Harrisburg Happenings
A Report on the Legislative Session Week of June 7, 2010

By Senator Bob Mensch
24th Senatorial District

Education Committee Approves Measure Requiring Super Majority for School Tax Hikes 

The Senate Education Committee approved legislation that would require a "super majority" vote for school boards to raise taxes.

Senate Bill 553 amends the Public School Code to require all millage property tax increases to be approved by a two-thirds majority vote by the members elected to the board of school directors. The legislation would provide greater taxpayer protections and ensure that school boards of directors first seek to control spending before raising taxes.

The Committee also approved legislation to extend a provision of the state's Empowerment Act that allows school districts to apply for waivers from certain mandates. Under Senate Bill 250, the sunset date for the Mandate Waiver Program will be removed, allowing the program to continue past the scheduled ending date of June 30, 2010.

The Mandate Waiver Program allows school districts, intermediate units and vocational-technical schools to apply for waivers from certain requirements in the Public School Code. To be eligible for a waiver, school entities must have their application approved by the Department of Education and show the waiver will allow them to improve their instructional programs or operate in a more efficient or economical manner.

SB 250 also allows the Department to grant a waiver in cases where the school district intends to solicit multiple prime and single prime construction bids and award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.

Senate Approves Prison Reform Bills

The Senate approved bills that would provide for alternative sentencing programs for non-violent offenders, allow offenders with short minimum sentences to serve their time in community corrections centers, and provide punishment alternatives for technical parole violators.

Senate Bill 1145 provides a risk and needs assessment to help identify offenders with the lowest probability of being reconvicted of a serious crime so they could be considered for alternative sentencing programs.

Senate Bill 1161 would allow inmates with short minimum sentences to be moved to community corrections centers for community-based treatment.

Senate Bill 1275 establishes a graduated sanctioning process for state parole violators. The system is designed to hold the parolee accountable for technical parole violations while avoiding the cost of recommitting the parolee to prison.

The state's inmate population has increased by 618 percent between 1980 and 2010 (from 8,243 in 1980 to over 51,000 inmates in 2010). If the prison population continues to increase at the current rate, Pennsylvania may have to build a new prison every year beginning in 2012 – each at a cost of over $200 million to build and $60 million annually to operate.

Senate Backs "Honor and Remember" Flag

The state Senate unanimously adopted a Resolution that I introduced urging Congress to officially recognize the "Honor and Remember" Flag as a national emblem.

Senate Resolution 287 formally states the state Senate's support of the flag, which recognizes the service and sacrifice of by the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty.

While the American Flag represents the beliefs and values of our nation, our country does not have an official national symbol that recognizes in gratitude and respect the ultimate sacrifice made by members of the United States military in service to our nation. The Honor and Remember Flag would do that and provide a lasting tribute to our fallen citizens.

The Honor and Remember Flag has been endorsed by the American Gold Mothers Inc., the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Officers Association of America, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Air Force Security Forces Association, and the Naval Reserve Association.

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