Senate confirms Banking Sec'y, approves mine family bill

Committee approves bill mandating sex offenders register email addresses

The Senate opened its fall session season by kicking off a special session on energy, confirming a new state Banking Secretary, approving legislation that would provide assistance to the families of miners, and holding several committee meetings, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

Even though the Special Session on Energy officially kicked off on Monday, the Senate had already started working on the issue with a series of hearings by its Environmental Resources and Energy Committee over the past few months. That committee held another hearing on Wednesday focusing on alternative fuel mandates. Senator Robbins is working with a number of Republican senators on various pieces of energy-related legislation that is expected to come before the Senate later this fall.

The Senate filled one of two cabinet vacancies on Tuesday with the confirmation of Steven Kaplan to serve as Secretary of Banking. Kaplan, 55, was previously chief of staff for Mellon Financial Corporation's Mid-Atlantic Region and chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Charitable Trusts. Kaplan was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended the city's public schools. He earned a B.A. in English from Temple University and then a J.D. from the University's law school in 1977.

In the aftermath of mining disasters out west and just a few weeks after the fifth anniversary of the miracle rescue at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, the Senate approved and sent to the Governor's desk House Bill 483, which would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to develop a "Mine Families First" response and communications plan.

The plan would outline the steps to be taken by the state and mine owners and operators in communicating with the families of those miners involved in an emergency. Namely, this legislation would ensure that families are notified of developments before the news media and given privacy. The department would also be required to designate and train mine family liaisons.

"Hopefully, we will never need to utilize the measures developed by this legislation," Senator Robbins said. "But, the truth is these disasters do occur and Pennsylvania must have a plan in place to help the miners and their families."

Committee Actions

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation on Wednesday cosponsored by Senator Robbins that would require convicted sex offenders to register their email addresses and online screen names with state authorities.

Senate Bill 490 would require sex offenders to provide that information to the Pennsylvania State Police as well as the state Board of Probation and Parole. Currently, sex offenders are required to register their residential addresses, employment and/or student information with authorities.

"It is well known that sex predators use the anonymity provided by the internet as well as its popularity among young people to stalk their victims," Senator Robbins said. "By requiring that convicted offenders register their email addresses and screen names we not only can monitor their actions, but we also put them on notice that their activities can and will be monitored."

In addition to the requirement that offenders register their information, SB 490 also requires those who change their email addresses and/or instant messaging screen name to report those changes to state authorities within 48 hours.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322