Senate Acts to Keep State Police Barracks Open

Committee reviews security on Pennsylvania's college campuses

Harrisburg - Keeping State Police barracks open around the clock, permitting dogs to be used when hunting turkeys, and security on Pennsylvania's college campuses were among the issues considered by the Senate during the session week of April 30, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 318, a bill that increases the compliment of the State Police from 3940 enlisted members to 4310 members and requires barracks to be open to the public 24 hours a day.

"This legislation is necessary since the Administration is considering plans to close some State Police barracks after business hours," Senator Robbins said. "That is a bad policy decision. The truth is crime doesn’t stop at the end of the business day, in fact the evening and overnight hours are when it is most prevalent."

Also on Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 580, a measure that would amend the State Game Code to make it lawful to use a dog to pursue, chase, scatter and track wild turkeys during the fall wild turkey season.

The Senate approved three bills on Tuesday to eliminate the obsolete position of elected assessor in the Borough Code (SB 635) and the First Class Township Code (SB 709). SB 636 would eliminate references to Borough and First Class Township assessors in the Fourth through Eighth Class County Code.

"The elected assessor position is unnecessary at the municipal level since counties are already required to perform those assessments," Senator Robbins said. "Even though many of these positions are simply unfilled in many municipalities, local governments and counties are still required to spend the time, effort, and money to put the position on the ballot."

By eliminating the locally-elected position, counties will save money in ballot printing costs, election certification procedures and other duties associated with locally elected positions. Locally elected assessors were eliminated in other classes of municipalities in Pennsylvania through previously enacted legislation.

On Tuesday, The Senate confirmed the nominations of Robin Wiessmann to serve as State Treasurer and Frank J. Sullivan as a Brigadier general in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

Committee Roundup

The state Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday to review security at Pennsylvania's institutions of higher education.

The committee received input from representatives of state, state-related, and private colleges and universities, as well as community colleges. The recent shootings at Virginia Tech University raised questions about adequate response and communication during campus emergencies.

At a separate meeting, the Education Committee approved legislation requiring the Department of Education to annually provide detailed information on Governor Edward Rendell’s key spending initiatives.

The bills would require the Department of Education to provide the General Assembly with annual reports on the operation of the Educational Assistance Tutoring Program, the Classrooms For The Future Lap-top Computer Program, The Science - Its Elementary Program, the Project 720 High School Reform Initiative, and the E-Fund Program.

The Governor has requested a total of $116 million for the Classrooms For The Future, Science - Its Elementary and Project 720 Programs in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. He has also requested $66 million for the Educational Assistance Tutoring Program.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322