The Gettysburg Times from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania • Page 17

THE GETTYSBURG TIMES, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993 7B Pennsylvania lawmakers face welfare reform, tax cut bills By SHARON L. LYNCH Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG (AP) The House plans to take up a potpourri of bills this week, including one re- quiring lawmakers to review the performance of state agencies and eliminate those that are poorly run or no longer useful. a glance HARRISBURG (AP) --Here is a rundown on selected bills pending in the state Legislature. SB stands for bills introduced in the Senate, HB for bills introduced in the 1 House. CALENDAR The Senate and House are in ses- sion this week.

WORKERS COMPENSATION SBl would cap medical reimbursement on workers compensation injuries and change the way insurers set rates. Passed the Senate Feb. 10. Amended in the House and approved March 30. Sent to a joint conference commit- tee the week of April 19th.

TAX REFORM SB182, sponsored by Democrats, would allow counties to impose a 1 percent wage tax oral percent personal income tax, plus an additional 1 percent sales tax. Most of the new revenues would go toward lowering property or nuisance taxes. The new money would be split between counties, school districts and local government. Referred to the Senate Finance Com. mittee Jan.

12. A package of bills unveiled by the Senate's top Republican would allow counties to establish a wage tax of up to 0.5 percent while munici- palities and school districts could split an additional 1 percent wage tax. Any changes would have to be approved by local referendum. JUDICIAL REFORM HB1 would change the way the state disciplines judges. It would create two panels: the 12-member Judicial Conduct Board to investigate judicial wrongdoing, and the eight-member Court of Judicial Discipline to try wayward judges.

Members would include lawyers, non-lawyers, district justices and judges. The amendment also would open the judicial discipline process to the media and public. Passed the House and Senate in two sessions. Slated for statewide referendum this spring. FAMILY LEAVE SB3 and SB65 would allow family leave for employees in certain cases involving a birth, adoption or serious health problems with protection of workers'employment and benefits.

Referred to the Senate Labor and Industry Committee Jan. 5. HB108 is a similar measure pending in the House. APPROPRIATIONS HB815 would provide $126.7 million in supplemental funds to the 1992-93 state general fund budget for state programs, agencies and job training. The bill also includes $500,000 for the attorney general's investigation of alleged misconduct on the state Supreme Court.

Approved in the House March 24 and sent to the Senate. SPECIAL EDUCATION HB129 would allow the state to continue funding special education, void a school reform proposal known as outcome-based education, and void a desegregation lawsuit i i i a i a schools. Passed the House Jan. 10, pending in the Senate. SB267 would allow the state to continue funding special education.

The current formula for spending state money on special education expired Dec. 31. Passed the Senate Feb. 2, pending in the House. STALKING HB3 would establish stalking as a crime and set up penalties.

Passed the House Feb. 10, pending in the Senate. SB369, a similar proposal, passed the Senate March 23 and is pending in the House. STRIKES SB22 would require employers to maintain certain benefits for striking employees who are replaced. Also, SB23 would provide more prohibitions in the state's Strikebreaker Employment Act.

Both referred to the Senate Labor and Industry Committee Jan. 5. "It makes agencies more accountable," said Timothy Potts, spokesman for House Speaker H. William DeWeese, D-Greene. In the coming weeks, welfare reform will be high on the House agenda.

Majority Leader Ivan Itkin, D- Allegheny, said he plans to bring a package of welfare reform bills, now pending in committees, up for a floor vote the first week in May. One provision included in a bill by Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, would require adults to live in Pen- CANCER RESEARCH SB47 would allow taxpayers to check off a certain amount of money on state income tax forms to be used for cancer research. Referred to the Senate Finance Committee Jan. 5. CHILD SUPPORT SB739 would revoke professional licenses of some parents who do not make their child support payments.

SB909 would publicize names of those who are delinquent in their payments. Both measures are pending in Senate committees. nsyl vania for at least 30 days before applying for general assistance, the state's welfare program. "We will take care of Pennsylvania residents, but we don't want to be a place where others will travel to be on welfare," Itkin said. Also in the House, the Education Committee is scheduled to vote on the state Board of Education's controversial outcome-based education plan.

OBE would change high school graduation requirements, forcing students to show what they know instead of how long they have spent in school. Opponents say OBE could result in schools teaching values that parents do not agree with. They also are concerned about local school districts losing control over their curricula. In the Senate, lawmakers are planning a mishmash of legislative activity, mostly getting bills into place for budget season at the Capitol. The Senate plans to approve a litany of housekeeping bills including 1993-94 funding for the Public Utility Commission, funding for the state retirement board and other expenditures.

Jack Freed, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader J. William Lincoln, D-Fayette, said the chamber wants to send the bills to the House so they will be ready for final passage whenever lawmakers agree on overall spending for the coming year. The state budget is due June 30. "There is every intent from what I can see here to move expeditiously with the budget," Freed said. On the revenue side, senators plan to bring up a bill to force sub- urban employers of Philadelphia residents to withhold city taxes.

Republicans plan to attack the measure with a Hurry of tax reduction amendments. Steve MacNett, counsel to Senate Republicans, confirmed that GOP leaders plan to introduce tax amendments that would allow businesses to carry over operati ng losses for tax benefits in future years. The allowance was eliminated as part of the 1991 state budget. Amendments to reduce the corporate net income tax or other taxes are possible as well. Outlet Clearance Centers FOUR LOCATIONS TO SERVE GREATER LEWISTOWN PLAZA Route 322 Burnham, Pa.

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