit students in nonpublic and private schools. In July of 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Education would allocate to each intermediate unit an amount equal to the number of nonpublic school students as of October 1 of the preceding school year who are enrolled in nonpublic schools within the intermediate unit times $30. |
| Bill History: |
06-19-07 S Filed 06-19-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Education |
| SB 993 | Wonderling | (PN 1224) Amends the Tobacco Settlement Act further providing for definitions by adding a small business to the definition of "applicant"; for membership on the advisory committee by adding that at least one gubernatorial appointee must be a small business leader with experience in commercializing life sciences-focused research; and for department responsibilities by adding that projects must be evaluated by a peer review panel; establishing the Small Business Innovation Research Commercialization Peer Review Committee; and further providing for the use of funds by adding that 15% of the funds appropriated would be used to provide matching grants to entities conducting research through the Small Business Innovative Research program of the National Institutes of Health and Small Business Innovative Research programs operated by all other Federal agencies pursuant to certain provisions. |
| Bill History: |
06-25-07 S Filed 06-25-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance |
| SB 994 | Wonderling | (PN 1214) Amends Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations), in Commonwealth Financing Authority, further providing for First Industries Program by increasing the amount of funding that may be used for planning grants to $20 million (from $10 million). |
| Bill History: |
06-25-07 S Filed 06-25-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Community, Economic & Recreational |
| SB 1000 | Wonderling |
(PN 2228) The Voice-Over-Internet Protocol Freedom Act states no
department, agency, commission or political subdivision of PA may enact or
enforce any law, rule, regulation, standard, order or other provision
having the force or effect of law that regulates the rates, terms and
conditions of VoIP service or IP-enabled service. This act would not affect
the authority of the Office of Attorney General, nor the authority of a
state department, agency or commission to enforce applicable state statutes
or regulations related to nondiscriminatory enhanced 911 fees,
telecommunications relay service fees or Federal or State Universal Service
Fund fees on VoIP service, or mandate or prohibit the payment of any
switched network access rates or other intercarrier compensation rates that
may be determined to apply. Cable franchise authority is also preserved.
(Prior Printer Number: 1346, 1490)
|
| Bill History: |
07-03-08 G In the hands of the Governor 07-13-08 G Last day for Governor's action 07-04-08 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 0 ) |
| SB 1089 | Browne | (PN 1380) Amends the Tax Reform Code adding an article establishing an alternative energy technologies tax credit for a taxpayer who invests in alternative energy technologies. The total amount of credits approved by the department would not exceed $20,000,000 in any fiscal year. The tax credit would expire on December 31, 2012. |
| Bill History: |
09-17-07 S Filed 09-17-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance |
| SB 1090 | Browne | (PN 1381) Amends the Tax Reform Code further providing for limitation on research and development tax credits by increasing the total amount of credits approved by the department to $60 million (from $40 million) and stating that $20 million must be allocated exclusively for alternative energy research and development. |
| Bill History: |
09-17-07 S Filed 09-17-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance |
| SB 1094 | Williams, C. | (PN 1384) Act providing for electronic prescriptions by requiring health care facilities to develop a full and complete implementation plan with specific goals, key performance indicators and timelines in order to meet the following requirements: (1) Commencing September 1, 2008, every health care facility must provide easy and timely access to an e-prescribing system for use by all medical staff who have prescriptive authority in PA; (2) The e-prescribing system chosen by the health care facility must be able to monitor and notify the medical staff of potentially harmful drug interactions for each prescription filed; and (3) Thereafter, the health care facility must certify to the department on its application for license or license renewal that it provides access for all medical staff that write prescriptions to an e-prescribing system and permits its use in the facility. The bill provides for penalties. Up to $25,000,000 of the funds appropriated for the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund would be made available for grants to health care facilities to assist in acquiring the systems. Grants would not exceed 50% of a health care facility's costs. |
| Bill History: |
09-17-07 S Filed 09-17-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Public Health and Welfare |
| SB 1137 | White, D |
(PN 1838) Amends the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error
(Mcare) Act, further providing for medical professional liability insurance
by extending coverage requirement through 2008 and adding new coverage
requirements for 2009, for the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of
Error Fund by adding new liability limits for participating health care
providers and for actuarial data; establishing the Pennsylvania Access to
Basic Care (PA ABC) Program Fund and the Continuing Access with Relief for
Employers (CARE) Fund; further defining "health care provider" as a nursing
home or birthday center that is a participating health care providing or an
individual who is a physician, licensed podiatrist or certified nurse
midwife; further providing for the Health Care Provider Retention Program
by adding that abatements would continue through 2017 and providing for
eligibility; establishing the Supplemental Assistance and Funding Account
to be used annually to supplement the funding of the PA ABC program;
further providing for expiration of the Health Care Provider Retention
Program by extending the program to 2018; and repealing provisions of the
Tobacco Settlement Act. The legislation establishes the PA ABC program to
offer health care coverage to eligible adults, individuals, employees and
employers. The program would be funded by: (1) money received from the
Supplemental Assistance and Funding Account; (2) money received from the
federal government or other sources; (3) money required to be deposited
pursuant to other provisions of this chapter or any other law of this
commonwealth; (4) upon implementation of the program: only those funds
appropriated for health investment insurance under section 306(b)(1)(vi)
the tobacco settlement act, and designated for the adultBasic program; and
money currently required to be dedicated to the adultBasic program or any
alternative program to benefit persons of low income under the community
health reinvestment agreement within the respective service areas for each
party to that agreement; (5) any moneys derived from whatever sources and
designated specifically to fund the program; and (6) return on investments
in the fund. The bill provides for purchase by eligible adults and
individuals and participation by eligible employees and employees. The
department would permit the establishment of health savings accounts.
Lastly, the bill provides for Continuing Access with Relief for Employers (
CARE) Grants for employers that meet certain eligibility requirements, for
health care coverage for certain adults, individuals, employees and
employers and for expiration of certain sections. The department would
annually report to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the program,
which would sunset on January 1, 2018. The Insurance Department would
publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin when a law is enacted that
provides for or designates at least $120,000,000 for the supplemental
assistance and funding account. (Prior Printer Number: 1488, 1491, 1510,
1621, 1827)
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| Remarks: | Support with no additional increase in taxation rates or fees |
| Bill History: |
06-18-08 S Hearing set for 1:00 p.m., Room 8E-A, East ...Senate Banking and Insurance 06-18-08 S Public hearing held in committee Senate Banking and Insurance 06-25-08 S Press conference held |
| SR 118 | Piccola | (PN 986) Resolution applauding Harrisburg University of Science and Technology on the historic occasion of its inaugural commencement exercise and extending all best wishes for continued success at providing the Commonwealth and its citizens with continued returns on their investment. |
| Bill History: |
05-07-07 S Filed 05-07-07 S Introduced and adopted 05-09-07 G Transmitted as directed |