Bill Would Make Do Not Call Listing Permanent

Senate honors fallen Mercer County firefighter

Bills providing permanent listing on Pennsylvania's "Do Not Call" Registry and to permit children of military personnel to enroll in cyber charter schools were among the measures considered for final votes during the state Senate session week of May 12, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

The Senate also adopted a Resolution introduced by Senator Robbins honoring Bradley Holmes, a Mercer County volunteer firefighter who died after a February fire in Grove City.

The Senate passed legislation that would eliminate the need for Pennsylvania consumers to re-register on the "Do Not Call" registry every five years. Senate Bill 1116 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Do Not Call Registry has been extremely popular among consumers, who were tired of unwanted and intrusive calls. In 2002, Pennsylvanians were first given the opportunity to avoid these calls by registering for the Do Not Call list. More than one million citizens registered in a single two-week period that year, and millions more have registered during the past few years.

The Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry returns part of any fines collected to consumers who file complaints -- up to $100. So far more than $80,000 has been distributed in that way. To register your home or cell phone numbers on the Do Not Call List, please visit www.nocallsplease.com.

A bill to permit children of military personnel to enroll in a Pennsylvania cyber charter school also received final Senate approval this week. Students of cyber charter schools complete coursework online using home computers, and 20,000 students are enrolled in cyber charter schools throughout Pennsylvania.

Under current law, however, if a military family is stationed in another state and owns a residence in Pennsylvania, their child is not eligible to attend a Pennsylvania cyber charter school.

Senate Bill 1281 designates that if a child's parents own a residence in the school district, that child will be considered a resident of the district. SB 1281 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Senate approved Senate Bill 472, a bill introduced by state Senator Robbins to formally enact into law the highly-touted Science Technology Partnerships Program, better known as "Science in Motion."

The measure now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

"This is a major step in protecting this outstanding program," Senator Robbins said. "Over the past few years, the Governor has cut funding in each of his budget proposals and the Legislature has been forced to restore the money as part of the budget negotiations. With this vote today, the Senate is making it crystal clear that it supports Science in Motion."

The program, which is already in place in many areas of the Commonwealth, makes state funding available to higher education institutions to purchase high tech science equipment. This equipment is then transported to and shared with surrounding schools.

This past year, more than 300 public, private, and parochial schools were served throughout the state by 11 higher education institutions: Cedar Crest College, Clarion University, Drexel University, Gannon University, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Susquehanna University, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Ursinus College, Westminster College, and Wilkes University.

The Senate also approved another bill introduced by Senator Robbins to restore essential state funding to support alternative education charter schools.

Senate Bill 1277 clarifies that charter schools that provide alternative education services as their primary mission are eligible for alternative education grant funds. The measure now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Pennsylvania's alternative education charter schools had received state funding since Fiscal Year 1999-2000, but the Department of Education recently determined under the current statutes they are not eligible for that money.

"This bill puts the proper language in place to restore state funding for these important programs," Senator Robbins said. "I am pleased that the Senate quickly moved this bill and I hope the House will act with the same swiftness to push it through the legislative process. The truth is these programs are extremely successful parts of the educational system and they deserve to receive this support."

On a somber note, the Senate adopted a Resolution introduced by Senator Robbins honoring Bradley Holmes, a member of the Pine Township Volunteer Engine Company Number 85 who died as a result of injuries he sustained during a February 29 fire at a duplex in Grove City. He is the first Mercer County firefighter to die of injuries directly sustained while fighting a fire. Representative Dick Stevenson, of Grove City, introduced a similar Resolution in the House.

Committee Roundup

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee approved H2O PA, a plan co-sponsored by Senator Robbins to provide $750 million in funding for critical water and sewer projects, storm water projects, flood control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs.

The $750 million H2O PA bond issue – introduced as Senate Bill 2 – will be funded with revenue from the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. This funding program will be available for projects throughout Pennsylvania, with a first priority being given to those involving consolidation and a second priority being given to those involving regional projects.

To be eligible for funding, a project must be owned by a municipality or authority, and must include local matching funds totaling at least 50 percent of the project cost. The Commonwealth Financing Authority will evaluate applications, with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) providing technical review and assistance.

Because they have already benefitted from projects funded through the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, Philadelphia and Allegheny counties will not be eligible for funding from H2O PA until Fiscal Year 2016-17.

The Senate Local Government Committee approved a package of bills introduced by Senator Robbins to bring municipal law provisions governing pre-hiring examinations of emergency responders in cities, towns, townships, and boroughs into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA clearly prohibits requiring a medical examination of all applicants before an offer of employment. However, the ADA does allow medical examinations and inquiries with certain conditions.

"A number of communities have already been subjected to litigation because of problems in the language of current state statutes," said Senator Robbins, who also serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission, a bipartisan legislative service agency. "My bills would amend the police officers and firefighters civil service statutory provisions to ensure those laws are interpreted and applied by municipal officials in a manner that is in compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws."

Senate Bills 1363 thru 1368 deal with ADA Compliance: SB 1363 (Paid Firemen Civil Service Employee Law); SB 1364 (Local Police Officers Civil Service Employee Law); SB 1365 (Borough Code); SB 1366 (1st Class Township Code); SB 1367 (3rd Class City Code); and, SB 1368 (Firemen, Civil Service in 3rd Class Cities Law).

A package of legislation to increase emergency mortgage assistance, provide grants and loans to homeowners facing foreclosure, and create a housing trust fund was approved by the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.

The Foreclosure Relief and Affordable Housing represents a $32 million effort to provide immediate assistance to families in danger of losing their homes, and to implement long-term initiatives to mitigate future downturns and expand the availability of affordable housing. There were nearly 6,000 foreclosure filings in Pennsylvania in the first quarter of 2008, up 7.6 percent from the previous quarter.

The committee approved the following Foreclosure Relief and Affordable Housing Initiative bills:

PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act (Senate Bill 1400) – This $10 million measure, co-sponsored by Senator Robbins, would allow the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to develop or expand affordable housing programs to build, rehabilitate and preserve homes for low to moderate income individuals and families, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Refinancing Assistance Grants (Senate Bill 1401) - This $10 million program would assist low-income homeowners who have mortgage terms that have become or are in the process of becoming unaffordable due at least in part to the current or readjusting interest rate. Qualified applicants would be eligible for a one-time grant of up to $2,500 to cover closing costs associated with refinancing.
Expanding Homeowner Equity Recovery and Refinancing Loan Programs (Senate Bill 1402) - This $10 million program will boost the number of loans available through two successful PHFA programs, the Homeowner Equity Recovery Opportunity Loan Program (HERO) and the Refinance to an Affordable Loan Program (REAL). HERO loans assist homeowners who have sub-prime or predatory loans, and in some instances owe more than the current value of their homes. REAL is targeted at homeowners who are 60 days or less delinquent on mortgage loans that have adjusted to an unaffordable rate or will be adjusting in the future.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322