July 2006 EditionProgress on Policy
Arizona Legislature Approves Verifiable Paper Trail Bill
The Arizona Legislature has approved SB 1557, which will require an auditable paper trail of ballots to be used in the event of a contested election and will compel vendors to provide election officials and their technical representatives with a source code for auditing purposes. Sen. Karen Johnson and Rep. Ted Downing sponsored the bill.
Delaware Legislature Passes Needle Exchange Program Bill
The Delaware General Assembly passed SB 60, which gives drug users the opportunity to exchange used needles for new ones and to buy syringes without a prescription. Prior to the passage of the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, Delaware was one of the two remaining states without a needle exchange program. Gov. Ruth Ann Minner has already announced her plans to sign the bill into law.
Illinois Governor Extends Racial Profiling Study
Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed SB 2368 to extend a study of traffic stops in Illinois until 2010. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Monique Davis and Sen. Kwame Raoul, ensures that the state will continue to collect data to analyze the prevalence of racial profiling and curb bias-based policing. Read CPA's Racial Profiling policy brief and model legislation.
Illinois Governor Signs Bill to Reduce Class Size
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed SB 2882 by Sen. Terry Link. The bill creates a pilot class size reduction grant program to defray the costs of operating classes of 15 or fewer students. The program will apply to kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Read CPA's Lowering Class Size policy brief.
Louisiana Legislature Sends Ban on Smoking in Cars with Small Children to Governor
HB 1010, sponsored by Rep. Gary Smith, was approved unanimously by both houses of the Louisiana legislature. The bill says that those who smoke in cars with passengers aged 13 or younger may be subject to a $150 fine or 24 hours of community service. Governor Kathleen Blanco has not yet signed the bill. Read CPA's Smoke-Free Workplaces policy brief and model legislation.
Massachusetts Legislature Votes to Raise Minimum Wage to $8.00
Both houses of the Massachusetts legislature have passed SB 2362, sponsored by Sen. Marc R. Pacheco and Rep. Jim Marzilli, to raise the minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.50 on January 1, 2007 and $8.00 on January 1, 2008. If signed by Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts would offer the highest minimum wage in the country. Read CPA's Minimum Wage policy brief and model legislation.
New Jersey Medicaid to Become More Flexible for Seniors' Long-Term Care
Governor Jon Corzine has signed into law a bill that will allow seniors to use Medicaid dollars for at-home care. AB 2823/SB 1642, sponsored by Asm. Jim Whelan and Sen. Loretta Weinberg, establishes pilot programs in two counties that allocate Medicaid funding for long-term care at home.
New York Legislature Votes to Reform Prisons to Care for Mentally Ill Inmates
A 3926, sponsored by Asm. Jeffrion Aubry and Sen. Michael Nozzolio, will emphasize treatment as opposed to punishment and confinement for mentally ill inmates. It requires the training of correctional staff in the appropriate care of the mentally ill and calls for a mental health assessment of inmates who are placed in solitary confinement for an excess of 24 hours. The bill has yet to be signed by the Gov. George Pataki, but is already being considered a breakthrough by prison reform advocates.
Ohio Governor Signs Homebuyer Protection Bill into Law
Sen. Joy Padgett's SB 185, also known as the Homebuyer Protection Act, was signed into law by Governor Bob Taft. The law requires the licensure of property appraisers, prohibits predatory mortgage prepayment fees and penalties, and requires brokers and loan officers to notify borrowers of changes in loan terms (such as interest rate, fee or monthly payment increases) in a timely manner. The law also creates an entity that will mandate a financial literacy curriculum for K-12 students. Read CPA's Predatory Mortgage Lending policy brief and model legislation.
Pennsylvania Increases Minimum Wage
A bill that will increase Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $6.25 on January 1, 2007 and to $7.15 on July 1, 2007 for businesses with ten or more workers has been signed by Gov. Ed Rendell. SB 1090, sponsored by Sen. Christine Tartaglione (see Legislator of the Month), also boosts the wage for businesses with fewer than ten employees - to $5.85 on January 1, 2007, to $6.15 on July 1, 2007 and to $7.15 on January 1, 2008. Read CPA's Minimum Wage policy brief and model legislation.
Legislator of the Month: PA Senator Chistine Tartaglione
For seven years, Pennsylvania Sen. Christine Tartaglione had worked to pass an increase to the minimum wage in her state - which was $5.15 per hour, the same as the federal rate. Read on to find out why her efforts were finally successful this year.