Here are some upcoming activities by Senate and House Committees….

Senate Committees: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on the nomination of Michael DiBerardinis as Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources; the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee holds a listening session on agriculture and rural issues in Ephrata.

House Committees: the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to discuss committee rules and its future agenda; the Game and Fisheries Committee meets to hear the Game Commission present its annual report; the Appropriations Committee hears presentations on budget needs by House members.

Other Meetings: Legislative Forestry Task Force Meeting, Joint Conservation Committee meets in State College.

Bills Introduced

Several more environmental bills were introduced this week, here’s the rundown…

Small Business Impacts of Rules: House Bill 210 (Pickett-R-Bradford) would require agencies to evaluate the impact of regulations on small businesses.

Historic Preservation Grants: House Bill 221 (Tangretti-D-Westmoreland) would establish the Historic Preservation Incentive Grant Act to provide grants to eligible properties that undertake building improvements.

Flood Insurance Premium Assistance: House Bill 236 (Miller-R-York) establishing the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Program.

Energy Efficient State Buildings: House Bill 238 (Miller-R-York) establishing the Energy Efficiency in State Government Buildings Act.

Terminating Utility Service: House Bill 285 (George-D-Clearfield) providing revised procedures for termination of utility service.

Mineral Rights: House Bill 297 (Yewcic-D-Cambria) creating a surface property rights owner right of first refusal in transfer of subsurface mineral rights.

Hybrid Exemption: House Bill 309 (Boyd-R-Lancaster) exempting hybrid electric vehicles that have a city fuel economy rating of 40 mph from emissions inspections.

Smoking in State Parks: House Bill 312 (Leach-D-Montgomery) would prohibit smoking in State Parks.

Redirecting Growing Greener Funds: House Bill 319 (O’Neill-R-Bucks) would require the redirection of Growing Greener fee monies to the General Fund.

Funding Local Climate Change Plans: House Bill 334 (Vitali-D-Delaware) providing funding for the preparation of local climate change plans.

Sportsman’s Federation: House Resolution 71 (Gergley-D-Allegheny) recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs.

Energy Efficiency Tax Exclusion: Senate Bill 37 (C.Williams-D-Montgomery) exempting appliances meeting the Energy Star energy efficiency standards from Sales and Use Tax.

Lead-Testing: Senate Bill 40 (C.Williams-D-Montgomery) requiring the Department of Health to test child day-care and preschool facilities for lead.

Mercury Thermometers: Senate Bill 51 (C.Williams-D-Montgomery) prohibiting the sale or distribution of thermometers containing mercury.

Environmental Insurance: Senate Bill 58 (Erickson-R-Delaware) creating the Environmental Insurance program to facilitate the remediation of contaminated property.

Right of First Refusal: Senate Bill 61 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) establishing the Mineral Rights Transfer Act creating a right of first refusal for surface rights owners in the transfer of mineral rights.

2/9/2007