Senate Approves Bill Targeting Home Improvement Scams

Another bill would expand jury pool eligibility

Legislation to protect state residents from home improvement scams was approved by the Senate as part of its legislative agenda during the week of June 4, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

Senate Bill 100, approved by the Senate on Tuesday, would help local law enforcement officials crack down on disreputable contractors and it establishes strict criminal penalties and even tougher sanctions if the victim is a senior citizen.

"The truth is we need to put this legislation on the books to protect consumers, especially our older residents," Senator Robbins said. "Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous individuals out there who prey upon consumers and give a bad name to the many, many upstanding contractors out there providing good service."

SB 100 would require home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The Bureau would also maintain a toll-free number under which consumers could check on the registration status of a contractor.

The bill would also require home improvement contracts for all work that exceeds $500. And it would set down specific criteria for home improvement contracts to ensure that all parties understand the work to be completed, the time frame for completion and the total costs involved.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate unanimously approved legislation to help hospitals, doctor's offices, and health care clinics get the funding they need to create computerized systems to better diagnose and treat the patients they care for.

Senate Bill 8 would enable grant recipients to receive up to $1 million in matching funds to purchase health information technology, help pay the costs and expenses associated with implementation, and train personnel in the use of the new system. Currently, 90 percent of healthcare data information is exchanged via telephone, fax, or mail.

Senate Bill 221, approved by the Senate on Monday, would amend the Crimes Code relating to firearms, to provide members of the United States Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard on Federal active duty a 90-day extension of their license to carry a firearm if they are deployed overseas and the permit expires while they are deployed overseas.

Senate Bill 116, approved by the Senate on Tuesday, would amend the Judicial Code to allow the expansion of the county master list of prospective jurors and establishes a statewide jury information system. The list shall contain the most recent available address for prospective jurors.

Currently, counties use their rosters of registered voters to make up jury pools. SB 116 would require the following state departments to submit a list of individuals to be included in a statewide jury information system on or before June 30 of each year:

Department of Public Welfare – Every resident who receives cash assistance or food stamps.
Department of Transportation – Every resident who has been issued a driver's license.
Department of Revenue – Every resident who files a return to pay State taxes.
Department of State – Every resident who is a registered voter.

Bill honoring Flight 93 heroes headed to Governor

Legislation (Senate Bill 760) to name Route 219 in Somerset County as the "Flight 93 Memorial Highway" to honor the airliner crash in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 is headed to the Governor for enactment into law following unanimous approval by the House on Monday.

Committee roundup

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee (on Tuesday) approved Senate Bill 466, a measure introduced by Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) that would exempt temporary structures from the application process of the Universal Construction Code (UCC) if they are erected for a period less than 30 days. This exclusion would only apply to temporary structures that are used for the purposes of fairs, flea markets, arts and crafts festivals or other public celebrations.

"It's one thing if they were putting up a permanent building, but that's not the case and I believe we need to provide an exemption for those types of temporary facilities as a way to help the many charitable organizations who put up displays at fairs and other public celebrations," Senator Robbins said. "It has come to my attention these provisions are necessary to correct problems hurting charitable groups at fairs."

Over 6 million people, many from out of state, visit Pennsylvania's 116 fairs yearly. Should Pennsylvania fairs be forced to close due to unreasonable construction code requirements the economic impact would be considerable. In addition many worthwhile community organizations such as: 4-H; Future Farmers of America; local churches, Boy and Girl Scout troops; Lions, Rotary Clubs and Granges would suffer because a large portion of their operating budgets are raised at fairs, stated Senator Robbins.

In addition, SB 466 would also exempt pole barns that are constructed on agricultural fairgrounds and used for agricultural purposes and animal displays from the requirements of the UCC. The Committee also approved an amendment that pole barns would not be subject to enactment of the International Fire Code by the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions or local agencies.

The Senate Finance Committee (on Wednesday) reported out the Taxpayer Protection Act bill and Constitutional Amendment, as well as a pair of bills that would provide income tax breaks for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.

Senate Bill 7 is a Joint Resolution providing for an amendment to the Pennsylvania State Constitution that would limit state spending to the average inflation rate plus the average percentage change in state population over the three preceding years. Senate Bill 707 would provide the same limitation, but not as a Constitutional Amendment. SB 707 could be enacted this year, while the Constitutional Amendment proposed in SB 7 must be approved by the Legislature in two successive sessions and be approved by the voters as well.

The Committee also approved Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Senator Michael O'Pake, which would authorize a $250 tax credit for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to apply toward their state income tax.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi issued the following statement following a State Government Committee public hearing on Senate Bill 1, his legislation to strengthen and clarify Pennsylvania's Open Records Act (also known as the Right-to-Know Law).

"Since introducing Senate Bill 1, I've heard from many people who believe that the legal presumption should be that a government record is public unless it meets an exception specifically listed in law. That position was also advocated by several of those who testified at today's public hearing.

"I am now convinced that we should reverse the presumption in Pennsylvania's law, despite concerns that doing so could lead to an increase in litigation and delay the benefit from strengthening our Open Records Act.

"Reversing the presumption is a major change, and we need to carefully balance the right of citizens to review records with the need for appropriate exceptions to protect legitimate interests. Developing the list of exceptions should involve input from a wide spectrum of interested parties.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322