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Senator John Pippy E-NewsSenate News In Review SENATE APPROVES TOMLINSON BILL TO BAN TEXTING, CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING The Senate voted 41-8 Wednesday to approve legislation sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (Bucks) and supported by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones and texting while driving and setting new guidelines for junior drivers. Senate Bill 314 would apply to handheld cell phones for all drivers, regardless of age. Hands-free cell phone use would still be permitted by drivers who do not have a learner's permit or junior driver's license. The bill would make it a primary offense for all drivers to text, email, browse the internet and instant message. Senate Bill 314 would make it a secondary offense to use a cell phone while driving – meaning the driver would have to first be pulled over for a primary offense. Senate Bill 314 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. For more on Senate Bill 314, please see In the Spotlight, below. SENATE VOTES TO ENSURE STATE REGULATIONS ARE BASED ON RELIABLE DATA Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (Delaware) to help ensure that state regulations are based on reliable data and sound science was unanimously approved Monday by the Senate. Senate Bill 263 would expand the scope of review by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) to include the examination of the quality of data, studies, reports and information underlying state regulations being implemented. The state agency seeking to implement a regulation would have the responsibility to provide to the IRRC a sufficient description of any data upon which the regulation is based as well as a detailed explanation of how the data was obtained and why the data is acceptable. The Senate approved similar legislation last session, but it did not receive consideration in the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 263 was sent to the House for consideration. SENATE PASSES BAKER BILLS TO BRING REFORMS TO JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM The Senate approved legislation Wednesday sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker (Luzerne) to reform the juvenile justice system and protect the fundamental rights of kids entering the system. The reform package includes:
SENATE APPROVES PICCOLA FAMILY DAY CARE BILL TO IMPROVE SAFETY The Senate approved legislation Tuesday sponsored by Sen. Jeffery Piccola (Dauphin) that would establish greater protections and additional security for parents whose children are in the hands of a residential day care provider. Under Senate Bill 227, all family day care providers in Pennsylvania would be required to have liability insurance as a condition of their state certification, a regulation currently encouraged but not mandated. A family day care is defined as a child day care center located in a residential home providing care to four through six children who are not relatives of the caregiver. The legislation would also require home care providers to disclose information to parents up front and prior to their child's enrollment regarding the facility and its record with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Additionally, the bill includes a provision to allow the state to immediately close problem day cares or remove children if evidence is found relating to gross negligence, misconduct or mistreatment of children constituting an immediate and serious danger to the children's life or health. EXPANDED OIL AND GAS ITEMIZATION REQUIREMENTS APPROVED BY SENATE The Senate approved legislation June 7 requiring natural gas producing companies to list production detail and all deductions on royalty check stubs. Senate Bill 460, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (Lycoming), would require companies producing natural gas to show the information, including the amount of oil and gas purchased, on each check stub, attachment to a payment form, or other remittance invoice. Currently, Pennsylvania does not require gas companies to list deductions from royalties paid to landowners on monthly payments. Senate Bill 460 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. For more, please see Fast Facts, below.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Senate Bill 314 prohibits the use of handheld cell phones and texting while driving with the following exceptions:
Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. The legislation would also prohibit junior drivers, during their first six months of driving, from transporting more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not a family member unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After six months a junior driver would be allowed to transport three passengers under the age of 18 who are not members of the driver's immediate family. Under the legislation, failure to wear a seat belt would also be a primary offense for drivers under 18 years of age and occupants ages 8 to 18. Senator Tomlinson said: "Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents, especially among young people. When people are behind the wheel they should be concentrating on the road and other drivers, not texting or talking on cell phones."
PennDOT District 11 Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is reminding motorists several highway
and bridge improvements will be occurring in Allegheny County this weekend, June
17-20. Single lane closures on the ramps from southbound Route 65 (Ohio River
Boulevard) and southbound I-279 (Parkway North) to the Fort Duquesne Bridge in
the City of Pittsburgh will occur from 7 p.m. on Friday to 11 a.m. on Saturday
morning. One lane on the approaches will remain open at all times. Crews will be
conducting drainage work. Google Map of General Area: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.4444,-80.009286&spn=0.011333,0.019205&z=16 Fort Pitt Bridge Bridge Inspection Liberty Tunnel The Liberty Tunnel (Route 3069) in the City of Pittsburgh will be closed in
both directions from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.
Liberty Tunnel Friday Night Closures Begin this week in Pittsburgh Liberty Bridge Ramp Closure The ramp from the Liberty Bridge to northbound I-579 in the City of
Pittsburgh will be closed this weekend from 8 p.m. continuously through 6 a.m.
on Monday. Crews will be replacing expansion dams on the ramp. Signs will be
posted to guide motorists onto Forbes Avenue. I-79 Bridge Work Guide Rail Repairs A short-term, single lane closure on northbound I-79 in Franklin Park Borough will occur between 6-9 a.m. Saturday. The brief lane closure is necessary as contractor crews conduct guide rail repairs just north of the I-279 Exit 72 Interchange. All exits and ramps will remain open. Full release:
Northbound I-79 Guide Rail Repairs Saturday in Allegheny County I-579 Crosstown Boulevard Overhead Bridge Painting Call 1-800 FIX ROAD to report roadway problems and concerns. Log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions and cameras on major roadways before traveling. The 511 system also automatically feeds Twitter accounts with information such as incidents, construction notices and weather alerts. The Pittsburgh/Southwestern-region account, www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh, covers Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Follow PennDOT to receive real-time updates. District 11 offers specialized information for particular roadways and projects. Potential email subscribers should specify preferences for receiving information for the following categories:
Potential subscribers should send their email address and location preferences to Press Officer Jim Struzzi at jstruzzi@state.pa.us or contact the PennDOT District 11 Press Office by phone at 412-429-5010. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY: Pennsylvania Department of
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