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Welcome to "Mike's Memo," an update on what's
happening in the 48th Legislative District, the State Capitol,
and the progress on my "Promise
to Pennsylvania," a pledge to advance government reforms,
enact meaningful lawsuit abuse reform, eliminate wasteful state
spending, and cut taxes. If you haven't done so already, please
take a few moments to visit my website at
www.senatorfolmer.com to learn more about issues that may
affect you and your family.
Week of February 6, 2012
Bills Signed Into Law
House Bill 1458, changes to Commercial Driver's Licenses, was signed into
law as Act 1 of 2012. My
Senate Bill 726, legislation to eliminate elected assessors in Townships of
the First Class, was also signed into law, along with the bills listed below:
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Senate Bill 159 - authorizes the Commonwealth to join the Interstate Compact
on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;
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Senate Bill 923 - authorizes certain housing authorities to hire police
officers;
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Senate Bill 995 - requires 911 response information in Marcellus Shale
drilling areas;
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House Bill 169 - updates to the Small Games of Chance Law;
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House Bill 170 - establishes a minimum four-foot wide vehicle safe zone when
passing bicycles;
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House Bill 398 - registration and regulation of appraisal management
companies; and
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House Bill 1630 - amends the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act relating to
service contracts, warranties, and debt suspension and cancellation agreements.
Senate Bill 8
After months of work, I am pleased to be partnering with
Senators Scarnati, Pileggi, and Farnese to introduce Senate Bill 8, legislation
to promote the electronic sharing of patient records and other health
information. (The bill would establish an authority (rather than the
Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange, proposed last Session) to encourage
existing and future networks rather than building a state network and finding
ways to sustain it. The bill will be the topic of a Senate Communications &
Technology Committee public hearing on Wednesday, March 7, at 9:30 a.m., in
Room 8E-A, East Wing. Additional details to follow.
College Degree Programs
I recently introduced
Senate Bill 1406 which would allow Pennsylvania private and non-profit
colleges who have been operating for at least ten years to add new programs,
majors, and degrees without prior review of the department of education.
Currently, institutions of higher education with a
universal charter (including state-related universities such Lincoln University,
Penn State, Temple, and Pitt) may establish any program and award any degree
without department approval. The State System of Higher Education also has
authority to review its own programs, and community colleges are authorized to
develop their own associate degree programs.
Please feel free to contact me at any time on state-related
issues that are of concern to you. I may be reached through my
website or my Lebanon or
Harrisburg offices.
Editor's Note – To better serve readers, Mike's
Memo will now be distributed on Friday. Was this message forwarded to you? Visit
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"Mike's Memo."
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Offices
170 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5708
Fax: 717-787-3455
TTY: 800-364-1581
101 Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-274-6735
Fax: 717-274-7702
Toll Free: 1-877-222-1897 Email:
mfolmer@pasen.gov
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