Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

“It is clear that this is an important issue to many Pennsylvanians and I will continue to do what I can to see this process through to completion.”

-- Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) on legislation amended and passed by the committee to update the state Dog Law.

Efforts to move energy-related legislation, including efforts to mitigate the impact of rate caps coming off electricity prices and to encourage greater energy conservation, continue when the Senate returns to voting session on Monday. An update of the state’s Dog Law could also be considered by the Senate.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), has scheduled a public hearing Monday to discuss the growing concern of a revenue shortfall for 2009.

The Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), will hold a public hearing Monday to hear from the executive director of the Office of Open Records regarding implementation of Senate Bill 1 (now Act 3 of 2008), legislation that updated and strengthened Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law and established the office.

The Senate unanimously approved two bills aimed at expanding options for Pennsylvanians without medical insurance coverage.

The measures are part of HealthNET PA, a 15-bill legislative package unveiled by Senate Republicans to improve health care access and affordability by building on approaches that are working and doing it in a fiscally responsible way.

Senate Bill 1422, sponsored by Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Don White (R-Indiana), creates a Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Plan in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1453, introduced by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), offers parents the option to purchase insurance coverage for dependent individuals up to the age of 30. Nearly half of uninsured Pennsylvanians are age 18 to 34.

HealthNET PA is an affordable plan to expand access to health care and medicine to 507,000 uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians. It utilizes information technology to control costs and reduce health care-associated infections, and provides expanded insurance options for employers and families.

For more on Senate Bill 1422 and Senate Bill 1453 (both were sent to the House of Representatives), and Pennsylvania’s uninsured, please see In the Spotlight and Fast Facts, below.

Sen. White
Sen. Corman

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) that would prevent school districts from raising property taxes on homeowners following the sale of a property.

The General Assembly passed a similar bill sponsored by Rhoades in July that would have protected taxpayers from all spot assessments based solely on a property's sale value, but the governor vetoed the legislation.

Senate Bill 1258 includes compromise language that would limit local taxing districts to appeal an assessment. Senate Bill 1258 would limit local taxing districts to appeal an assessment only if a property is subdivided, improvements are added or removed, the property's market value changes by at least $200,000 or the additional revenue to be collected exceeds $5,000.

Senate Bill 1258 would apply to counties of the Fourth through Eighth Class, including all counties with populations under 210,000. Fifty-one of the state’s 67 counties would be covered under the bill. Senate Bill 1258 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senator Rhoades said: "Spot assessments almost always lead to higher property taxes for homeowners immediately after the most important purchase of their lives. Thousands of homeowners in my district have been victimized by this process, and we need to take immediate action to prevent this from happening in the future."

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Brubaker (Lancaster), amended and passed legislation that would update the state Dog Law.

Changes to the bill include allowing for kennel owners who are certified to continue to give rabies vaccinations to their dogs, providing for indoor exercise if an outdoor exercise area would be prohibited by the local government in which the kennel is located, and allowing for slatted flooring. Additionally, a Canine Health Board made up of veterinarians is established to set standards for ventilation and lighting, and may approve flooring options in addition to that provided for in law.

House Bill 2525 could receive final consideration the week of October 6 when the Senate returns to session.

Senator Brubaker said: “The number one priority of HB 2525 was and continues to be the assurance that dogs living in commercial breeding operations are provided with a humane and healthy environment. The amendments to this bill hold to that priority as well.”

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, chaired by Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny), approved legislation that would help municipalities prevent blight and remediate abandoned properties.

Senate Bill 1291, sponsored by Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) and Senator Pippy would hold property owners accountable for the costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures. The bill would also expedite the process of prosecuting owners of blighted properties and give municipalities the authority to go after the financial assets of negligent owners.

Senate Bill 1291 would expand the ability of redevelopment authorities to assist municipalities with blight remediation. The bill also takes steps to prevent foreclosed and bank-owned properties from becoming blighted by requiring mortgage lenders to maintain properties where a default occurs until there is a new owner.

In addition, the bill would mandate that property owners bring any property they own that has serious code violations into code compliance before obtaining any municipal or state permits or approvals for any other property they own in the commonwealth. Senate Bill 1291 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Senator Rhoades said: "When a property falls into a dangerous state of disrepair, the local taxpayer usually ends up footing the bill. My bill would hold landlords accountable when they allow their property to become an eyesore and a danger to the community."
Sen. Rhoades

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would encourage municipal authorities to work more closely with local governments.

Senate Bill 1496 is sponsored by Senate Local Government Committee Chairman Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), and Senate Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman John Pippy (R-Allegheny).

Currently, state law allows municipalities to enter into intergovernmental cooperation agreements, but municipal authorities – such as those overseeing water and sewage treatment -- are not specifically mentioned in that authorization. Senate Bill 1496 would specifically permit and encourage agreements between municipal authorities and local governments.

Senator Regola said: "We have seen the benefits that local government can gain through cooperative arrangements. By pooling their individual resources, they can collectively address many individual needs, while saving taxpayers money at the same time."

Senator Pippy said: "Local governments and municipal authorities serve the same citizens and are equally responsible for the prudent use of funds – whether they come from taxpayers or ratepayers. This legislation will permit agreements that foster cooperation and coordination, eliminate waste and streamline government operations."

Sen. Regola

Senator White’s Senate Bill 1422 extends continuation of a group health insurance policy for a former employee and dependents who are no longer eligible for a small group policy. This will make this option available to approximately 150,000 individuals who work for employers with 2 to 19 employees and who change jobs.

COBRA provides former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates when coverage is lost due to certain specific events. However, these benefits only apply to employers with 20 or more employees.

Senator White said: “This legislation could provide an important safety net to an estimated 150,000 individuals who worked for small businesses but are between jobs. This benefit is already in place for larger companies. It is time we make it part of the health insurance network for small businesses as well.”

Senator Corman’s Senate Bill 1453 extends to group policyholders the option of dependent coverage to age 30, a move that could assist approximately 15,000 young adults.

Senator Corman said: “Looking at the demographics in Pennsylvania, the largest segment of the uninsured are young adults age 18 to 34. This legislation would provide an option that would enable some of those young adults to receive the benefits of health insurance coverage."

HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IN PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania is ranked fifth-best in the nation in the number of citizens covered by health insurance.
92 percent of the population is covered by health insurance.
Nearly 16 percent of Pennsylvanians, or 2 million residents, are already covered by taxpayer-funded health care.
Nearly half of Pennsylvania’s uninsured are young adults age 18 to 34.

Questions or Comments?

Contact the Senate Republican Communications Office or call 717-787-6725.

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