Senate Approves Anti-Crime, Health Insurance Merger Bills

Senator Robbins' National Guard tax credit bill clears committee

Three anti-crime bills received Senate approval this week (March 26-28) and were sent to the House for consideration, according to Senator Bob Robbins. The Senate also approved legislation that would give the state Department of Insurance oversight power on mergers such as the pending union of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross.

On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 330, legislation introduced by Senator Bob Robbins to provide tax credits to employers of Pennsylvania's "citizen-soldiers." Under Senator Robbins' bill, employers would receive a $1,000 tax credit for every member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or reserves that they hire or that re-enlists. The tax credit could be used toward the employer’s personal income tax, corporate net income tax, or capital stock and franchise tax and could be carried forward for a period of three years.

"I am very pleased that the Finance Committee approved this bill and I hope we can move it through the Senate soon," Senator Robbins said. "Pennsylvania has a long-standing history of supporting its citizen-soldiers that dates back to our colonial days. Senate Bill 330 provides a financial incentive for employers to recruit, hire, and retain members of Pennsylvania National Guard and the Reserves."

On Monday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 150, legislation that permits the issuance of a sexual violence victim protection order for up to 18 months. A sentence for criminal contempt under SB 150 may include up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000. Currently, 12 states have statutes that allow victims of sexual assault to obtain a protection order regardless of their relationship to the perpetrator.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 151, a proposal to expand and clarify the provisions prohibiting contraband, including weapons, implements of escape and other dangerous materials, in correctional institutions, youth development centers and mental hospitals.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 256, a measure that would allow for the denial of bail for offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or for cases where there are no conditions other than imprisonment that will reasonably protect public safety.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved legislation that would give the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance oversight power over mergers involving non-profit health care insurers such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The provisions of Senate Bill 550 are retroactive back to January 1, so passage of this legislation will ensure a Department of Insurance review of a proposed Highmark-Independence Blue Cross merger. Several Senators have expressed concerns that the merger of major insurers could undermine the quality and availability of health care coverage in the Commonwealth.

Other measures approved by the Senate this week include:

Senate Resolution 21, a resolution introduced by Senator Bob Robbins designating the week of April 15 through 21, 2007, as "Local Government Week" in Pennsylvania. "Each year, the Governor's Center for Local Government Services hosts Local Government Week recognizing the accomplishments of local governments and officials," Senator Robbins said. "The truth is government begins at the local level. Municipal governments are there to address neighborhood concerns and provide for the well being of the people of the community."
Senate Resolution 60 urging the state Department of Public Welfare to stop the potential switch from the HealthChoices managed care system for 71,000 Medicaid recipients to the Access Plus managed care system.
Senate Bill 86 amends the Resale of Tickets Act to authorize a reseller of tickets to any amusement or place of amusement to do so through an Internet website if the reseller has a physical business and address in Pennsylvania and guarantees full refund for event cancellation and errors relating to the ticket.
Senate Bill 180 amends the state Military Code to authorize the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to arrange for burial details for veterans who are to be interred at the new National Cemetery of the Alleghenies located in Bridgeville, Allegheny County. The Code currently authorizes burial details only at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Senate Bill 355 Amends the Air Pollution Control Act to require all proposed and final State implementation plans required by the federal Clean Air Act to be published on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Internet website or the website of the agency that developed the plan.
Senate Bill 356 to formally establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education based at Slippery Rock University. The PCEE was established 10 years ago by Executive Order. SB 356 would amend the Environmental Education Act to establish the PCEE in statute, strengthening its status among state programs and ensuring more stable funding.
Senate Bill 637 to require Senate confirmation of the director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in the same manner as cabinet secretaries.

In Senate Committee actions, the Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on Tuesday to take testimony from the Rendell Administration and industry stakeholders regarding the 6.17% Oil Company Gross Profits Tax, proposed by Governor to fund public transportation. Testifiers said it would be almost impossible, if not unconstitutional, to bar oil companies from passing the tax on to consumers and that the proposed tax could negatively impact oil production in the Commonwealth.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a four bill package on Tuesday to crack down on methamphetamine production and cleans up the environmental damage caused by illegal meth labs:

Senate Bill 436 provides for the specific offense of operating a methamphetamine laboratory, and increases penalties if the lab is operated near a school, day care center or playground;
Senate Bill 434 provides for penalties for possessing the ingredients necessary for the production of methamphetamine;
Senate Bill 433 provides for defendants to be assessed the environmental clean-up costs associated with methamphetamine laboratories; and,
Senate Bill 432 combines the criminal provisions of Senate Bill 436 and the environmental provisions of Senate Bill 433.