Pa. Senate closes session with flurry of activity

HARRISBURG - The state Senate closed out its 2013-14 session by passing more than a dozen pieces of legislation, many of them crime-related, including bills covering local gun ordinances, domestic violence, and animal cruelty.

Most of the bills approved Thursday are headed for Gov. Corbett's desk, but others must receive final votes in the House, which returns for its last voting day Monday.

Among the most controversial pieces of legislation moved by the Senate was a measure to give legal standing to "membership organizations," including the National Rifle Association, to sue municipalities if they enact gun laws stricter than state law.

Philadelphia is one of 30 municipalities that have enacted ordinances mandating the reporting of lost and stolen weapons over the last several years since efforts failed to win passage of state gun-control laws.

The bill passed, 32-14, after a contentious debate led by Philadelphia lawmakers, who said it would intimidate local municipalities trying to find ways to deal with gun violence.

The bill, which also awards legal fees and damages to the plaintiff without proof of injury, will be considered by the House on Monday.

The Senate also moved a fast-tracked bill prompted by convicted Philadelphia cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal's commencement address to a Vermont college two weeks ago.

The "Revictimization Relief Act" would allow crime victims to petition courts to halt activities of a felon causing them "mental anguish." Democrats voting against the bill said it unfairly limits free-speech rights.

"This is the most extreme violation of the First Amendment imaginable," said Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery). "You can punish certain, limited types of speech after the fact, such as in libel cases. But you can never - except for revealing state military secrets - be restrained from speaking before you speak."

Corbett is expected to sign the bill, a spokesman said Thursday.

The Senate sent to the governor a bill creating a prescription-drug dispensing database aimed at cracking down on substance abuse over objections by civil-liberties groups that privacy rights would be compromised.

"This bill is not a total solution to the prescription-drug problem, but it's an important part of the solution," said sponsor Sen. Pat Vance (R., Cumberland). "It will stop people from doctor-shopping."

The Senate passed a domestic-violence bill prohibiting municipalities from enacting ordinances penalizing a resident or landlord for police or fire calls.

The bill was inspired by a Norristown woman who almost bled to death after an attack by her husband. She feared she would be evicted for calling the police. That bill goes to the governor's desk.

The Senate also approved a bill banning live pigeon shoots - an issue debated for decades - that heads to the House. Corbett has said he will sign the bill.