Prime Sponsored Bills

SB 297
The Commonwealth is home to one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world. An open reporting process would spur a substantial amount of interest into the amount of natural gas produced throughout the state. In time, this formation could turn out to be a substantial revenue producer for our local governments and state as a whole. Current PA law requires annual well reporting, but stipulates that this information be kept confidential for five years. However, many states, such as Texas, already post this information online on a regular basis.

In an effort to entice more development as well as offer information to local communities on the amount of natural gas being produced in their townships, my bill would require a six-month report and an annual report of all oil and natural gas well production to be posted on the DEP website.

SB 298
Pennsylvania is sitting on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, the Marcellus Shale, which has resulted in a considerable amount of interest in gas exploration in the Commonwealth. A large number of our farming constituents, many that are currently enrolled in Clean and Green, have signed leases for gas exploration. The leases for gas exploration and Clean and Green, as it now stands, has spurred confusion and inconsistency among the counties in how to apply roll-back taxes under the program.

In an effort to encourage the development of the Marcellus Shale, while not penalizing landowners who may seek to develop their mineral rights, my bill will limit roll back taxes to only the acres which are utilized for oil or natural gas development.

SB 599
"Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act"
The PA Housing Finance Agency has done a tremendous job in addressing housing and community development throughout the entire Commonwealth.

With the enactment of PHARE, Pennsylvania would join 38 other states that have created housing trust funds. Through this program, PHFA would develop programs to build, rehabilitate and preserve homes for low to moderate income individuals and families, the elderly and people with disabilities. Allowable activities would include construction, rehabilitation and repair of homes, rental assistance, foreclosure prevention and counseling and predevelopment costs.

SB 619
This legislation addresses the "revolving door" employment of executive-level employees of a State agency by businesses which have contracts with that agency. The Ethics Act currently prohibits the following:

A former official or employee from representing a person before the governmental body with which he was associated for one year.
An executive-level State employee from being employed by a business that he is actively participated in recruiting to or inducing the expansion of in Pennsylvania for two years.

My legislation would prohibit a former executive-level State employee with responsibilities related to the awarding of a contract, the development of policies or requirements relating to a contract, the negotiation of a contract or other participation in the development or award of a contract from seeking or accepting employment with an entity that contracts or intends to contract with that same agency. The prohibition shall be for a two year period.

SB 877
Pennsylvania currently holds one of the largest Timber Rattlesnake populations in the country, yet they have experienced a sharp decline in population due to unrestricted hunting, den raiding and land development. This has resulted in a once abundant Pennsylvania species to become a candidate for the threatened and endangered species list in the state. Senate Bill 877 will designate the Timber Rattlesnake as the official reptile of the Commonwealth.

Also, the Timber Rattlesnake is one of only three venomous snakes that calls home to Pennsylvania. In recent years, the medical importance for venomous snakes was being recognized worldwide for its potential value in treatments for hypertension, heart attacks, and cancer.

By introducing this legislation, we will raise awareness of the Timber Rattlesnake's sudden drop in population and medical importance not only in Pennsylvania, but worldwide.

SB 1185 - Legislation that will amend the Pension Code to change the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) from a defined benefit program to a hybrid program that features elements of both defined benefits (DB) and defined contribution types of systems.

The new feature of the system, known as the defined contribution, will allow members to have greater control over a portion of their contributions by allowing them to invest in one or more investment options created by PSERS. Employees would be required to contribute at least 3% of their salary in an Individual Annuity Savings Plan, a personal account to which all earnings of the individual's investments would be credited. The employer match for the defined contribution portion of the fund would be 2% and could not be negotiated to a higher number. Employees would be allowed to invest more than 3% of their salary up to the IRS limit.