Legislation Introduced by Senator Fontana | 2013-2014 Legislative Session
Special Occasion Permit
SB 1478 – Would add the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation (PDCDC) as an eligible entity for a Special Occasion Permit with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Referred to Law and Justice, September 15, 2014
Co sponsors: Costa, Farnese, Schwank, Smith, Vulakovich, Rafferty, Hughes
[divider top=”0″]Sales and Use Tax Filing Schedule Change
SB 1464 – Would reinstate the former semi-monthly filing schedule for the Sales and Use Tax for certain businesses that have volatile sales.
Referred to Finance, August 25, 2014
Co sponsors: Solobay, McIlhinney, Farnese, Costa, Hughes
[divider top=”0″]Rideshare
SB 1457 – Would allow Transportation Network Services like Lyft and Uber to operate legally in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission would be charged with overseeing operations.
Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, July 17, 2014
Other Co-Ssponsors: Ferlo, Brewster, Solobay, Wozniak, Kasunic, Vance, Smith, Blake, Costa, Erickson, Vulakovich, Yudichak
[divider top=”0″]Highway Naming for Captain Sean Ruane
SB 1445 – Would designate the Fleming Park Road section of Route 51 that intersects with Coraopolis Road in Kennedy Township, Allegheny County, as the Captain Sean M. Ruane Memorial Highway.
Referred to Transportation, June 24, 2014
Co sponsor: Erickson, Ferlo, Browne, Wozniak, Stack, Kasunic, Vulakovich, Yudichak, Alloway, Greenleaf, Smith, Rafferty, Hughes, Solobay, Costa, Brewster, Tartaglione
*HB 2072 was amended with this language and became Act 103 of 2014
[divider top=”0″]Restriction for TV Series and Film Tax Credit
SB 1435 – Caps the amount a tv series, whose primary purpose is the sale of commercial goods, and prohibits commercial and marketing type advertisements from receiving funding under the film tax credit.
Referred to Finance, June 18, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Hughes, Smith, Brewster, Costa, Boscola, Farnese
[divider top=”0″]Unused Film Production Tax Credit
SB 1313 – Would allow for the recapture of approved unused Film Production Tax Credits from a previous year.
Referred to Finance, April 2, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Ferlo, Stack, Farnese, Brewster, Kasunic, Smith, Schwank, Wiley, Costa, Vulakovich, Hughes, Solobay, Yudichak, Browne
[divider top=”0″]Carbon Monoxide Detectors Package of Bills
SB 1276 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in child care facilities including a boarding home for children, child care center and a nursery school that is licensed and regulated by the Commonwealth.
Referred to Public Health and Welfare, March 14, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Washington, Argall, Costa, Kasunic, Solobay, Tartaglione, Schwank, Hughes, Smith
SB 1277 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in schools which include a public school, nonpublic school, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school.
Referred to Education, March 14, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Washington, Argall, Costa, Kasunic, Solobay, Tartaglione, Schwank, Hughes, Smith
SB 1278 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in lodging establishment including a hotel, motel, inn, guest house, hostelry or other structure that provides temporary accommodations.
Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development, March 26, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Washington, Argall, Costa, Solobay, Tartaglione, Schwank, Hughes, Smith
SB 1279 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in dorms of institutions of higher education including universities within the State System of Higher Education, community colleges, State-related institutions, and any college or university which is operated not for profit.
Referred to Education, March 14, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Washington, Argall, Costa, Kasunic, Solobay, Tartaglione, Schwank, Hughes, Smith
SB 1280 – Would require carbon monoxide detectors in a dependent care facility which includes nursing homes, older adult daily living center, personal care home and assisted living residence.
Referred to Public Health and Welfare, March 14, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Washington, Argall, Costa, Kasunic, Solobay, Tartaglione, Schwank, Hughes, Smith
[divider top=”0″]Private Lateral Sewage Line Improvement/Repair
SB 1262 – Would allow municipalities to use public funds for the improvement, extension, repair or rehabilitation of private lateral sewage lines connected to public sewer systems where the municipality or municipal authority determines that such activities will benefit the public sewer system.
Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy, February 28, 2014
Reported as Amended, June 3, 2014 (11-0)
Re-referred to Appropriations, June 17, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Erickson, Brewster, Smith, Rafferty, Williams, Hughes, Yudichak, Costa
[divider top=”0″]Rocco’s Law (with Smith, Ferlo, Costa, Brewster, Vulakovich, Solobay)
Senate 1261 – Increases the penalty for the torture and/or murder of police animals.
Referred to Agriculture and Rural Affairs, February 28, 2014
Reported as committed, March 31, 2014 (9-0)
Senate, June 11, 2014 (49-0)
Committed in House Agriculture and Rural Affairs, June 19, 2014
Committed in House Appropriations, June 24, 2014 (35-0)
House, June 24, 2014 (202-0)
Approved by the Governor, July 2, 2014
Act 110 of 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Smith, Ferlo, Costa, Brewster, Vulakovich, Solobay, Wiley, Vogel, Hutchinson, Argall, Teplitz, Boscola, Stack, Alloway, White, Kasunic, Yudichak, Blake, Leach, Washington, Yaw, Farnese, Mensch, Wozniak, Schwank, Williams
[divider top=”0″]Private Lateral Sewage Line Maintenance
SB 1259 – Amends the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act to allow municipalities to include private lateral rehabilitation or replacement in PennVEST funding applications when determined by the municipality that it is the most cost effective approach to reduce wet weather sewer overflows.
Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy, February 28, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Erickson, Smith, Rafferty, Williams, Hughes, Yudichak, Kasunic, Brewster
[divider top=”0″]Posting School Policies
SB 1151 – Would require all traditional K-12 public schools to post online certain school policies on the district’s website.
Referred to Education, October 29, 2013
Other Co-sponsors: Stack, Smith, Teplitz, Washington, Farnese, Vulakovich, Solobay, Brewster
[divider top=”0″]Kindergarten Requirement
SB 1150 – Amends the Public School Code to require all school districts in the Commonwealth to provide kindergarten.
Referred to Education, October 29, 2013
Other Co-sponsors: Wozniak, Rafferty, Schwank, Farnese, Brewster, Pileggi, Hughes, Ferlo, Costa, Solobay, Browne
[divider top=”0″]Early Voting
SB 900 – Amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to provide for early voting in primaries and elections beginning 15 days prior.
Referred to State Government, May 3, 2013
Co sponsors: Teplitz, Washington, Brewster, Farnese, Tartaglione, Smith, Williams, Hughes, Ferlo, Solobay, Yudichak, Costa, Boscola, Wozniak, Browne, Blake, Wiley
[divider top=”1″]9-11 Memorial Vehicle Registration Plate (With Senator Kasunic)
SB 779 – PENNDOT would offer a special registration plate to commemorate those affected by the events of September 11, 2001.
Referred to Transportation, April 1, 2013
Co sponsors: Kasunic, Costa, Wozniak, Teplitz, Stack, Washington, Yudichak, Brewster, Ferlo, Tartaglione, Schwank, Smith, Farnese, Solobay, Erickson, Mensch, Greenleaf, Browne, McIlhinney, Alloway, Brubaker, Vulakovich, Baker, Hughes, Williams
[divider top=”1″]Film Production Tax Credit
SB 687 – Amends the Tax Reform Code to increase the Film Production Tax Credit from the current $60 million to $100 million.
Referred to Finance, March 14, 2013
Other Co-sponsors: Brewster, Greenleaf, Yudichak, Costa, Ferlo, Erickson, Washington, Solobay, Hughes
[divider top=”1″]Voter ID Neighborhood Centers
SB 636 – Amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to require that the Department of State designate district offices of members of the General Assembly, municipal offices or other facilities as places where voters can obtain a voter identification card.
Referred to State Government, March 8, 2013
Other Co-sponsors: Teplitz, Wozniak, Brewster, Smith, Costa, Washington, Kasunic, Stack, Solobay, Browne, Farnese, Ferlo, Tartaglione, Hughes, Blake
[divider top=”0″]Adult Mentored Hunting Program (With Senator Corman)
SB 623 – Amends the Game Code (Title 34) to allow the PA Game Commission to implement an Adult Mentored Hunting Program in Pennsylvania.
Referred to Game and Fisheries, March 6, 2013
Reported as committed, March 12, 2013 (11-0)
Committed in Appropriations, March 13, 2013 (26-0)
Senate, March 19, 2013 (50-0)
Amended in House Games and Fisheries, April 16, 2013 (22-2)
Committed in House Appropriations, April 24, 2013 (33-0)
House, April 24, 2013 (195-0)
Senate Concurred in House amendments, April 30, 2013 (49-0)
Approved by the Governor, May 15, 2013
Act 7 of 2013
Co sponsors: Corman, Fontana, Alloway, Eichelberger, Wozniak, Baker, Waugh, Teplitz, Rafferty, White, Schwank, Brewster, Smith, Boscola, Solobay, Robbins, Kasunic, Folmer, McIlhinney, Hutchinson, Costa, Erickson, Gordner, Vulakovich, Mensch, Brubaker, Blake, Browne, Ferlo
[divider top=”0″]Water Testing Results by DEP
SB 592 – Amends Title 58 (Oil and Gas) by requiring that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provide the water test results to homeowners for all parameters that they have accurately measured using their normal procedures. DEP would also be required to post the water test results online, categorized by municipality, so that the confidentiality of homeowners’ water supply will not be compromised.
Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy, March 1, 2013
Co sponsors: Kasunic, Rafferty, Ferlo, Yudichak, Blake, Costa, McIlhinney, Tartaglione, Farnese, Brewster, Schwank, Hughes, Boscola, Washington, Wiley
[divider top=”0″]Elimination of Property Taxes for Allegheny County
SB 418 – The legislation amends the Second Class County Code by eliminating property taxes in Allegheny County by authorizing Allegheny County Council to eliminate property reassessments within the county. The county and each municipality and school district within the county would then be empowered to impose other taxes to replace the property tax revenues. These other taxes options would include an earned income and net profits tax, a personal income tax, sales and use tax, real property fee (per square foot), and any other tax authorized under the Local Tax Enabling Act.
Referred to Finance, February 5, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Ferlo, Ward, Tartaglione, Costa
[divider top=”0″]Exemption of Veteran’s Benefits
SB 417 – This legislation exempts veterans’ disability benefits as eligible income under the following acts: Senior Citizen Property Tax and Rent Rebate Assistance (Act 1) and PACE/PACENET.
Referred to Finance, February 8, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Stack, Erickson, Mensch, Vulakovich, Farnese, Greenleaf, Washington, Vogel, Tartaglione, Williams, Hughes, Hutchinson, Brewster, Schwank, Ferlo, Solobay, Rafferty, Yudichak, Boscola, Brubaker, Costa, Leach, Baker, Waugh, Blake
[divider top=”0″]Civil Service Preference Points for Veterans
SB 241 – Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) by increasing preference points to veterans on any civil service appointments or promotional examination from 10 to 15.
Referred to Veterans Affairs, January 6, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Brewster, Washington, Stack, Teplitz, Ferlo, Kitchen, Smith, Kasunic, Hughes, Farnese, Costa, Blake, Yudichak, Rafferty, Hutchinson, Solobay, Mensch
[divider top=”0″]Recapitalization of the Business in Our Sites Program
SB 224 – The bill amends Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) recapitalizing the Business in Our Sites Program using $50 million of previously allocated funding from underutilized program accounts combines with $25 million in revolving loan funds.
Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development, February 5, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Washington, Kasunic, Tartaglione, Yudichak, Ferlo, Farnese, Solobay, Williams, Hughes, Brewster, Kitchen, Costa, Blake, Boscola
[divider top=”0″]Small Business Investment Guarantee Program
SB 205 – The legislation amends Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) providing that the Second Stage Loan Program would become the Small Business Investment Guarantee. In addition, the bill defines small businesses, adds economic development organization as permitted to make loan available to small business, additional requirements for application as well as provides for equity investment and loan guarantees
Referred to Community, Economic and Recreational Development, February 5, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Washington, Kasunic, Tartaglione, Yudichak, Ferlo, Farnese, Solobay, Williams, Hughes, Brewster, Kitchen, Costa, Blake, Boscola
[divider top=”0″]Taxing Non-Profits on Land Value
SB 143 – Amends the Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act to require non-profits to pay real estate taxes based on the value of their land only, exempting the first $200,000 of total land value. The exemption would apply to all properties owned by the entity.
Referred to Finance, January 15, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Washington, Ferlo
[divider top=”0″]Free Fishing Licensure for 50% Disabled Veterans
SB 142 – Amends Title 30 (Fish) to provide that a veteran who is 50% disabled as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who meets the related qualifications, shall be issued a free resident fishing license. Currently, veterans must be 100% disabled.
Referred to Game and Fisheries, January 15, 2013
Co sponsors: Farnese, Washington, Hughes, Mensch, Erickson, Kasunic, Schwank, Rafferty, Alloway, Tartaglione, Kitchen, Brewster, Williams, Boscola, Greenleaf, Vulakovich, Browne, Yudichak, Ferlo, Smith, Ward, Solobay, Costa, Baker, Dinniman, Blake, Wiley
[divider top=”0″]Angel Investment Tax Credit
SB 141 – Amends Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) to provide for an Angel Investment Tax Credit for individuals (or network of individuals) who review new businesses or proposed businesses and make investments. Furthermore, taxpayers could receive a tax credit for a portion of their investment as a means to promote angel investment in entrepreneurial opportunities.
Reported as committed, February 13, 2013 (9-2)
First consideration, February 13, 2013
Laid on the table, March 20
Other Co-Sponsors: Farnese, Kasunic, Schwank, Greenleaf, Vulakovich, Browne, Yudichak, Ferlo, Smith, Brewster, Gordner, Costa, Boscola, Dinniman, Blake, McIlhinney, Wiley, Mensch
[divider top=”0″]Adult Mentoring Hunting Program
SB 140 – Amends the Game Code (Title 34) to allow the PA Game Commission to implement an Adult Mentored Hunting Program in Pennsylvania.
Referred to Game and Fisheries, January 15, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Vogel, Kasunic, Erickson, Schwank, Rafferty, Alloway, Brewster, Eichelberger, Boscola, Ferlo, Smith, White, Solobay, Costa, Baker, White, Browne, McIlhinney
[divider top=”0″]New Home Construction Tax Abatement Act Amendment
SB 139 – Amends the New Home Construction Tax Abatement Act, to extend the time period in which a homeowner can apply for an extension.
Referred to Finance, January 15, 2013
Other Co-Sponsors: Kasunic, Farnese, Washington, Erickson, Rafferty, Alloway, Tartaglione, Hughes, Boscola, Browne, Yudichak, Ferlo, Solobay, Costa, Blake
[divider top=”0″]Child Abuse Reporting
SB 31 – Amends the Child Protective Services portion of the Domestic Relations Code to provide that child abuse is investigated in the same manner for every report, regardless of the perpetrator. Child abuse reporting would also apply to school employees where there is suspected child abuse.
Referred to Education, March 15, 2013
Reported as amended, June 11, 2013 (11-0)
Amended in Appropriations, October 1, 2013 (25-0)
Senate, October 16, 2013 (49-0)
Amended in House Children and Youth, March 12, 2014 (24-0)
Reported as committed in House Appropriations, March 19, 2014 (34-0)
House, April 30, 2014 (197-0)
Rules and Nominations, May 6, 2014 (17-0)
Senate Concurred in House amendments, May 7, 2014 (49-0)
Signed by the Governor, May 14, 2014
Act 44 of 2014
Co sponsors: Folmer, Washington, Erickson, Stack, Brewster, Ferlo, Teplitz, Baker, Rafferty, Yudichak, Kasunic, Tartaglione, Williams, Smith, Farnese, Waugh, Mensch, Hughes, Browne, Ward, Vance, Pileggi, Boscola, Costa, Alloway, Schwank, Dinniman, Blake
[divider top=”0″]Committee Consideration
SR 305 – Amends Senate Rule 14 by granting the prime sponsor of a bill/resolution the ability to request a public meeting or hearing within 10 legislative days of the request and would require a vote on the bill/resolution within 10 legislative days after the hearing.
Referred to Rules and Executive Nominations, March 14, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Smith, Farnese, Teplitz, Brewster, Kasunic, Solobay
[divider top=”0″]LBFC Workforce Investment Study (with Smith)
SR 396 – Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of all state sponsored workforce investment programs.
Referred to Labor and Industry, June 3, 2014
Other Co-sponsors: Smith, Teplitz, Ferlo, Kasunic, Brewster, Vulakovich, Costa, Argall, Gordner, Stack, Yudichak, Wiley, Hughes, Solobay, Tartaglione, Boscola
[divider top=”0″]Ridesharing Resolution
SR 427 – Urges the PUC to approve applications for experimental licenses submitted by ridesharing companies that operate in cities of the Second Class.
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