Area Votes: Ban on Death Penalty for Mentally Retarded, Rejection of REAL ID Compliance

Both the House and Senate are in full swing and were very active last week. The Senate debated death penalty rules for mentally retarded citizens, while also discussing a controversial Homeland Security law and child abuse reporting. In the House, there was a divide but ultimate passage for a bill on property restrictions for a specific location in Tioga County, in addition to unanimous support on stricter penalties for those harming protected wildlife. 

Below are votes in the Pennsylvania General Assembly for legislators representing Ardmore, Merion and Wynnewood.

Senate

SB397: In a 43-7 vote Oct. 18, the Senate banned the death penalty punishment on a mentally retarded person convicted of murder. Following medical proof of retardation, the convicted person would be subject to, at most, life in prison for committing first-degree murder. The bill is now in the House.

• YES: Daylin Leach (D-17)

SB354: This bill, approved in a 50-0 vote by senators Oct. 17, requires school districts and employees to undergo training for child abuse and subsequent reporting. The House now has the bill.

• YES: Daylin Leach (D-17)

SB449: Joining many states nationwide, the Senate approved a bill 50-0 Oct. 17 to refrain from participating in the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. This Homeland Security measure, downplayed by the Obama administration and Secretary Janet Napolitano, changed guidelines for state IDs and illegal alien deportation. All 50 states applied for extensions for compliance, according to USA Today, and many states have passed noncompliance laws, according to InfoWorld. The Democratic Obama Administration hasn't made compliance a priority for the Republican-created measure.  

• YES: Daylin Leach (D-17)

House of Representatives

HB1825: In a 110-88 vote Oct. 18, the House approved the state to remove restrictions on property sold to North Penn Comprehensive Health Services in Blossburg, Tioga County. Following payment of $440,000 to the state by new owners Laurel Health System, restrictions to Blossburg State General Hospital are removed. The bill is now in the Senate.

• NO: Tim Briggs (D-149), Michael Gerber (D-148)

HB1417: The House approved a bill 198-0 Oct. 18, which increases and creates aggravated assault charges for attacks on wildlife protection officials. The bill, now in the Senate, also establishes more penalties for unlawfully selling or harming protected birds or their eggs.

• YES: Tim Briggs (D-149), Michael Gerber (D-148)

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to reconvene Oct. 24.