The Senate and House are scheduled to be in voting session July 7 and 8 and most of next week because of unresolved budget issues, so Calendars and Committee schedules are in a state of “flux.” Here’s what we know at the moment…

House

Calendar: House Bill 1201 (George-D-Clearfield) making changes to Title 66 (Utility Code) consistent with Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Proposal, including the proposed system benefit charge; House Bill 1320 (Siptroth-D-Monroe) establishing a program within DEP for the disposal of home-generated medical sharps; Senate Bill 97 (D.White-R-Indiana) providing a tax credit for film production and changing tax requirements for banking shares; House Bill 1649 (Barrar-R-Chester) requiring the fluoridation of public water supplies; House Bill 1329 (Kessler-D-Berks) further providing for the jurisdiction of common pleas court in reviewing challenges to land development ordinances; House Bill 1530 (Dermody-D-Allegheny) providing for electric supplier long term contracts; 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; House Resolution 180 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth’s fragmented system of local governments

Senate

Calendar: 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 and including other budget implementing language for fiscal year 2007-08.

Bills Introduced

Several more environmental bills were introduced this week…

Planning Code: House Bill 1525 (Steil-R-Bucks) providing for comprehensive plans and compliance by counties and making other changes to the Municipalities Planning Code.

Wildlife Funding: House Bill 1676 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) introduced legislation that would dedicate a portion of the state Sales Tax to help support the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions. NewsClip: Use Part of Sales Tax for Fish, Game Agencies

Great Lakes Compact: House Bill 1705 (Harkins-D-Erie) authorizing Pennsylvania to joint the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.

Waste Coal: House Resolution 363 (George-D-Clearfield) designating August 29 “Environmentally Beneficial Use of Waste Coal as an Alternative Energy Source Day.”

Electric Rates: House Resolution 369 (George-D-Clearfield) request the Public Utility Commission to identify possible solutions for impending rate crisis.

Conservation Districts: Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderline-R-Montgomery) making changes to the Conservation District Law designing conservation districts as the primary local government unit responsible for conservation.

7/6/2007