HB 1419: Payment for Private Residential Rehabilitative Special Education

H.B. 1419, P.N. 1707 (PETRONE) This would amend the Public School Code, Act 14 of 1949, P.L. 30.
The school district where a special education student resides would pay for 19.3% of the total special education program net costs when attending a private residential rehabilitative institution. This would make permanent the existing temporary requirement that such cost be paid.

HB 1085: State Scholarships for Home School Students

H.B. 1085, P.N. 1243 (FLEAGLE) This would amend the Higher Education Scholarship Law, Act 541 of 1965, P.L. 1546.
A home schooled student, who has been certified as having completed the requirements for high school graduation, would be eligible for a Higher Education
State Scholarship.

HB 1427: Tax Collectors

H.B. 1427, P.N. 1737 (DENLINGER) This would amend the Local Tax Enabling Act 511 of 1965, P.L. 1257.
This would require a written contact to exist between a political subdivision and a person allowed to collect earned income tax. All tax collection records would be the property of the political subdivision. A tax collector who fails to make a required report could be subject to equitable relief and a civil penalty.

HB 562: Tobacco Settlement Investment Board Membership

H.B. 562, P.N. 635 (DeWEESE) This would amend the Tobacco Settlement Act 77 of 2001, P.L. 755.
This would change the membership of the Tobacco Settlement Investment Board to include the State Treasurer or the Treasurer’s designee and one member appointed by the State Treasurer. It would decrease the number of members selected by the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker from two each to one each.

HB 472: Tax Credit for Donating a Used Computer

H.B. 472, P.N. 511 (REICHLEY) This would amend the Tax Reform Code, Act 2 of 1971, P.L. 6.
This would provide a tax credit for the fair market value of a used computer that is donated to a charitable organization, nonprofit education institution, volunteer fire fighter’s organization, or to a religious organization.

HB 344: Fire Prevention and Safety Equipment Sales Tax Exemption

H.B. 344, P.N. 365 (DeLUCA) This would amend the Tax Reform Code, Act 2 of 1971, P.L. 6.
This would exempt the sale of a smoke detector, a fire extinguisher, or other fire prevention and fire safety equipment from the sale and use tax.

HB 120: Sales Tax Revenues for School Districts / Sales Tax Reduction

H.B. 120, P.N. 916 (ROHRER) This would amend the Tax Reform Code, Act 2 of 1971, P.L. 6.
This would reduce the sales tax from 6% to 5%. Revenues from the sales tax would be allocated for school district operating funds.

HB 119: Public School Debt and Funds

H.B. 119, P.N. 915 (TEWCIC) This would amend the Public School Code, Act 14 of 1949, P.L. 30.
A school district would be able, after voter approval of a resolution approving such, to levy a personal income general revenue school district tax.
A School Financing Authority would be created. This Authority would manage and administer all public school debt.
An Education Operating Fund would be created. This fund would make quarterly disbursements of funds to school districts.

HB 118: Commonwealth Assumption of School District Debt

H.B. 118, P.N. 914 (DENLINGER) This would amend Title 53 (Municipalities Generally).
This would prohibit a school district from incurring electoral debt, non-electoral debt, or lease rental debt after July 1, 2006. All such debt existing prior to then would be identified and reported to the Revenue Department. The Commonwealth would assume all such debt as of January 1, 2007.

HB 117: Property Tax Rebates

H.B. 117, P.N. 912 (SCAVELLO) This would amend the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act 3 of 1971, P.L. 104.
This would disallow a claim for a property tax rebate in 2006 and afterwards where a school real property tax is prohibited by law.
The funds expended by the Revenue Department for paying real property tax rebates would be annually adjusted by increasing the maximum limit on household income eligible to receive rebates.

HB 116: Realty Transfer Tax

H.B. 116, P.N. 912 (WILT) This would amend the Local Tax Enabling Act 511 of 1965, P.L. 1257.
A second, third, and fourth class school district would collect the realty transfer tax revenues through June 30,2007, after which such revenues would be collected by the Revenue Department and deposited into the Education Operating Fund. Such a district would be able to issue a realty transfer tax at a rate equal to or less than the rate that is in effect on July 1, 2005.

HB 27: Historic Homesite Tax Credits and Tax Exemptions

H.B. 27, P.N. 30 (TANGRETTI) This would amend the Tax Reform Code, Act 2 of 1971, P.L. 6.
This would create a tax exclusion of tangible personal property or services used in the rehabilitation or restoration of a designated historic homesite. A tax credit for 20% of such total costs would be created. The sale or transfer of a historic homesite would be exempt from the realty transfer tax.

HB 1579: Rights of a Resource Parent

H.B. 1579, P.N. 1980 (HICKERNELL) This would create the Resources Family Care Act.
A temporary foster or kinship parent would have a right, from a children and youth social agency, to receive treatment with respect and personal dignity, notification of scheduled meeting regarding case planning and decision making regarding the cared for child, to receive support services consistent with an approved permanency plan, to receive compete and timely responses when contacted, to receive information regarding the child’s medical history and behavior, to be able to consult in developing a permanency plan, to receive assistance for dealing with separation when the child leaves, to receive information on relevant policies and procedures including how to contract and to receive services, receive confidentiality regarding abuse allegations, and present statements regarding agency decisions and practices. Each resource parent would be provided a list of these responsibilities.

HB 1559: Inspection of Child Day-Care Facilities

H.B. 1559, P.N. 1934 (GODSHALL) This would create the Unannounced Inspection of Child Day-Care Facilities Act.
The Public Welfare Department would be able to enter and inspect a child day-care center and need not provide prior notice. At least one unannounced inspection per year would be conducted of each child day-care facility. At least one unannounced inspection every four years would be conducted of each child day-day home.
The Department would make an unannounced inspection of a facility within 24 hours of receiving a complaint that a child faces a serious risk to health or safety at that facility.

HB 1461: Energy Efficiency Standards for Products

H.B. 1461, P.N. 1779 (McILHINNEY) This would cerate the Energy Efficiency Standards Act.
This would require that commercial clothes washers, refrigerators, freezers, illuminated exit signs, large packaged air conditioning equipment, low voltage dry-type distribution transformers, torchiere lighting fixtures, and traffic signal fixtures sold within Pennsylvania meet established energy efficiency standards, The Attorney General would investigate and prosecute violations of this law. A warning would be issued for a first violation and a fine of $250 or less per violation would be issued for each offense,

HB 893: Notice to Property Owner or Manager of Water Cut-off

H.B. 893, P.N. 1016 (SEMMEL) This would amend the Act authorizing local governments to shut off the supply of water, Act 98 of 1949, P.L. 482.
When a local government provides written notice to a tenant that water supply to the tenant will be shut off, such notice would also be provided to the property owner or to the property manager.

HB 577: State Notification to Local Taxing Districts of Intent to Purchase Property

H.B. 577, P.N. 650 (LESCOVITZ) This would amend the Administrative Code, Act 175 of 1929, P.L. 177.
A state entity seeking to purchase or acquire property would be required to provide written notice, sent by certified mail, to the country, municipality, and school district where the property is located, of its intent to purchase the property.

HB 548: Tanning Facilities

H.B. 548, P.N. 596 (E.Z. TAYLOR) This would create the Tanning Facilities Act.
A tanning facility operator would be required to be licensed and registered by the Health Department. The Health Department would be able to revoke, suspend, or deny such a license for violating tanning facility regulations or upon conviction of false or similarly fraudulent advertising. The Health Department would also be able to impose an administrative fine of $1,000 or less per violation.
A tanning facility would be required to inform every customer, in writing, that repeated overexposure to tanning could lead to burns, skin cancer and premature aging that not wearing eye protection could damage eyes, and that abnormal skin sensitivity or burning could result from a mixture of tanning and certain foods, cosmetics, and medications.
A tanning facility would be required to conspicuously post a sign warning of ultraviolet radiation danger.
A tanning facility would be required to have an operator knowledgeable in correct tanning device procedures during operating hours, including providing each customer with proper protective eyewear.
A customer aged 15, 16, or 17 years of age would be required to have permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to use a tanning facility device.

SB 86: Out of State Suspected Child Abuse

S.B. 86, P.N. 665 (GREENLEAF) This would amend Title 23 (Domestic Relations).
A General Service Report would be assigned to the county protective services agency to respond to a report of suspected child abuse of a child who resides in Pennsylvania where the suspected abused happened in another state and the other state protective services agency is prohibited from investigating the alleged abuse. A copy of this report would be sent to the other state’s protective services agency.

HB 1435: Computer Assisted Hunting

H.B. 1435, P.N. 1729 (GERGELY) This would amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses).
This would make it a third degree misdemeanor to engage or to assist another to engage in computer assisted harvesting of an animal in Pennsylvania.

HB 1235: Corrections Department Staffing Levels

H.B. 1235, P.N. 1448 (ARGALL) This would amend the Administrative Code, Act 174 of 1929, P.L. 177.
This would require the Corrections Department to have at least 1.25 staff people per each 24 hour post for all five day posts, 1.55 staff people per each 24 hour post for all six day posts, and 1.75 staff people per each 24 hour post for all seven day posts for corrections officers and food service instructions at state correctional institutions.
When total inmate capacity at a state correctional institution exceeds 135% of total inmate capacity for 31 or more consecutive days, or for an aggregate of 60 days over a year period, a Manpower survey would be conducted and negotiations would be held with the employee organization regarding staffing levels. If necessary, arbitration would set staffing levels.

HB 564: College Employee Criminal Background Checks

H.B. 564, P.N. 637 (BAKER) This would create the College and University Criminal History Background Act.
This would allow that a college may conduct a criminal history background check of a prospective faculty or staff employee. If such a check is conducted, an administrator would be required to disclose to the applicant if information from the part was any part of the decision whether or not to hire the person.
A college would be able to require a prospective faculty or staff employee to disclose if the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony, a sex offense, or misappropriation of funds.

HB 1563: Park and Recreation Board Membership

H.B. 1563, P.N. 1938 (HERMAN) This would amend the First Class Township Code, Act 331 of 1931, P.L. 1206.
A Park Board or a Recreation Board could have nine members. Under current law, such boards may consist of either five or seven members. This would also remove the requirement that two such Board members also be School Board members.

HB 1508: Creation of Uniform Construction Fund / Construction Standards Enforcement of State Buildings

H.B. 1508, P.N. 1842 (HERMAN) This would amend the Pennsylvania Construction Act 45 of 1999, P.L. 491.
This would create the Uniform Construction Fund where state construction fees would be deposited for use by the Labor and Industry Department.
The Labor and Industry Department would be able to contract with others to enforce construction standards for state buildings.

HB 1534: Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Disease Insurance Coverage / Physician Treatment of Tick-Borne Diseases

H.B. 1534, P.N. 1889 (PHILLIPS) This would create the Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease Education, Prevention, and Treatment Act.
An appropriate health insurance policy would be required to cover Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases.
A physician could not be disciplined for treating such a disease if a patient is clinically diagnosed as having such disease. A physician who prescribes long-term care yet fails to properly monitor this care could be disciplined.
This would create a Task Force of state officials and physicians to study Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and to create information campaigns in parks, hunting areas, and public lands.

HR 308: Recommend Tetanus/Dipththeria Booster Shot

H.R. 308, P.N. 1928 (SCAVELLO) This would urge the Health Department to recommend that 11 to 12 year old children receive a tetanus/dipththeria booster shot, if they have not done so within the previous five years.

HR 50: Commend Taiwan, Seeking WHO Admission, on Health Issues

H.R. 50, P.N. 223 (THOMAS) This would commend Taiwan on its health care achievements for its citizens, including maternal and infant care and infectious diseases eradication which has led Taiwan to have one of the highest Asian life expectancy levels. Taiwan wishes to become a member of the Word Health Organization and contribute financially and technically. This could be important regarding health issues such as SARS.