Legislation
Legislation Introduced by Senator Fontana | 2013-2014 Legislative Session
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
Other 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
Re-referred to Appropriations, March 13, 2013
Re-reported as committed, March 18, 2013 (26-0)
Senate Final Passage, March 19, 2013 (50-0)
Referred to House Game and Fisheries, March 21, 2013
Reported as amended, April 16, 2013 (22-2)
First consideration, April 16, 2013
Laid on the table, April 16, 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
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
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
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
