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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2009
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Senate Approves Unemployment Benefit Extension Bill

Measure provides seven additional weeks of benefits

As part of the legislative activities for the week of July 27th, the Pennsylvania Senate approved a bill to provide seven additional weeks of unemployment compensation to workers who have exhausted their benefits, according to Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40).

House Bill 1770 would enable the Commonwealth to accept $145 million in federal stimulus money to temporarily extend emergency unemployment benefits for an additional seven weeks.  The legislation would give most unemployed workers in the state access to a total of 79 weeks of unemployment benefits.

"Enacting this legislation will provide a measure of relief to the thousands of Pennsylvanians idled during the ongoing recession," said Sen. Orie.

HB 1770 returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.  Once the legislation is passed by the House and signed into law by the Governor, it will require federal approval.  The process is expected to be completed in about two weeks.

Other bills approved by the Senate during the week of July 27th include:

Senate Bill 441 would allow a teacher's certificate to be signed by a certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.  Currently, an applicant for a teaching certificate must submit a form to the Department of Education signed by a physician certifying that the applicant is neither mentally nor physically disqualified from performing the duties of a teacher.

Senate Bill 607 would amend the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act by adding the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh to the list of eligible grant recipients -- and to increase the maximum amount of a grant from $50,000 to $60,000.

SB 441 and SB 607 now proceed to the House for further consideration.

The Senate approved and sent to the Governor for enactment into law House Bill 1648, a measure that would create an Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice to examine the judicial corruption case in Luzerne County.  The 11-member Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice would meet at least once a month and must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the state Supreme Court, the Senate and the House of Representatives by May 31, 2010.

House Bill 1654 would amend Pennsylvania's mortgage reform laws by bringing them in line with federal statutes.  HB 1654 returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.
CONTACT:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6538