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

House

Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 591 (Vulakovich-D-Allegheny) budget-related amendments to the Fiscal Code.  The bill includes provisions related to distributions from the Race Horse Development Fund. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill was referred into and out of the House Rules Committee and concurred in by the House 103 to 85.

With respect to environmental issues, the bill includes provisions related to eliminating General Fund appropriations to DEP for the Consumer Energy Program for FY 2012-13 and FY 2013-14, appropriates $150,000 for independent research regarding natural gas drilling to DEP, gives priorities to municipalities in counties of the sixth, seventh and eighth class with approved applications for Sewage Facilities Planning Grants, extends the payback of the Storage Tank Fund to July 2029, $3 million was appropriated to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for water and sewer projects costing between $50,000 and $150,000, directing DCNR to enter into an agreement to manage Washington Crossing Historic Park with the PA Historical and Museum Commission. 

7/22/2013