State Arts Grants Awarded for Mercer County Programs

"A sound energy policy must include efforts to expand and diversify our energy supply, while encouraging common-sense steps that can reduce demand and increase efficiency, both in our homes and businesses."

-- Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) joining with Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee Chair Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) to unveil the proposed Alternative Energy Investment Act.

OVERHAUL OF OPEN RECORDS LAW IS TOP FALL PRIORITY

THE SENATE RETURNS TO VOTING SESSION on Monday, with improvement of Pennsylvania's Open Records Law a top priority for the fall session.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) introduced Senate Bill 1 earlier this year to strengthen and expand the law. Since introducing the bill, he has announced his support for changing the presumption in the current law so that all government records are presumed to be open unless they fall under a specific exception established in law.

HEARINGS SET ON PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE FUEL MANDATE

THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), will hold the first of two public hearings Wednesday to discuss a proposed alternative fuel mandate for gasoline and diesel fuel sales within the Commonwealth.

This week marks the beginning of the General Assembly's Special Session on Pennsylvania Energy Policy. A second hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 25. (For information on the Senate Republican alternative energy plan, please see Review, below.)

COMMITTEE CONTINUES HEARINGS INTO FISCAL HEALTH OF PA CITIES

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, chaired by Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny), will hold a public hearing Thursday in Allentown on the fiscal health of Pennsylvania's cities, Act 47, the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act, and the tools necessary for cities to attain fiscal health.

The hearing is among a series the committee is holding on cities of the First, Second and Third class, as well as Act 47, the 20-year-old state law designed to help stabilize the finances of distressed cities. A recent study cited shortcomings in Act 47 and the need to examine challenges faced by Pennsylvania's cities.

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) and Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee Chair Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) announced their intent to introduce the "Alternative Energy Investment Act" when the Special Session on Energy convenes this week.

Under the legislation, $60 million would be allocated annually out of existing revenues to provide grants and loans to projects geared at improving energy supply and efficiency, improved conservation and reduced demand for energy. The plan rejects the Rendell Administration’s proposal to fund alternative energy with increased taxes. (For more on the Alternative Energy Investment Act, please see In the Spotlight and Fast Facts, below.)

LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT ILLEGAL ALIENS LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA from receiving public benefits, such as Medicaid, welfare, and in-state college tuition has been introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

According to recent studies, there are more than 100,000 illegal aliens living in the Commonwealth.

Senate Bill 9, which has 24 co-sponsors, will require anyone receiving public benefits in the Commonwealth to provide identification proving they are legal residents. In addition, individuals would be required to sign an affidavit stating they are a United States citizen, or an alien lawfully residing in this country.

Any applicant signing the affidavit stating that they are a legal alien would have their status verified by the Federal Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement Program operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

"I appreciate that this country and this state has individuals with many diverse backgrounds, but it is imperative that to remain competitive and to ensure public safety, we must have laws in place to discourage the practice of residing in Pennsylvania illegally," said Senator Scarnati.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DOMINIC PILEGGI (R-DELAWARE) and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) announced they are introducing legislation to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Fund (HSCA).

Funding for HSCA, a vital program which finances cleanups at contaminated sites and the investigation of illegal hazardous waste disposals, was not included in the final state budget adopted by the General Assembly in July. The Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that the HSCA program will be shut down if a funding solution is not found.

For the current fiscal year, the legislation allocates $15 million from existing legislative accounts to HSCA. DEP has indicated that it already has sufficient funding for the program through the end of December.

Under the legislation, $40 million in existing revenues from the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax will be earmarked for HSCA beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009. This proposal will not affect or delay the scheduled phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, which is scheduled to end as of Dec. 31, 2010.

Senator Pileggi said: "We would have preferred to avert this crisis by addressing HSCA in the budget. But this proposal is a common-sense approach that meets our obligation to the communities which rely on this important program."

SEN. ORIE: REQUIRE NOTIFICATION WHEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES

AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO ENACT TOUGHER IMMIGRATION LAWS at the state level, Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) is introducing legislation that would require law enforcement agencies to notify federal immigration officials when an arrestee is determined to be in the country illegally.

Senator Orie's bill would require law enforcement agencies to determine the immigration status of persons arrested for a felony, or any crime involving violence or a minor. If it is determined that the suspect is in the United States illegally, the agency would be required to notify federal authorities. Also under the bill, immigration status would become a part of the individual's criminal history.

Senator Orie cited the most recent example of an illegal immigrant who is a suspect in the execution-style shooting of four college students in New Jersey. Jose Carranza, an illegal alien from Peru, had been free on bail after being charged with repeatedly raping a 5-year-old girl.

"Illegal aliens who are living outside the law and committing crimes here in the United States should be tracked, prosecuted and returned to their own country," said Senator Orie.

LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS throughout Pennsylvania has been introduced by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne).

Senate Bill 915, co-sponsored by all 50 senators, will provide financial assistance to the Veterans Administration accredited service officer programs offered by nationally chartered veteran service organizations including The American Legion, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and the Disabled American Veterans.

A review of benefit claims has shown that veterans who utilize the services of VA accredited veteran service organizations to file for federal benefits, on average, received a higher award compared to individuals without representation. Nineteen states support service officer programs through legislation and a state appropriation.

THE SENATE MAJORITY POLICY COMMITTEE held a public hearing in York County on September 10 to discuss Pennsylvania's education funding formula.

The hearing, held in Manchester Township, focused on the formula’s impact on growing school districts. The panel, including Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), heard testimony from representatives of the Central York School District, Dallastown School District and Red Lion School District. District officials said a new state formula needs to be developed to support population growth and maintain academic standards.

THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INVESTMENT ACT would provide tax credits to facilities that use alternative energy sources such as waste coal, solar power, biofuel and clean coal technologies to produce or distribute renewable energy. Companies that manufacture products providing renewable energy, as well as research and development, would also be eligible.

The legislation would also provide five-year funding of: the development of alternative/renewable energy technologies and venture capital; pollution-control technology projects to assist existing electric generating units meet enhanced requirements; and clean energy and energy conservation projects.

Funding for the Alternative Energy Investment Act will be found within existing revenues. A potential source of funding is the anticipated growth in revenues from the existing gross receipts tax on electricity, although other revenues may be identified as the proposal moves through the legislature.

Senator Tomlinson said: "This proposal is an important step as the Commonwealth prepares for the impact of expiring generation rate caps in the coming years. Our legislation targets investment into alternative and renewable sources of energy, and provides incentives for both businesses and homeowners to reduce and improve their energy use."

BOOSTING HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The Alternative Energy Investment Act would provide grants, rebates and reimbursements for:

Purchases of energy efficient heating and cooling units and appliances
Residential energy conservation projects, including:
- Solar or solar photovoltaic panels
- Energy efficient windows and doors
- Insulation, air-sealing and other energy saving projects