The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House

General Fund Budget: Senate Bill 1466 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for the FY 2012-13 General Fund budget was passed by a vote of 120 to 81 and the Senate followed by a vote of 32 to 17.  The bill now goes to the Governor for action.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 1263 (Browne-R-Lehigh) amending the Fiscal Code to implement the budget agreement, including provisions which extends the prohibition on Cities of the Third Class from filing bankruptcy to November 30, 2012; further provide for conventional oil and gas well blanket bonding requirements; Prohibiting DEP from issuing permits in the South Newark Basin until January 1, 2018 unless a study of the impact of drilling is done by DCNR; and directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, in consultation with PennVEST, is directed to conduct a study of how the state can meet nutrient reduction planning targets in any watershed implementation plan by December 30, 2012.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was amended and passed by the House and was concurred in by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Pittsburgh Low-RVP Gasoline: Senate Bill 1386 (Vogel-R-Beaver) evaluating alternatives to low-RVP gasoline in Pittsburgh and repealing Stage II vapor controls was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The Senate concurred in House amendments and the bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

ATV/Snowmobile: House Bill 2151 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) further providing for the registration of ATVs and snowmobiles was concurred in by the House.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

ATV/Snowmobile Operators: House Bill 1643 (J.Evans-R-Crawford) further providing for the operation of ATVs and snowmobiles by persons under 16 was reported from the House Rules Committee, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Drilling On Other State Lands: Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) providing for mineral resource development on other state lands and providing for allocation of revenue was amended on the House Floor and referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House.  

The bill returned to the Senate where it was amended again to distribute any drilling royalties, except from the State System of Higher Education schools, to: 60 percent to the Oil and Gas Lease Fund; 25 percent to the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority with language authorizing the funding of non-point source best management practices to implement the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan or TMDL watershed plans; and 15 percent to the drilling agency.

The bill is now on the House Calendar for a concurrence vote.

NewsClip: House Approves Bill On Drilling At State Colleges

Uniform Permit Reviews: House Bill 1659 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) providing for a uniform permit review and consideration process within DEP was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.
          NewsClip: Editorial: More Energy Efficiency Key To PA’s Future

Capital Budget: Senate Bill 1480 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for the 2012-13 Capital Budget was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.

Nuclear Fuel: House Resolution 750 (Godshall-R- Montgomery) memorializing the President and Congress to provide for the storage of used nuclear fuel was adopted by the House unanimously.

Senate

Mandated Recycling: House Bill 1934 (F.Keller-R-Snyder) further providing for mandatory recycling was passed by the Senate.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill returned to the House which concurred in the Senate amendments.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Low-RVP Gasoline: Senate Bill 1386 (Vogel-R-Beaver) evaluating alternatives to low-RVP gasoline in Pittsburgh and repealing Stage II vapor controls was passed by the House and concurred in by the Senate.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Private-Public Transportation Projects: House Bill 3 (Geist-R-Blair) providing for private- public transportation projects was passed by the Senate and was concurred in by the House.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill now goes to the Governor.

Flammable Liquids: House Bill 728 (Barrar-R-Bucks) setting new standards for emergency shut-off values for facilities dispensing flammable liquids was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee, was amended on the Senate Floor and was Tabled.

Land Banks: House Bill 1682 (Taylor-R-Philadelphia) providing for the creation of land banks was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was Tabled. A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Permitting Portal: House Bill 2022 (Peifer-R-Monroe) providing for a PA Business Permitting Portal within DCED was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Emissions Inspection: Senate Bill 1532 (Vogel-R-Beaver) exempting certain vehicles from the vehicle emissions inspection program was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Renewable Energy Projects: Senate Bill 1544 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) further providing for the leasing of state lands for wind, solar and other renewable energy projects was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

7/2/2012