State Arts Grants Awarded for Mercer County Programs

"This budget moves us a step closer to the sort of affordable and sensible state budget that Pennsylvania taxpayers want to see. It is far preferable to the plan Governor Rendell recommended in February, which was heavy on tax hikes and new programs, and it is much better than what the House Democrats voted for several weeks ago, which was essentially the governor's plan with the tax increases needed next year instead of this year."

-- Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster) on committee passage of a state budget that reduces the governor's proposed spending plan by $329 million.

NO TAX, LOW SPENDING STATE BUDGET CLEARED BY SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), approved a state budget plan Wednesday that meets the core goals of Senate Republicans – containing no tax increases, limiting state spending, and foregoing new programs that will rise sharply in cost in subsequent years.

Cuts totaling $329 million were made, dropping the overall spending increase to just 2.3 percent, including supplemental spending requested by the governor. The plan is now before the full Senate.

THE SENATE ON TUESDAY GAVE FINAL APPROVAL of significant reforms to the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax and sent the legislation to the governor to be signed into law.

The Senate concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 218, sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh).

The measure will end the lump-sum maximum payment of $52 and set specific restrictions on how taxing entities may use revenues raised by the levy. It also requires that the tax be withheld on a payroll-period basis with a maximum deduction of $1 per week. Employers will be required to send collections on a quarterly basis. Those earning $12,000 or less per year are exempted from paying the tax.

Senate Bill 218 would rename the tax as the “Local Services Tax" and requires that a minimum of 25 percent of the total revenue collected must go to support emergency services including police, fire and emergency medical services operations. The remaining revenues could be used for road construction and maintenance, and property tax relief.

THE SENATE ON WEDNESDAY CONCURRED with House amendments to Senate Bill 437, a bill to reform the state Uniform Construction Code, and sent it on to the governor to be signed into law.

Senate Bill 437, sponsored by Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), will amend the UCC by repealing a new mandate that took effect in January. Under the mandate, all new residential construction is now required to have "anchor bolts" when the foundation and retaining walls are built, which could increase home building costs by as much as $3,000. The requirement was designed primarily for coastal areas and earthquake-prone regions.

COMMITTEE APPROVES ERICKSON PLAN TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) to reduce the number of health care‑associated infections in the Commonwealth was approved by the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday.

The committee, chaired by Senator Erickson, approved Senate Bill 968, which would establish the roles of health care facilities and state government in reducing the incidence of infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that infections acquired in health care facilities affect 2 million patients a year in the United States, with more than 100,000 dying from bacteria that are increasingly resistant to common antibiotics.

"Infections are not a necessary byproduct of health care. And, the provisions contained in Senate Bill 968 will ensure that our hospitals and nursing homes use proven tools and protocols to reduce infections in Pennsylvania, improve quality of care, improve safety for both patients and health care workers, and reduce health care costs," said Senator Erickson. (For more on Senate Bill 968, please see Fast Facts, below.)

THE SENATE AGING AND YOUTH COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), advanced legislation Tuesday that would give families information on the licensure status of facilities that provide care to the elderly and disabled.

Senate Bill 811, sponsored by Sen. Vance, would require the creation of a web site with licensing and certification information on nursing homes, personal care homes and domiciliary care homes. The data would include information on violations of statute or regulation by the facility and any corrective action taken.

The senator disclosed that three personal care homes in the central region of the state have been operating on licenses that expired in 2005. Many other personal care homes' licenses have been expired for more than a year. This information was uncovered in a limited survey done by the Association of Personal Care Administrators.

The Department of Public Welfare recently was forced to disclose that 73 percent of personal care homes in the state have not been inspected on time. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

SENATORS UNVEIL PLAN FOR TRAVELER INFORMATION SERVICE TO MAKE ROADS SAFER

Seeking to prevent traffic tie ups and make state roads safer, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) and Sen. Roger Madigan (R-Bradford) have introduced legislation to provide Pennsylvania drivers with access to around-the-clock information about traffic and road conditions through a new 511 Traveler Information Service.

Senator Baker, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, and Senator Madigan, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said their legislation would help the Commonwealth streamline the current, multiple traveler call lines, operated by various agencies. It would provide one call line with up-to-date information on everything from road conditions to accidents and detours. (For more on the 511 Traveler Information Service, please see In the Spotlight, below.)
-- Senator Baker

SEN. CORMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO REQUIRE WEB POSTING OF STATE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Stressing that taxpayers should have access to records on state government spending, Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) has introduced legislation to require the state Treasury Department to post contracts, or detailed summaries, on the internet for public review.

Senate Bill 914 is part of an ongoing effort by the Senate to make state government operations more transparent and improve accountability. Sen. Corman’s bill has the support of Senate Leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), who sponsored legislation to strengthen the state's Open Records Act (SB 1) and require government salaries to be posted online (SB 729).

Current law requires state agencies to provide a copy of all contracts $5,000 or more to the Treasury Department within 10 days and to make them available to the public for inspection, but there is no requirement that any information be posted online. Among other provisions, Senator Corman's bill would require the Treasury Department to post contracts or detailed summaries on its website.

Following the Valentine's Day Storm in February, it was determined that the use of multiple phone lines not only created confusion, but also prevented travelers from getting information quickly and accurately.

The proposed legislation would require PennDOT to lead the overall implementation and deployment of the traveler information system in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and local entities.

The Federal Communications Commission designated 511 as the national traveler information phone number in July 2000, in response to a 1999 U.S. Department of Transportation petition. The national 511 project has documented that regions with traveler information systems report improvements in roadway efficiencies, air quality, and traveler safety.

Senator Madigan said: "Twenty-seven states have implemented the service, which is part of a nationwide effort to provide consistent and reliable traveler information. It will go a long way to simplify getting road reports to motorists and help ensure uniform sharing of information from several state agencies."