Harrisburg Happenings

A report on the Legislative Session week May 24, 2010
By Senator Bob Robbins
50th Senatorial District

Senate approves teen driver distraction bill

The Senate amended and approved legislation intended to reduce the number of distractions to junior drivers.

House Bill 67 includes the following provisions:

Prohibits the use of cell phones and texting by those with a learner's permit or junior driver's license. The bill makes the use of a wireless communications device a secondary offense carrying a fine of $100.
Restricts a junior driver for the first six months after issuance of the junior driver's license, to driving a vehicle with no more than one passenger under 18 years of age, who is not a member of the driver's immediate family unless the junior driver is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After the expiration of the six month prohibition, the junior driver would be limited to no more than three passengers under 18 years of age who are not members of the driver's immediate family, unless the junior driver is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Makes enforcement of the seat belt requirements a primary offense for junior drivers and all passengers under the age of 18 in the vehicle.

HB 67 now returns to the House for concurrence.

Senators unveil bipartisan "Methadone Accountability Package"

A group of lawmakers and advocates unveiled a bipartisan package of legislation overhauling Pennsylvania's methadone treatment laws to increase fiscal accountability and safety, and to reduce the unlawful use of methadone and methadone poisoning deaths.

The measures making up the Methadone Accountability Package address the illegal diversion of methadone from treatment uses; methadone use and highway safety; and accountability in government-sponsored treatment, including cost to taxpayers, open-ended treatment, overdoses and deaths.

Senate Bill 1293 -- Requires reviews for all methadone-related deaths, and development of best practices to prevent future deaths.
Senate Bill 1294 -- Creates the Methadone Addiction Prevention and Treatment Act, to provide for the safe use of methadone to treat heroin and other opiate addictions.
Senate Bill 1376 -- Implements diversion control and dosing standards.
Senate Bill 1377 -- Establishes clinic standards to prevent methadone-related highway accidents.
Senate Bill 1378 -- Makes it a crime to drive under the influence of more than the prescribed dose of methadone.
Senate Bill 1382 -- Requires a narcotic treatment plan with a one-year limit with an additional six months if progressing toward a full recovery.
Senate Bill 1383 -- Requires individuals to receive methadone treatment at a clinic closest to their residence.
Senate Resolution 348 -- Directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to complete a performance audit of the state's methadone treatment and transportation program.

The National Drug Intelligence Center reported a 109 percent increase in the unlawful diversion of methadone from 2003 to 2007. The National Center for Health Statistics found that, from 1999-2005, the number of poisoning deaths involving methadone increased 468 percent, and the rate of methadone deaths in younger individuals (age 15 to 24) increased eleven-fold.

The increase in methadone use and abuse has also affected highway safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that a single dose can cause reductions in reaction time, visual acuity and information processing.

Bill on Community Fundraisers headed to Governor

Legislation barring the state from citing community groups for selling home-made baked goods received final legislative approval in the Senate on Tuesday. With the Senate's unanimous concurrence on House amendments to Senate Bill 828, the bill now goes to Governor Rendell, who is expected to sign the measure into law.

SB 828, known as the "Pie Bill", will eliminate the ability of the Department of Agriculture to cite non-profit community groups such as volunteer fire companies, churches, and school booster clubs for selling non-hazardous home-baked food at fundraisers.

Six bills signed into law

The Governor signed six bills into law earlier this month:

Act 23 of 2010 (House Bill 464) bans the use of software bypassing online ticket sale protection systems. By using this software mass purchasers are able to buy tickets to concerts and live sporting events faster than the general public can access them.

Act 24 of 2010 (House Bill 961) amends the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act to extend authorization of the $2 per-ton recycling fee charged to waste haulers through January 1, 2020. The new law also transfers $1.25 million from the Recycling Fund to the Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for FY 2009-2010 through FY 2012-2013 for the remediation of waste tire piles throughout the Commonwealth.

Act 25 of 2010 (House Bill 975) requires professional engineers, land surveyors and geologists to complete 24 professional development hours of continuing education every two years. The legislation also provides geologist-in-training certification to improve the marketability of recent geology graduates.

Act 26 of 2010 (House Bill 2003) designates a bridge spanning the Pennypack Creek on South York Road, in the Borough of Hatboro, Montgomery County, as the PFC Joseph J. Lannon, Jr., USMC Memorial Bridge.

Act 27 of 2010 (Senate Bill 916) amends the Second Class County Code to extend the deadline for the controller to file the annual report of receipts and expenditures.

Act 28 of 2010 (Senate Bill 960) adds a representative of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) to the Pennsylvania State Veterans' Commission. The State Veterans' Commission is comprised of the major veterans' organizations and offers advice to the state Adjutant General on veterans' issues.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322