Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	August 29, 2023 11:48 AM
From:	Senator Marty Flynn
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	"Driving PA Forward" Comprehensive Legislative Package

As we conduct our work as legislators for the people of this great Commonwealth, it is imperative that we look broadly, and with a critical eye, to areas where we can make beneficial changes to our laws and programs, regardless of how large or small.

For far too long, this legislature has allowed too many low hanging fruits to go unpicked, while the electorate and infrastructure have no choice but to be subjects to its shortcomings. Accordingly, I intend to introduce the following bills as part of a comprehensive transportation bill package. The “Driving PA Forward” package collects some of the lowest hanging fruits and ones that are most likely to result in positive and direct change to our constituents.

To put the age of many of our laws, and our subsequent need for modernization, into perspective, consider that the current driver education law pre-dates the Vietnam War and man had not yet stepped foot on the moon the last time a passenger vehicle was sold on a Sunday. No longer are digital driver’s licenses and digital license plates something out of a futuristic dream. Solutions to problems in the 1950s and 1960s are different than solutions to issues that we face today and tomorrow. The reality is that the future is here, and the time and need to modernize is now. The bills contained in this package will position Pennsylvania to take a giant leap towards modernization and the 21st century.

Additionally, the Safety Inspection Modernization bill, announced in a separate co-sponsorship memo, is also part of the “Driving PA Forward” bill package.

Please consider joining some or all the bills detailed below, which are certain to make wholly positive changes to the Commonwealth, its infrastructure and everyone who enjoys it every day.

Document #1

Introduced as SB1032

Description:	This bill will direct PennDOT to develop and make available for use digital driver’s licenses and identifications.

Document #2

Description:	This bill will direct PennDOT to develop and make available for use digital license plates.

Document #3

Description:	This bill will amend Title 75 to provide that impairment be displayed by a vehicle operator in order for a cannabis-related DUI charge to be pursued. Further, this bill would add an additional $5 fee to DUI convictions, which would be appropriated to the State Police and used for the development and administration of a drug recognition expert training program.

Document #4

Description:	This bill will amend the Board of Vehicles Act of 1968 to permit the sales of vehicles on Sundays.

Document #5

Description:	This bill will modernize the antique and classic car registration process by requiring the annual collection of mileage data for vehicles registered as antique or classic. Further, this bill would require that a person registering an antique or classic vehicle also have an everyday driving vehicle actively registered with PennDOT. Finally, this bill would create a penalty for an individual found to be driving a classic or antique vehicle more than as permitted in Title 75.

Document #6

Description:	This bill will increase the jet fuels tax from $0.02 per gallon to $0.04 per gallon and the Avgas tax from $0.06 per gallon to $0.12 per gallon, as recommended by the State Transportation Commission in December 2022.

Document #7

Description:	This bill will develop a fee schedule for an annual aircraft registration fee.

Document #8

Description:	This bill will make critical updates to the driver education law, which has not been updated in decades. My office will be developing a work group to collect input from stakeholders in order to craft this bill.