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

Senate

Property Disposition: House Bill 2224 (Cutler-R-Lancaster) further providing for the disposition of municipally-owned property was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee with the Democrats and Senators Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) and Vance (R-Cumberland) voting against the bill and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Maurice K. Goddard: Senate Resolution 352 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) recognizing the contributions of Dr. Maurice K. Goddard to environmental conservation in the Commonwealth was adopted by the Senate.

House

Drilling On Other State Lands: Senate Bill 367 (D.White-R-Indiana) authorizing the leasing of mineral rights on other state lands.  Proceeds from drilling on State System of Higher Education lands would remain with the state universities.  Proceeds from drilling on other state lands (not including those owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions) would be allocated according to this formula:  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 House concurred in the bill and it now goes to the Governor for his action.

Emissions Inspection: Senate Resolution 246 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) Concurrent resolution memorializing Congress to re-evaluate the enhanced vehicle emission inspection program was reported from the House Rules Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.

Extending Permits: House Bill 2470 (Evankovich-R-Armstrong) amending the Fiscal Code to extend the deadline for extending permits which would otherwise expire until July 2, 2018 was reported from the House Rules Committee and Tabled.

Natural Gas Pipelines: House Bill 1926 (Preston-D-Allegheny) further providing for regulating natural gas gathering lines was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Program Accountability: House Bill 726 (Saylor-R-York) providing for accountability in state agency program performance was reported from the House Rules Committee and Tabled.

Composting Facilities: Senate Bill 1298 (Smucker-R-Lancaster) providing for composting facilities under Act 319 was removed from the Table and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Lyme Disease Task Force: House Bill 272 (Hess-R-Bedford) establishing a task force on Lyme disease and related maladies was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Maurice K. Goddard: House Resolution 849 (Longietti-D-Mercer) recognizing the contributions of Dr. Maurice K. Goddard to environmental conservation in the Commonwealth was adopted by the House.

10/1/2012