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

House

USTIF Board Appointments: House Bill 1895 (Metzgar-R- Bedford) changing the membership of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board from appointments only by the Governor to appointments by both the General Assembly and the Governor was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available. 

A companion bill-- Senate Bill 1142 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)-- passed the Senate in March and remains in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Budget Fiscal Code: House Bill 1589 (Causer-R-Cameron) amending the Fiscal Code to authorize a transfer from the PA Racehorse Development Fund was removed from the Table, considered on the House Floor, was referred into the House Appropriations Committee, amended to include some of the provisions vetoed by Gov. Wolf including a $15 million reduction in funding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million from CFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand access to natural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of Washington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specific legislators, but NOT the provisions delaying Pennsylvania plan to meet the Clean Power Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations and reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 176 to 11. 

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Interestingly, the Speaker of the House ruled several proposed amendments to the bill out of order because they violated the single subject rule.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled an off the floor meeting April 11 to consider the bill.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets April 12 to consider two of the items vetoed by Gov. Wolf from the earlier Fiscal Code bill-- 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.

Potomac River Basin Commission: House Bill 577 (Moul-R-Adams) allowing for alternates for some members of the Potomac River Basin Commission board was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Recreational Liability: House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) making changes to the landowner liability for opening their land to public recreation was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Senate

Fines For Littering: Senate Bill 973 (Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing the fines for littering (sponsor summary) was amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

Act 129 Opt Out: Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large electric users (sponsor summary) was Tabled.

4/11/2016