Appropriations

SB 1294 amends Pennsylvania's Private Licensed Schools Act to allow the State Board of Private Licensed Schools to impose civil fines of up to $25,000 on unlicensed training schools and commercial driving schools. This bill directly affects individuals or organizations offering driver training programs without the required state license, granting the board authority to levy these penalties for each violation. Before a fine is collected, the affected party has the right to request a hearing through existing state legal procedures. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's definitions for "alternative fuels" and "liquid fuels" under vehicle tax law. It specifically adds gasoline-ethanol blends with 51% to 85% ethanol (per industry standards) to the "alternative fuels" category and clarifies that certain fuels like diesel, kerosene, and industrial solvents are excluded from "liquid fuels" for tax purposes. These changes directly affect fuel producers, retailers, and tax authorities by defining which products are subject to fuel taxes. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new requirements - only refines existing definitions. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

SB 1181 adds two specific road segments to Pennsylvania’s state highway system under the 1931 Township State Highway Law. It designates Bow Creek Road (Route T-612) in Dauphin County (1.91 miles from Jonestown Road) and Susquehanna Trail (Route T-956) in York County (2.05 miles from Manchester Township line) as state highways. The bill requires local townships to formally accept the "turn-back" of these roads from state maintenance (subject to existing 40-foot widths) before the routes are officially added. Implementation depends on publishing notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin after township acceptance.

SB 130 requires funeral homes and cemeteries to notify county veterans offices within 96 hours when a deceased military service member (with county residency at death) is buried or cremated. It specifically applies if a cemetery interment occurs for cremated remains without prior funeral services provided by a funeral home. The law directs these businesses to share contact details for county veterans offices with the deceased's family. This aims to streamline access to burial benefits for veterans' families by ensuring timely notification to local veterans' programs.

SB 1353 amends Pennsylvania's Board of Vehicles Act to clarify how the state defines market areas for vehicle dealers and to exempt specific types of vehicle dealers from certain regulations. The bill establishes a 20-mile radius around existing dealers as the standard market area, but reduces this to 10 miles for new dealers and 5 miles for new dealers in major cities. Additionally, the law explicitly excludes dealers of manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, and trailers from these new definitions and related restrictions on establishing or relocating dealerships.