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

House

Performance-Based Budgeting: Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) providing for a performance-based budgeting (exempting appropriations to the General Assembly and the Judiciary) and creating a Performance-Based Budget Board was amended and reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Recycling Fee Extension: Senate Bill 646 (Killion-R-Delaware) extending the $2/ton Recycling Fee for one year until January 1, 2021 was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.   A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Administrative Code: Senate Bill 446 (McGarrigle-R- Delaware) was significantly amended in a party-line vote and reported out of the House Appropriations Committee adding these changes to the Administrative Code--

-- Manganese Standard: Section 1920-A: Directs the Environmental Quality Board to propose regulations setting a point source water quality criterion for manganese to an upstream area within 5 miles or less of a known potable water supply or known private water supply within 90 days. (page 57) [Supported by the Coal Alliance adopting a standard used by West Virginia prohibiting enforcement of a manganese discharge standard unless it was within 5 miles of a water supply.]

-- Recycling Fee Extension: Section 1937-A: Extends the Act 101 $2 Recycling fee for three years through January 1, 2023 and funds shall not be transferred from the Recycling Fund to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund as required by Act 101. (page 57) [No doubt added as a sweetener since the Committee also reported out Senate Bill 646.]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment: Section 1938-A: Requires water treatment facilities providing water disposal services exclusively to conventional oil and gas wells shall be allowed to operate under existing permits through December 31, 2019. (page 58) [Supported by conventional oil & gas drilling industry and applies to three privately-operated conventional wastewater treatment facilities.]

-- Wyoming County State Park: Section 1902-B: Requires DCNR to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a state park in Wyoming County, including an appraisal of the fair market value of property proposed for a state park.(page 59) [No funding provided.]

-- Solar Borders: Section 2804: Requiring solar energy credits under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to be purchased within Pennsylvania. (page 64) [Senate Bill 404 this session, House Bill 2040 last session.]

The bill remains on the House Calendar for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Senate

Roll Back Protection For Streams From Mining: Senate Bill 624 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) retroactively rolling back protections for streams from deep coal mining  was concurred in by the Senate by a vote of 28 to 21 and now goes to the Governor for his action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.  (Click Here for more.)

Alternative Septic Systems: Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending Act 537 on include alternative on-lot sewage systems in sewage plans was concurred in by the Senate and the bill now goes to the Governor for his action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Timber On Federal Land: House Bill 1494 (Rapp-R-Forest) authorizing the state to enter into a cooperative agreement with federal agencies for the purpose of selling timber on federal land was passed by the Senate and now goes to the Governor for action.  A Senate Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Underground Tank Fund: House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) providing for legislative appointments to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board, fills a gap in funding for DEP’s Storage Tank Program and extends the sunset date for the environmental cleanup programs for storage tanks was passed by the Senate with amendments and now returns to the House for a concurrence vote.

Construction Code: House Bill 176 (Pickett-R-Susquehanna) exempting roadside stands from Uniform Construction Code was passed by the Senate with amendments.  It now returns to the House for a concurrence vote.   (House Fiscal Note and summary)

Local Sewage Fees: Senate Bill 692 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) amends to Sewage Facilities Act to increase what a local agency may charge from $25 to $100 (sponsor summary) was Tabled per Senate Rule since it was on the Calendar for 10 days without action.

Wind Energy On Farmland: House Bill 187 (Sonney-R-Erie) further authorize wind energy facilities on preserved farmland (House Fiscal Note and summary) was Tabled per Senate Rule since it was on the Calendar for 10 days without action.

7/17/2017