Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendar

House (September 22): House Bill 202 (Harper-R-Montgomery) prohibiting standby water service charges for fire companies; House Bill 1684 (Everett-R-Lycoming) which seeks to clarify a minimum royalty payment in state law; House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) would eliminate some protections for endangered species and set additional requirements for adopting Wild Trout Streams; House Bill 2104 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) further providing for consumer protections in variable rate electric supplier contracts; House Resolution 249 (Swanger-R- Lebanon) supporting increased development and delivery of oil from North American oil reserves- sponsor summary; Senate Bill 771 (Gordner-R-Columbia) establishing the State Geospatial Coordinating Board. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (September 22): Senate Bill 720 (Baker-R-Luzerne) creating an Individual and Public Disaster Assistance Grant Program  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R- Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams, Senate Bill 1155 (Scarnati-R- Jefferson) creating a Aggregate Advisory Board within DEP- sponsor summary; the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1355 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) increasing nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel transportation fees- sponsor summary, House Resolution 913 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) urging DEP to use the latest technology to test for radioactivity related to oil and gas production activities- sponsor summary; the Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 2393 (Kampf-R-Chester)  providing a program to extend natural gas delivery to unserved or underserved areas- sponsor summary. <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1672 (Miller-R-York) providing for testing of energy efficiency technologies  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee, to hear a presentation on Pennsylvania’s abandoned Turnpike, a 13-mile stretch of the original Turnpike in Bedford and Fulton counties and plans to turn it into a scenic, recreational biking trail.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in each--

House

Appropriations

Education

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Affairs

Gaming Oversight

Human Services

Judiciary

Liquor Control

Transportation

Links for all other Standing House Committees

Senate

Appropriations

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Community, Economic and Recreational Development

Education

Judiciary

Law and Justice

Public Health and Welfare

Transportation

Links for all other Standing Senate Committees

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Marcellus Shale Health Registry: House Bill 2474 (Boback-R-Columbia) establishing a Marcellus Shale Health Registry- sponsor summary.

Ban Drilling On Other State Lands: House Bill 2494 (Santarsiero-D-Berks) prohibiting unconventional gas well drilling on other state land and creating a State Land Drilling Impact Mitigation Fund-- sponsor summary.

EPA Clean Power Climate Plan: Senate Resolution 438 (Solobay-D-Washington) urging EPA to respect the primacy of Pennsylvania and other states in developing performance standards for reducing carbon emissions- sponsor summary;  Senate Resolution 439 (Solobay-D-Washington) urging EPA to scheduled additional hearings on its proposed Clean Power Climate Plan and withdraw the proposed rule to eliminate the “economic shocks” that would occur to critical coalfield communities- sponsor summary. [Note: EPA this week did extend the comment period for the plan another 45 days to December 1.]

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

House

September 22, 23, 24

October 6, 7, 8, 14, 15

November 12

Senate

September 22, 23, 24

October 6, 7, 8, 14, 15

November 12

9/22/2014