The Senate and Senate return to voting session June 25. Here’s what’s on the agenda this week--

House

Calendar: House Bill 43 (Rubley-R-Chester) establishing uniform environmental covenants for brownfield site redevelopment; House Bill 1203 (Hornaman-D-Erie) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act in line with Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Proposal; House Bill 1295 (Hanna-D-Clinton), restoring the State System of Higher Education allocation from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2006-07; House Resolution 112 (Mann-D-Lehigh) directing DEP to implement policies that encourage electronic waste recycling; House Resolution 122 (George-D-Clearfield) petitioning the President and Congress to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; House Resolution 268 (Rohrer-R-Berks) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study Game Commission forestry and mineral development policies.

Committees: The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 913 (Vereb-R-Montgomery) providing for a Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program and authorizing additional funding, House Bill 1164 (Wansacz-D-Luzerne) requiring host community agreements and prohibiting municipal and residual waste facilities near State Parks; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1329 (Kessler-D-Berks) further providing for the jurisdiction of common pleas court in reviewing challenges to land development ordinances and House Resolution 180 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth’s fragmented system of local governments.

Senate

Calendar: Senate Bill 715 (Musto-D-Luzerne) amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act incorporating the Governor’s Energy Independence Proposal changes; Senate Bill 913 (MJWhite-R-Venango) authorizing the transfer of certain excess fine and penalty revenues to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund; House Bill 13 (Readshaw-D-Allegheny) relating to landowner liability and opening land to recreation.

Committee: The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 483 (Bastian-R-Somerset) establishing the Mine Families First Program to deal with the needs of families of mine workers involved in an emergency; Senate Resolution 129 (Stout-D-Washington) expressing opposition to the designation of national corridors of interest in Pennsylvania for electric transmission lines; the Senate Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 913 (MJWhite-R-Venango) authorizing the transfer of certain excess fine and penalty revenues to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, Senate Bill 728 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) restoring the State System of Higher Education allocation from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 .

Bills Introduced

Several more environmental bills were introduced this week…

County Administration Fees: House Bill 1209 (M.Smith-D-Montgomery) amending Act 101 to authorize county administration fees for waste and recycling programs.

Capitol Budget: House Bill 1589 (Evans-D-Philadelphia) providing for a Capitol Budget for environmental, recreation, transportation, economic development and other projects.

Long-Term Electric Contracts: Senate Bill 977 (Orie-R-Allegheny) authorizing the use of long-term contracts in certain circumstances for electricity purchases.

6/22/2007