The following bills of interest saw movement this week-- 

Senate 

Nominations: The nomination of John Quigley to be Secretary for Conservation and Natural Resources was recalled and resubmitted by the Governor this week when the nomination ran out of its 25 legislative days on the Senate Calendar. It was withdrawn in the face of opposition by Senate Republicans who threatened to vote down the nomination over concerns about State Park funding in this lean budget year. 

Prescribed Burning: House Bill 262 (Haluska-D-Cambria) setting standards for prescribed burning practices was passed by the Senate, returned to the House, reported out of the House Rules Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action. 

House 

Capital Greenbelt: Senate Bill 54 (Piccola-R-Dauphin) which would establish a permanent easement to protect the Capital Greenbelt trail on the former State Hospital grounds in Harrisburg was passed by the House without amendment and sent to the Governor for his action.

Permit Extensions: House Bill 1056 (M.O'Brien-D-Philadelphia) provides for a one year extension of any permit or approval issued by or for a municipality under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, Clean Streams Law, Sewage Facilities Act, Stormwater Management Act or any ordinance of a municipality is which expires after December 31, 2008 and before January 1, 2011 shall be extended for one full calendar year was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House Floor and passed by the House. It now goes to the Senate for action. 

Green Buildings: House Bill 444 (M.Smith-D-Allegheny) requiring buildings built and funded by the Commonwealth to meet green building standards was amended and reported from the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House floor and is on the House Calendar for action.

Protecting Water Supplies From Drilling: House Bill 1205 (Pickett-R-Bradford) providing further protection of water supplies from oil and gas well drilling through pre-drilling water well surveys was reported from the House Rules Committee and then referred to the House Appropriations Committee.. 

Alternative Energy/Carbon Network: House Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) expanding the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and authorizing a carbon sequestration network was amended and reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. 

Energy Assistance: the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal State Relations failed to report out House Resolution 258 (Waters-D-Philadelphia) urging Congress to increase funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program by a vote of 4 to 3.

7/13/2009