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 11): House Bill 1737 (Maher-R-Allegheny) further providing for the collection of unused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs (sponsor summary); 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 11): Senate Bill 289 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) funding to assist homeowners with deteriorating private sewer laterals (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: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets for a vote on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) final drilling regulations; the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets for a vote on correspondence to the IRRC on DEP’s Chapter 78 (conventional) and 78a (unconventional) final drilling regulations, Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over; Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) [language posted Friday] to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule.  The Committee will be joined by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to hear a presentation from the U.S. Geological Survey on monitoring results for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from Douglas Moyer; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1325 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater management fees (House Fiscal Note and summary), House Bill 1394 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwater management fees (House Fiscal Note and summary), House Bill 1661 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge a stormwater management fee (House Fiscal Note and summary).  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Environmental Issues Forum by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee featuring a presentation on Sustainable Manufacturing in the Forest Products Industry; the Legislative Forestry Task Force, Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee meets on the topic of invasive species and their impact on forest health. Presenters for the task force meeting include: Mr. Don Eggen, forest health manager, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry; Mr. Sven Shichiger, entomology program manager, Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Sarah Johnson, conservation GIS analyst, The Nature Conservancy-Pennsylvania Chapter.

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--

Expanding Natural Gas Service: House Bill 1946 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) recovery of costs related to expanding natural gas distribution service (sponsor summary).

Temporary Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: House Bill 1967 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) would eliminate the current DEP limit on temporarily ceasing surface coal mining operations of 180 days and replace it with the less stringent federal requirement that has no specific time frames (sponsor summary).

Earth Day: House Resolution 771 (Murt-R-Adams) encouraging all residents of the Commonwealth to observe Earth Day on April 22 (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

April 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 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.

4/11/2016