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

House

Administrative Code: House Bill 941 (Regan-R-Cumberland) Administrative Code vehicle was amended by the House Rules Committee to remove language related to ride-sharing, added a section to study the regulation of fantasy sports and other changes.

The full House voted to send the amended bill back to the Senate for a concurrence vote on its additional changes.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.  Among the changes still in the bill is:

-- Making DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Independent: Specifically requires DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council to be an independent Council with the sole power to employ and fix the compensation of an executive director.

Prescription Drug Collection: House Bill 1737 (Maher-R-Allegheny) amending the state law regulating household hazardous waste collection events to provide for the safe destruction of unwanted, expired or unwanted prescription drugs collected from households (sponsor summary) was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.

Private Dam Financial Assistance: House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (sponsor summary) was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.

Stormwater Act Exemption: House Bill 1103 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) amending the Stormwater Management Act to exempt temporary seasonal greenhouse structures known as “high tunnels” on farms from the requirements of the Act (sponsor summary) was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled on a largely party-line vote and Tabled.

Sewage Sludge Study: House Resolution 60 (Emrick-R-Northampton) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge by land application (sponsor summary) was amended to add all beneficial uses of sewage sludge, reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.

12/21/2015