2013 wasn’t exactly a banner year for environmental legislation, but one highlight was getting additional funding for the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program from the transportation funding package passed in November. 

Unfortunately, the General Assembly and the Governor also made another round of what has become routine, annual cuts to environmental program funding and positions in the regular state budget during 2013 as well.

Here’s a quick list of other legislative highlights from this past year--

General Fund Budget: House Bill 1437 (Adolph-R-Delaware) FY 2013-14 General Fund Budget was signed into law as Act 1A.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available. Click Here for a summary of the environmental line items included in the budget.

 Click Here for an “enhanced” FY 2013-14 budget fact sheet from the Governor’s office. Click Here to view a Senate Republican spreadsheet comparing FY 2012-13 and new FY 2013-14 appropriations.  Click Here for the agency-by-agency budget spreadsheet which compares current year funding, the Governor’s request and the agreed-to budget numbers.  Click Here for House Democratic FY 2013-14 budget spreadsheet.  Click Here for House Republicans budget spreadsheet.  The bill was signed into law as Act 1A.

Transportation Funding: House Bill 1060 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) establishes a $2.3 billion transportation funding plan for highways, bridges and mass transit.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill was signed into law as Act 89.  Click Here for a summary of the environmental items included in the funding plan.

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 signed into law as Act 72.

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.

Tax Code: House Bill 465 MacKenzie (R-Berks) amends the Tax Code was amended with a dozen new provisions, including: extending the Wild Resource Conservation Tax Checkoff until 2018, repeals the never used Coal Waste and Ultraclean Fuels Tax Credit.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The House amended the bill and returned it to the Senate which concurred in House amendments.  The bill was signed into law as Act 52.

Agricultural Easements: House Bill 84 (Miller-R-York) requiring the inspection of all agricultural conservation easements.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 19.

On-lot Septic System Reviews: House Bill 1325 (Maloney-R-Berks) amending Act 537 to provide that on-lot septic systems approved by DEP meet anti-degradation requirements-- summary.  The bill was signed into law as Act 41.

Stormwater: Senate Bill 351 (Erickson-R-Delaware) authorizing municipal authorities to undertake stormwater projects was signed into law as Act 68.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Stormwater/Non-Point Funding: Senate Bill 196 (White-R-Indiana) further providing for funding stormwater management and non-point source control projects.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 16.

Permit Extensions: House Bill 784 (Evankovich-R-Armstrong) extending permit pending and approved in the Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies through July 2, 2016.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 54.

Oil & Gas Royalties: Senate Bill 259 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for the reporting of royalties from oil and gas wells and combining gas leases for horizontal drilling. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law as Act 66.

Capital Budget: House Bill 493 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) further providing for the review and approval of Capital Budget projects and reduces the overall borrowing limit by $600 million.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  It was signed into law by the Governor as Act 77. 

Capital Budget Projects List: Senate Bill 680 (Corman-R-Centre), which provides for an itemized list of Capital Budget projects for FY 2012-13. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  The bill was signed into law and is now Act 85.

Open Space: House Bill 1523 (Toepel-R-Montgomery) further providing for open space preservation by local governments.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.  It was signed into law as Act 115.

Combining Commissions: House Resolution 129 (Causer-R-Forest) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to investigate combining the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions was reported from the House Game and Fisheries Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

12/30/2013