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 Calendars

House (April 4): 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; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D- Philadelphia) FY 2015-16 Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pension reform bill; Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh) “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget bill.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (April 4): Senate Bill 289 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) funding to assist homeowners with deteriorating private sewer laterals (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D- Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large electric users (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 973 (Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing the fines for littering (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1041 (Schwank-D-Berks) amending Act 101 to authorize all local governments to charge a recycling service fee (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1114 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) allowing the use of alternative on-lot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1168 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1166 (Stefano-R-Fayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary); House Bill 806 (Causer-R-Cameron) providing for county-specific use values for land in forest reserves (sponsor summary); House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (House Fiscal Note and summary).  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House:   <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate:   <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

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--

E-Waste Recycling: House Bill 1916 (D.Miller-D-Allegheny) would amend the Covered Device Recycling Act to require manufacturers to recycle 2 pounds of electronics waste for every 1 pound of new devices they sell (sponsor summary).

House Lead Testing Package: House Bill 1917 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) would require children under 6 to be tested for elevated lead levels in their blood. Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends children be tested at 1, 2 and again before 6; House Bill 1918 (Cruz-D- Philadelphia) would amend the state Safe Drinking Water Act to require more frequent testing for lead in water. Under current law, water is tested every three years at a reduced number of sample sites after the initial passing; and House Bill 1919  (Schlossberg-D-Lehigh) would require lessors of residential dwellings built before 1978 to inspect dwellings for the presence of lead-based paint and hazardous conditions such as chipping paint when those dwellings become vacant or prior to new occupancy.   Lessors must also disclose all information regarding levels of lead and inspection results, and provide those findings to a lessee prior to occupancy.  A sponsor summary of this 3-bill package is available online.

Senate Lead Package: Senate Bill 1173 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) would create a task force to study the scope of the lead issue, including an accounting of the age of the state’s housing stock, pipelines, school buildings and day care centers. It would also study best practices and make recommendations; Senate Bill 1174 (Haywood-D-Allegheny) would require every school building to be tested (water, paint, soil) for lead before a school year begins. Test results would be sent to parents of every enrolled child and posted on school district websites. If a school tests at lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control’s acceptable amount, it would be required to submit a remediation plan to the state Department of Education; Senate Bill 1175 (Kitchen-D-Philadelphia) seeks to require lead testing (water, paint, soil) in day care centers licensed by the Department of Human Services. DHS would be prohibited from issuing a license to a day care operator if lead levels are higher than CDC recommended readings; Senate Bill 1176 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) would require any agreement of sale for real property in the commonwealth to include an option to have the water tested for lead; Senate Bill 1177 (Hughes-D-Philadelphia) would create a “SuperFund for Lead Abatement” that could be used by schools, day care centers, and other organizations to defray lead remediation costs.

Fish & Boat Commission Fees: Senate Bill 1168 (Eichelberger-R-Blair) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary).

Game Commission Fees: Senate Bill 1166 (Stefano-R-Fayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt fees charged by the agency rather than have them set by the General Assembly (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day will be posted each morning.   Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public Appearances.

3/28/2016