Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced-- 

Bill Calendars

NEW: Click Here for expected action on bills by the full House.  [Note: Final House vote is expected on House Bill 374 (Everett-R- Lycoming) recreating the Keystone Tree Fund.]

House (June 10): House Bill 247 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) to allow cross unit unconventional drilling and authorizes voluntary pooling; House Bill 374 (Everett-R- Lycoming) establishing the Keystone Tree Fund to support tree planting programs by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (sponsor summary); House Bill 827 (Fritz-R-Wayne) requiring the Delaware River Basin Commission to reimburse property owners for drilling rights if the Commission adopts a ban on fracking was reported from the House Appropriations Committee (House Fiscal Note and summary); House Bill 1055 (Klunk-R-York) establish the Office of the Repealer unaccountable to anyone, General Assembly must vote to approve economically significant regulations, repeal 2 regulations for every new one adopted, reauthorize repeal of any regulation by resolution (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 10): Senate Bill 619 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) makes fundamental changes to the definition of water pollution under the state Clean Streams Law to require an individual or company who causes pollution to surface or groundwater to determine if it should be reported to DEP and whether it is pollution in the first place: Senate Bill 305 (Baker-R- Luzerne) would require the Delaware River Basin Commission to reimburse oil and gas rights holders for the value of their rights if DRBC adopts a moratorium on fracking in the watershed; House Bill 370 (Klunk-R-York) would amend the Agricultural Area Security Law to authorize farmland conservation owners to relinquish the right to establish a residence (House Fiscal Note and summary); House Bill 808 (Mehaffie-R-Dauphin) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt their own fees for 3 years (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings  This Week

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy meets to consider House Bill 1557 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) that eliminates the ability of coal refuse disposal site operators to temporarily cease operations for 1 year and still retain their permit Click Here for more; the Environmental Resources and Energy holds an informational meeting on House Bill 707 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) that would exempt any facility owned by a church or an association of churches, including schools and camps, which rely on a privately-owned water well for their drinking water supplies from the need to meet Safe Drinking Water Act clean water standards; the Finance Committee meets to consider Energize PA proposals-- House Bill 1100 (Kaufer-R- Luzerne) establishes the Energy And Fertilizer Manufacturing Tax Credit to subsidize the use of methane in the production of ammonia, urea and methanol at the rate of 5 cents per gallon of qualified product.  There is no limit on the total tax credits that could be granted (sponsor summary) and House Bill 1103 (Fritz-R-Susquehanna) provides grants to extend “last mile” natural gas service to large residential conversion and combined  heat and power projects under the existing Commonwealth Financing Authority PIPE Program (sponsor summary); the Commerce Committee meets to consider House Bill 1176 (Daley-D- Montgomery) would prohibit establishments from offering plastic straws except upon request from customers (sponsor summary), House Bill 1221 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) providing for bisphenol A-free food and beverage containers (sponsor summary).  <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

NEW: Click Here for a summary of expected House Committee actions.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider the costly Senate Bill 575 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would establish a taxpayer funded procurement program for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions needed to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed pollution reduction goals Click Here for more;  the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee meets to consider House Bill 751 (Roae-R-Crawford) further providing for the valuation of wastewater and water systems for ratemaking purposes, revising the definition of service line (House Fiscal Note and summary).  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Joint House Democratic Policy Committee and Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Restore PA.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

Senate

Pipeline End Of Life Studies: Senate Bill 677 (Dinniman-D-Chester) requiring pipeline operators transporting natural gas and natural gas liquids to conduct an end of life study on all pipelines over 50 years of age to identify environmental impacts from corrosion and damage that increase the risk of catastrophic events causing damage to property and increasing the risk to public safety (sponsor summary).

Power Plant Closure Aid: Senate Bill 704 (DiSanto-R-Dauphin) providing grants to communities impacted by power plant closures (sponsor summary).

AG Jurisdiction Over Environmental Crimes: Senate Bill 707 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) authorizing the state Attorney General to have concurrent jurisdiction over environmental crimes involving waste, water pollution and drinking water (sponsor summary). Click Here for more.

AG Summary Proceedings/Environmental Crimes: Senate Bill 708 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) providing the state Attorney General with authority on summary proceedings related to environmental crimes involving the discharge of sewage, industrial waste or pollution.

AG Criminal Jurisdiction Over Environmental Crimes: Senate Bill 709 (Santarsiero-D- Bucks) authorizes the state Attorney General to institute criminal proceeds against any persons involving environmental crimes in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection.

Reauthorize Drilling On State Forest Land: Senate Bill 716 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) reauthorizes drilling on DCNR State Forest land to fund a Restore PA-lite infrastructure proposal (sponsor summary).  A companion bill-- Senate Bill 717 (Stefano-R-Fayette)-- would create a Green Infrastructure Fund in the Fiscal Code administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority into which any additional non-surface disturbance drilling on State Forest land yields. Click Here for more.

Change Standard Of Review On Appeal Of DEP Permit Actions: Senate Bill 726 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) would create a new standard for the review for appeals of DEP permit actions before the Environmental Hearing Board by limiting parties appealing permit decisions-- a company or a citizens group-- to issues raised in and information contained in a record of decision prepared by DEP (sponsor summary).

A companion bill-- Senate Bill 727 (Bartolotta-R-Washington)-- would change the term of an Environmental Hearing Board judge from 6 to 5 years and limited judges to serving 2 terms.  Any judge sitting on the Board on the effective date of the bill when it is signed into law who has served more than 10 years will have their term expire at the end of their current term.   Click Here for more.

Penalty For Grass Clippings On Roadways: Senate Bill 732 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) providing a penalty for blowing dangerous grass clippings onto roads (sponsor summary).

PA Park & Recreational Professionals Day: Senate Resolution 148 (Killion-R-Delaware) recognizing Pennsylvania Park and Recreation Professionals Day on June 4 (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate.

House

Coal Refuse Site Temporary Cessation: House Bill 1557 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) that eliminates the ability of coal refuse disposal site operators to temporarily cease operations for 1 year and still retain their permit (sponsor summary). (Scheduled to be considered by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee June 11.)

Pollinator Week: House Resolution 385 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating the week of June 17-23 as Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

PA Park & Recreational Professionals Day: House Resolution 370 (James-R- Venango) designating July 19 as Pennsylvania Park and Recreation Professionals Day in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.

Fishing & Boating Week: House Resolution 373 (Gillespie-R-York) designating the week of June 1-9 Fishing and Boating Week (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.

House and Senate Co-Sponsorship Memos

House: Click Here for all new co-sponsorship memos

Senate: Click Here for all new co-sponsorship memos

Session Schedule

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

Senate [Updated]

June 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

September 23, 24, 25

October 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

November 18, 19, 20

December 16, 17, 18

House [Updated]

June 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

September 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25

October 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

November 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20

December 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 

6/10/2019