Here’s a quick rundown on other bills moving this week…

Senate

Energy Assistance: Senate Bill 76 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) establishing the Home Energy Assistance Act to provide matching public funds to hardship funds contributed by stockholders, employees and ratepayers of home energy providers was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Bill 352 (Robbins-R-Mercer) providing additional funds for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was reported from the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Sewer Lateral: Senate Bill 176 ( Pippy-R-Allegheny) authorizing the use of public funds to pay for the repair of lateral sewer lines was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Rulemaking Petitions: Senate Bill 354 (MJWhite-R-Venango) prohibiting the Environmental Quality Board from accepting rulemaking petitions to regulate substances not authorized by current state or federal law was moved up and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Independent Legal Advice: Senate Bill 105 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing the Environmental Quality Board to retain independent legal advice was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House

Lyme Disease: House Resolution 227 (Rubley-R-Chester) declaring May as “Lyme Diease Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House.

Arbor Day: House Resolution 189 (Marsico-R-Dauphin) recognizing April 27 as “Arbor Day” in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House.

Watershed Awareness Month: House Resolution 246 (Adolph-R-Chester) designating May as “Watershed Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House.

Drinking Water Week: House Resolution 251 (Rubley-R-Chester) designating May 6 – 12 as “Drinking Water Week” in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House.

Landowner Liability: The House Game & Fisheries Committee amended and reported out House Bill 13 (Readshaw-D-Allegheny) limiting liability of landowners in connection with opening their lands for hunting and recreation.

Nuclear Power Plant Fees: House Bill 496 (George-D-Clearfield) that would increase fees on nuclear power plants and for transport escorts was amended to make it identical to the companion Senate Bill 782 was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Mine Safety: House Bill 483 (Bastion-R-Somerset) creating the Mine Families First Program to provide assistance to families involved in mine rescue incidents was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Green School Buildings: House Bill 894 (Leach-D-Montgomery) authorizing additional reimbursements for school building construction which meets the LEED standards was reported from the House State Government Committee with a request that it be re-refered to the House Education Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

4/27/2007