2007-08 Session

Legislative updates

2007-08 Session Wrap-Up, posted December 16, 2008

Legislative Update: August 26, 2008

Legislative Update 11-2-07

criminal justice

Testimony of Pamela Irwin, community organizer, on HB 1469, a moratorium on private prisons, October 1, 2008(PDF, 97K)
PA House Passes Criminal Records Bill Backed by ACLU, September 23, 2008
Testimony of Andy Hoover on juvenile life without parole, Senate Judiciary Committee, September 22, 2008(PDF, 119K)
Testimony of Karl Baker, ACLU-PA board of directors, on HB 164, sentence expansion and GPS monitoring of former sex offenders, House Judiciary Committee, July 29, 2008 (PDF, 112K)
Memo to House of Representatives on Illegal Clothing Act of 2008 (an amendment on gangs), June 27, 2008 (PDF, 102K)
PA Senate Passes Weakened Criminal Records Expungement Bill, April 28, 2008
Statement on House Bill 326, creating a criminal offense for "gang activity," April 22, 2008 (PDF, 95K)
Testimony of Andy Hoover on HB 466, expansion of sheriffs' policing powers, House Judiciary Committee, February 21, 2008 (PDF, 93K)
Testimony of Andy Hoover on House Bills 1053, 1543, and 1569, expungement of criminal records, September 18, 2007 (101K, PDF)
Testimony of Larry Frankel, Legislative Director, on Senate Bill 232, expungement of criminal records, May 21, 2007

death penalty

• ABA panel's report underscores need to address PA's flawed death penalty, October 9, 2007
• ACLU of PA statement on death penalty study commission and suspension, May 1, 2007

drug law reform

Testimony of Andy Hoover on HB 1594, involuntary commitment of drug dependent persons, March 13, 2008(PDF, 94K)

free speech

• ACLU of PA Questions Constitutionality of Robocall Legislation, January 28, 2008

hiv-aids

• Memo to House Health and Human Services Committee on HB 2465, HIV testing of pregnant women, June 10, 2008 (PDF, 85 KB)

immigrants' rights

Memo to Senate State Government Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 9, on stricter identification requirements for public benefits, February 11, 2008(84k, PDF)
Written testimony of Larry Frankel on Senate Bill 9, regarding identification requirements for public benefits, October 17, 2007 (94K, PDF)
Testimony of Larry Frankel on funding for Limited English Proficiency programs, May 30, 2007

LGBT rights

• Hundreds rally against marriage amendment, May 5, 2008

Memo to Senate of Pennsylvania on SB 1250, the Marriage Amendment, and on a statement on the ACLU website regarding marriage amendments and benefits, May 5, 2008 (PDF, 89K)
Memo to Senate Appropriations Committee on SB 1250, the Marriage Amendment, April 29, 2008(PDF, 87K)
Statewide Poll Shows Strong Majority Support for Civil Unions in PA, March 6, 2008
Testimony of Larry Frankel on House Bill 1400, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to expand Pennsylvania's existing civil rights law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, November 15, 2007(52k PDF)
Pennsylvania House introduces LGBT non-discrimination bill, June 13, 2007
Testimony of Larry Frankel, Legislative Director, on House Bill 302, preventing discrimination against foster children, May 9, 2007 (100K, PDF)

open government

• ACLU encouraged by latest Open Records proposal in PA House, November 26, 2007
• Testimony of Andy Hoover, Legislative Assistant, on House Bill 443, open records law, August 7, 2007 (94K, PDF)
• Testimony of Larry Frankel on Senate Bill 1, open records law, June 4, 2007
Testimony of Larry Frankel to the Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform, April 26, 2007 (93K, PDF)
Toward a more democratic process, op-ed on government reform by Larry Frankel

reproductive rights

• Testimony of Andy Hoover on SB 1255, healthcare provider conscientious objection, Senate Public Health and Welfare committee, October 14, 2008 (PDF, 114K)
• Letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission from Larry Frankel, on proposed Department of Health regulations regarding emergency contraception for sexual assault victims, October 12, 2007 (91K, PDF)

Surveillance and privacy

• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 2216, allowing wiretaps from other states and the federal government, September 12, 2008(PDF, 95K)

• Testimony of Andy Hoover on HBs 1371 and 2371, collecting personal data of prepaid cell phone purchasers, House Judiciary Committee, July 14, 2008(PDF, 99K)
• PA House Passes Bill to Block Real ID, June 27, 2008
• Testimony of Andy Hoover on Real ID Act, Senate Communications and Technology Committee, June 25, 2008 (PDF, 123K)
• Memo to House of Representatives on HB 2537, Real ID non-certification, June 23, 2008 (PDF, 87K)
• Memo to House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on HB 2537, Real ID non-certification, June 16, 2008 (PDF, 88K)
• Testimony of Andy Hoover on Real ID Act, House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, Erie, May 22, 2008 (PDF, 132K)
• Testimony of Andy Hoover on Real ID Act, House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, University of Scranton, May 8, 2008(PDF, 108K)
• Testimony of Larry Frankel on Real ID Act, House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, February 21, 2008 (PDF, 40k)

• ACLU of PA praises Casey for vote on Real ID amendment in immigration bill, June 29, 2007

voting rights

• Testimony of Andy Hoover on election preparedness, House State Government Committee, September 25, 2008(PDF, 114K)