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April 30, 2010

Senator John Pippy E-News

Pennsylvania Senate News in Review

Final Bills in Anti-Methamphetamine Package Headed for Enactment

The Senate provided final legislative approval Tuesday of two bills that complete the three-bill package targeting the continuing problem of illegal production of methamphetamine in Pennsylvania. 

House Bill 485 amends the Crimes Code to provide penalties for operating a methamphetamine lab and the illegal dumping of methamphetamine waste. It is a companion bill to Act 8 of 2010, sponsored by Sen. John Gordner (Columbia), which amended the Controlled Substances Act. 

Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Senator Gordner, amends the Controlled Substances Act to require defendants convicted of operating illegal labs to pay for the environmental clean-up costs associated with the lab. Both House Bill 485 and Senate Bill 126 also add additional precursor substances to the list of those already used to manufacture methamphetamine. For more on the package, please see Fast Facts, below.

Sen. Folmer's High Risk Pool Legislation Approved By Committee

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (Lebanon) to establish a state High Risk Pool (HRP) on Wednesday unanimously passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, chaired by Sen. Don White (Indiana).  

Many other states have some version of a high risk pool, which do not allow public funds to pay premiums. Senate Bill 507 would apply this provision to Pennsylvania law while establishing an independent board of directors to oversee the operations of the pool and ensure it is self-sustaining. 

Senator Folmer compared the HRP to the auto insurance market, where such a pool would also ensure the ability of all insurers to appropriately match premiums to the cost of the underlying risk in all products sold in the Pennsylvania marketplace. 

The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration. -  

Sen. Don White Secures DCNR Pledge to Keep State Parks Open

Under questioning from Sen. Don White (Indiana), Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley pledged Tuesday to keep Pennsylvania's 117 state parks open this summer.

Senator White secured the commitment during a public hearing held by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (Venango), on Quigley's nomination to serve as DCNR Secretary.

Last year, Acting Secretary Quigley unveiled a list of 50 state parks that could be closed as a result of a budget impasse. On Tuesday, the Acting Secretary stated that resources are available to keep all 117 parks open, even though the DCNR has seen its funding reduced in recent budgets. -  

Cost-Cutting Commission Examines Vehicle Fleet Costs, Education Spending

The Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission examined the costs of the state vehicle fleet and possible savings in education spending during Monday’s public hearing.

Chaired by Sen. David Argall (Schuylkill), the commission heard testimony from Deputy Auditor General for Audits Thomas Marks regarding recent reports on the state vehicle fleet.

Senator Argall said that the commission hopes to work with the Department of General Services to closely examine state vehicle expenses in the coming weeks to identify possible savings to taxpayers.

For more on the hearing, please see In the Spotlight, below.

Agenda, Testimony & Video

Hearing on Privatization of Weights and Measures Enforcement 

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, chaired by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), held a public hearing on the privatization of weights and measures enforcement and how it will affect consumers and businesses.               

Weights and measures inspection and enforcement is currently performed by either the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture or the individual county. However, a new program established by the department would allow for a private certification program where a third party could perform inspections or the actual business could inspect itself.  

Senator Tomlinson pointed to several government reports that have been critical of the department’s current program and fears that the same inadequacies will be mirrored in the new program. 

In the Spotlight

State Representative Sheryl Delozier offered testimony on the Privatize, Retain, Innovate, Modify and Eliminate (PRIME) Initiative created in 1995 to examine government spending. The PRIME Initiative coordinated the implementation of recommendations made by the Improve Management and Cost Control Task Force (IMPACCT) Commission established by Governor Ridge to review the operations of state government. Delozier pointed out that the PRIME Initiative did not examine education spending and suggested that the General Assembly do a similar study on education costs.

Commission members also heard a presentation by County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Executive Director Douglas Hill and Deputy Director Brinda Carroll Penyak. CCAP is a non-profit, non-partisan association providing legislative and regulatory representation on behalf of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Hill advocated restoring funding for the Human Services Development Fund to help prevent costly local problems in the future.

Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, provided testimony on transparency and accountability in state government.

Members of the public who have ideas they would like the commission to consider are encouraged to send an email to: cuttingcosts@pasen.gov.

The commission will report its findings to the Senate in the form of recommendations no later than June 30 for legislative or state agency action. The commission's next meeting is scheduled for May 3.

Fast Facts