Senate Approves Bills to Help Emergency Volunteers

Water, sewer project funding bill headed to House

Final Senate approval of bills to help Pennsylvania' emergency responders and to provide funding for water and sewer projects across the state were among the highlights of the Senate session week of June 9, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

The Senate approved a package of four bills, all co-sponsored by Senator Robbins, this week that would provide nearly $23 million in tax credits and tuition reimbursements by fiscal year 2009-10 for fire and emergency medical services volunteers and employers.

Senate Bill 1314 would establish a $500 state personal income tax credit for active members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services organizations.

Senate Bill 1315 would create an undergraduate tuition reimbursement program for active volunteers with a 50 percent reimbursement for each course credit.

Senate Bill 1316 would provide a $1,000 tax credit against an employer's personal income tax, corporate net income tax, or capital stock and franchise tax for each volunteer fire and/or emergency services employee, up to but not to exceed $5000 per employer.

Senate Bill 1169 would authorize tax credits to emergency responders of up to $400 toward their local income taxes.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved H2O PA, a plan co-sponsored by Senator Robbins to provide $800 million in funding for critical water and sewer projects, storm water projects, flood control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs.

The $800 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 approved, on Tuesday, the amended smoking ban bill developed by a joint Senate-House Conference Committee.

Senate Bill 246, as amended, will ban smoking in most public places and workplaces but would permit smoking on up to 25 percent of a casino floor, in private membership clubs that are at least 10 years old, in cigar bars, in 25 percent of motel and hotel rooms, in private homes, in tobacco shops and manufacturing facilities and in smaller "mom and pop" taverns where food sales do not exceed 20 percent of total revenue. The state law does not allow for municipalities to enact their own bans, but will not affect Philadelphia's current ban.

Committee Roundup

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee approved legislation introduced by Senator Robbins that would give Pennsylvania local governments more flexibility in how they can meet public notice requirements.

Senate Bill 1087, the "Public Notice Modernization Act," which would give municipalities, school districts and local authorities the option to electronically publish legal notices on the internet in lieu of newspaper advertisement as is currently required by law.

"This is a step forward that will better serve the public, while saving tax dollars. A recent study by the Local Government Commission staff determined that local government entities could see a yearly savings of approximately $23 million in current advertising costs by electronically publishing legal notices," said Senator Robbins, who serves as Chairman of the Commission. "In addition to saving taxpayer dollars, this would provide more convenient access for citizens who want to keep track of the meetings in their school districts and municipalities and to follow the way local governments are spending their revenues."

Under the provisions of SB 1087, the types of notices which could be published electronically would include:

any meeting of the governing body of the government unit or its committees;
any ordinance or resolution;
any budget, auditor's report or financial statement;
any contract agreement, request for bids or proposals, or other documentation related to the procurement of supplies, services or construction;
any sale of real or personal property;
any proceeding requiring public notice in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code; and,
any proceeding requiring public notification in accordance with the applicable laws governing zoning or subdivision and land development in municipalities not subject to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

HealthNET PA unveiled

The Senate Republican Caucus announced on Tuesday a comprehensive health care package designed to improve health care access and affordability by building on approaches that are working and doing it in a fiscally responsible way.

HealthNET PA is a $100 million blueprint that expands 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.

The 507,000 Pennsylvanians served by the $100 million plan is more than double the number projected to be covered after five years under Gov. Rendell's $1.4 billion health care proposal, and almost four times the number projected to be covered in the second year.

Features of the 15-bill HealthNET PA page include:

Establishing the Community-Based Healthcare Program for the expansion and site development of health care clinics across Pennsylvania to provide "medical homes" for 175,000 working poor clients and ease pressure on hospital emergency rooms.
Implementing a physician/health care facility volunteer program through which an additional 159,000 uninsured patients would be assigned to a primary or specialty care physician, with access to free specialty care, labs and inpatient hospital care.
Creating a registry of free prescription drugs and allowing retail establishment pharmacies to sell prescription drugs at a minimal cost, such as $4.
Providing "Mini-Cobra" coverage for small business employers, creating a high-risk pool for individuals who cannot access other coverage, and extending the option of dependent coverage to age 30. (Nearly half of uninsured Pennsylvanians are age 18-34.)
Provide $5 million in state tax credits for the use of Health Savings Accounts.

Pennsylvania is already ranked fifth-best in nation in the number of citizens covered by health insurance, with 92 percent of the population covered. Nearly 16 percent of Pennsylvanians, or 2 million residents, are already covered by government-subsidized health care.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322