Enews Updates - October 22, 2021

In this Update:

Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting Advances Probation Reform Bills
Calling for the Protection of Banking Privacy
Senate Passes Bill to Allow for First-time Homebuyers Savings Accounts
Addressing Teacher Shortage by Improving Certification Process
PA Election Investigation – Sign-Up for Email Updates

Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting Advances Probation Reform Bills

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which I am a member of, met this week to consider several bills, SB 904, SB 905, and SB 913, related to adult probation reform. I had the opportunity to question the prime sponsors of SB 913 with respect to technical violations of probation that under current law could return an individual to prison but under the legislation would be handled differently.

Senate Bill 814, which provides for the offense of evading arrest on foot, was also before the Committee. All four bills received unanimous support and are now before the full Senate for possible consideration.

Calling for the Protection of Banking Privacy

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity joined a coalition of 23 state treasurers, auditors and financial officers calling on President Joe Biden and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to dismiss proposals that would require private banks and credit unions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) account flows valued at more than $600.

This proposal, which is part of the Biden Administration’s $3.5 trillion American Families Plan revenue proposal, would allow for the unnecessary monitoring of private banking activity of more than 100 million Americans. It would be one of the largest infringements of data privacy in our nation’s history and cause exceptional administrative burdens for our community banks and credit unions.

The Pennsylvania Bankers Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, and the CrossState Credit Union Association all oppose this proposal.

Senate Passes Bill to Allow for First-time Homebuyers Savings Accounts

This week, the Senate passed a bill to allow individuals to open a first-time homebuyer savings account with a financial institution.

Senate Bill 157 would allow individuals to open an account of up to $150,000 with a financial institution of their choice for the sole purpose of purchasing a first home. Funds from a first-time homebuyer savings account may only be used to pay or reimburse the eligible costs for the purchase of a single-family home in Pennsylvania.

Since 2009, the number of first-time homebuyers has significantly decreased. According to the National Association of Realtors, the share of first-time homebuyers in the national home sale market has fallen from 45% to just more than 32%.

Individuals taking advantage of a first-time homebuyers savings account will be able to deduct up to $5,000 on their individual taxes, or up to $10,000 for a joint account. The tax deduction can be for no longer than 10 years and may not exceed $50,000 within a ten-year period. Unused funds would be counted against an individual’s taxable income.

The bill passed to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Addressing Teacher Shortage by Improving Certification Process

The Senate unanimously passed a bill in response to the teacher shortage that would simplify the process for out-of-state teachers to obtain certification in Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 224 would allow an out-of-state candidate who has completed any state-approved educator preparation program (including field placement/student teaching) from an accredited institution of higher education to be eligible for a comparable in-state instructional certification.

The bill would also require the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to recognize and accept out-of-state candidates’ qualifying scores on equivalent content tests toward PDE’s testing and certification requirements. It would also grant Pennsylvania certification to any candidate who holds a valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards – the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

According to PDE, the number of newly issued in-state instructional teaching certificates has dropped by 66% since 2010.

Senate Bill 224 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

PA Election Investigation – Sign-Up for Email Updates

I know I am hearing from many of you looking for updates on the Election Investigation being lead by Senator Chris Dush, Chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee. Chairman Dush has started an e-newsletter dedicated to the issue, and I encourage those who are interested in staying up-to-date to subscribe.