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Issues Pop Up at End of Session Pace.

This week, the General Assembly focused on filling a $108 million hole in the state education budget and coming to an impasse over "tort reform," among other things. In other news, it became more and more clear that the effort to get the General Assembly to consider a November ballot issue to repeal early its one-cent, two-year sales tax has pretty much run out of gas. Though we’re sure that concept and effort will continue, in one way or another, to make periodic headlines, the schedule for resolving court challenges to petitions filed by the pro-repeal group virtually bar that issue from coming to the General Assembly for consideration prior to the deadline for November ballot issues.

The budget hole plugged this week came from funds in the Department of Education and expected end-of-the-fiscal-year fund balances in the rest of the state’s GRF. On tort reform, early in the week it looked like a deal had been brokered between the two houses. That deal fell apart on the last day of this week’s session. The Senate has been pushing for broad tort reform now, while the House has raised questions about the necessity for quick action. Though it could, we doubt this issue will be resolved before the end of this month, when the Assembly is expected to recess for the summer.

The bills which address issues surrounding Enterprise Zones, Tax Increment Finance projects and job training programs (HB 427 and SB 206) are still up in the air. Neither the designation as the "vehicle" bill, nor final compromise language regarding TIF’s has been decided yet. Though compromise concepts about the TIF issues in the bill are floating about, we have seen nothing in writing as we are writing this.

Next week, the Senate will be in session, while the House has committee hearings only scheduled.

Eminent Domain Bill.

A substitute version of HB 411, which would allow "quick take" eminent domain actions for sewer projects under order by EPA or a local Board of Health, was presented to the House County and Township Committee. Because of some questions raised by a number of municipal attorneys, we asked the sponsor Representative Bill Seitz, to remove municipalities from this bill, which he did in the substitute version of the bill. We appreciate Representative Seitz’s help in this matter.

Tow Trucks and Pension Bills.

As you recall, we mentioned last week two towing bills are under consideration by the General Assembly (SB 34 and HB 307). Neither bill was up for a hearing this week and won’t be heard next week. We are working with both House and Senate members for acceptable versions of both bills.

As for major Public Pension Reform, the Senate and House are still at loggerheads on this issue, so there is little to report, other than to say there is nothing to report.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19

Senate Judiciary, (Chr. Austria, 466-3780), North Hearing Rm., 9 a.m.

HB 181 ELECTED OFFICIAL SUSPENSIONS (Schaffer) Permits the Governor to suspend from office in accordance with a specified procedure any elected local official charged with a felony related to the official's administration of, or conduct in the performance of the duties of, the office and prohibits a person who is convicted of certain theft offenses, or any other felony or recent misdemeanor involving fraud, deceit, or theft, from holding a public office or position of public employment, or serving in certain unpaid volunteer positions, that involve substantial management or control of certain public or private property. (3rd Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party)

HB428 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT REGULATION (Reidelbach) Generally regulates adult entertainment establishments; permits townships to regulate the location and operation of those establishments; creates an expedited appeal from orders, adjudications, or decisions denying an application for, or suspending or revoking, a license or permit to locate or operate such an establishment; creates an expedited appear in any case in which a court determines there is a threat of restraint of protected _expression, and; creates the offense of permitting unlawful operation of viewing booths depicting sexual conduct. (5th Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party - Amendments & Possible vote)

House Ways & Means, (Chr. Kilbane, 466-0961), Rm. 313, 10 a.m.

HB 58 TAX REFORM DIRECTIVE (Kilbane) Directs the General Assembly in its deliberations regarding the enactment of reforms of the state's tax laws. (17th Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party)

HB 458 MOTOR FUEL TAX DELAY (Grendell) Delays for one year the increase in the motor fuel tax that is scheduled to begin taking effect in fiscal year 2005, authorizes county auditors to establish a motor fuel quality testing program, and creates the Gasoline Practices Oversight Commission for the period ending December 31, 2005. (1st Hearing-Sponsor)

House Energy & Environment, (Chr. Hollister, 644-8728), Taft Rm. (formerly 122), 11 a.m.

HB 259 DEMOLITION DEBRIS DISPOSAL (Harwood) Replaces the construction and demolition debris facility license fee with a disposal fee, amends the definition of "construction and demolition debris," revises the siting criteria for a construction and demolition debris facility, requires background checks for the operation of such a facility, and requires post-closure bonding for certain construction and demolition debris facilities. (2nd Hearing-Proponent)

THURSDAY, MAY 20

House Banking, Pensions & Securities, (Chr. Blasdel, 466-8022), Rm. 018, 10:30 a.m.

HB 449 RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFUND (Seitz) Allows a retirant re-employed in a position covered by the Public Employees Retirement System to receive a refund of the retirant's contributions in lieu of a benefit for the period of re-employment. (4th Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party - Possible vote)

HB 469 RETIREMENT SERVICE CREDIT (Stewart, J.) Permits a member of the Public Employees Retirement System who serves without compensation as an elected member of a board, commission or other public body while employed in a position covered by PERS to purchase additional service credit. (1st Hearing-Sponsor)

House Municipal Government & Urban Revitalization, House Municipal Government & Urban Revitalization (Chr. Willamowski, 466-9624), Chr. Willamowski, 466-9624 Taft Rm. (formerly 122), 11 a.m.

HB 256 MERGER LAW (Setzer) Revises the Merger Law. (3rd Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party - Amendments & Possible vote)