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For Immediate
Release
6/17/09
Finance Committee Approves Senate Bill 1
Browne's bill would increase transparency and
accountability to budget process
The Senate Finance Committee today approved
Senate Bill 1, legislation intended to fundamentally reform Pennsylvania's
budgeting process while increasing transparency and accountability in state
government, according to Committee Chairman Senator Pat Browne (R-16).
The legislation, introduced by Senator Browne, would establish a Legislative
Fiscal Office (LFO), a non-partisan bi-cameral agency with expertise in
financial matters. The LFO would have access to the same agency and department
financial information as the Governor's Budget Office.
"The LFO established under Senate Bill 1 would develop the framework for
serious discussions about the state budget, outside the realm of partisan
politics. It would provide parity among the co-equal branches of government and
accountability on the part of programs and departments," Senator Browne said.
"The end result will be that we will conclude each budget session more
expeditiously with a pragmatic and realistic spending plan that most closely
meets the expectations of all of the citizens of the Commonwealth."
While the Governor and Legislature must agree on spending during budget
negotiations, the Administration currently has sole discretion over setting the
revenue projection for the upcoming fiscal year. Under Senate Bill 1, the LFO
would submit a preliminary revenue estimate during the second week of February,
a week after the Governor traditionally presents his budget request for the
upcoming fiscal Year. The LFO would then submit a binding revenue estimate for
the upcoming fiscal year by June 15.
Senate Bill 1 also requires state agencies and departments to submit their
budget requests to the LFO at the same time they submit them to the Office of
the Budget. Pennsylvania is currently one of only eight states where the
Legislature does not receive the agency budget requests.
The LFO would also develop performance measures for state programs and
departments and evaluate the performance reviews of those programs and
departments as reported by the Administration. "This will enable the General
Assembly to more thoroughly and objectively evaluate the effectiveness of our
many public programs," Senator Browne said.
Other bills approved by the Finance Committee include:
Senate Bill 122, sponsored by Senator Michael O'Pake (D-11) would increase
the employer Job Creation Tax Credit from $1,000 to $3,000 for each new job
created between the effective date of this bill and June 30, 2010.
Senate Bill 639, sponsored by Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-19) would provide
for permanent tax exempt status for volunteer firefighter relief associations.
Under current law, relief associations must renew their tax exemption every five
years.
Senate Bill 778, sponsored by Senator Wayne Fontana (D-42), would change the
deadline by which homeowners must apply for a property tax exemption to between
the time the building permit is issued and six months following the date of the
initial occupancy of the property.
Senate Bill 892, sponsored by Senator Browne, is a companion bill to Senate
Bill 1. This legislation amends the Administrative Code, providing that the
General Assembly is authorized to stipulate that the performance measurements
recommended and developed by the Legislative Fiscal Office must be undertaken
and reported on by each executive agency as a condition to receiving its
prospective appropriation.
House Bill 1182, introduced by Representative James Casorio (D-56), would
add convictions for two additional offenses, "Institutional Sexual Assault" and
"Contraband" to the list of offenses which triggers the forfeiture of pension
benefits for public employees.
Contact:
Stacey Connors
(717) 787-1349
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