The House and Senate moved these bills this week—

Oil Profits Tax: House Bill 1588 (Evans-D-Philadelphia) authorizing an oil company gross profits tax was recommitted to the House Rules Committee.

Electric System Benefit Charge: 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, was recommitted to the House Rules Committee.

Hazardous Sites Funding: House Bill 1206 (Surra-D-Elk) establishing a $2.25 municipal waste disposal fee to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program was recommitted to the House Rules Committee.

Plug-In Hybrids: House Bill 690 (Cohen-D-Philadelphia) establishing the Plug-In Hybrid Task Force was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Medical Sharps: House Bill 1320 (Siptroth-D-Monroe) establishing a program for the disposal of home-generated medical sharps was reported from the House Appropriations Committee.

Appalachian Trail Act: House Bill 1281 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) requiring municipalities to protect the Appalachian Trail was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Sewage Enforcement Officers: House Bill 1374 (Saylor-R-York) amending the Sewage Facilities Act related to Sewage Enforcement Officers was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Illegal Signs: House Bill 1519 (McGeehan-D-Philadelphia) providing penalties for illegal posting of signs and depositing penalities in a new TreeVitalize Program Fund was amended and reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Study of Fragmented Local Government: House Resolution 180 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth’s fragmented system of local government was amended and adopted by the House.

Darr Mine Disaster: House Resolution 401 (Gergerly-D-Allegheny) commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Darr Mine Disaster in which more than 200 coal miners lost their lives in Rostraver, Pa was adopted by the House.

Bills Introduced

On-Bill Financing: House Bill 1431 (George-D-Clearfield) establishing an on-bill financing program to help electric customers finance energy efficiency improvements.

Coal Miner’s Day: House Resolution 410 (DeWeese-D-Greene) designating December 19 as “Coal Miner’s Day.”

Special Session Energy Bills

Legislation introduced in the Senate and House as part of the Special Session on Energy is introduced separately from the regular session and Senate and House bill number start over at #1. To avoid confusion, they are listed separately on the General Assembly website and will be here. This is just a sampling of the bills introduced so far.

PennFuels Initiative: House Bill 2 (Gerger-D-Montgomery) PennFuels renewable fuels mandate as proposed by Gov. Rendell.

Green Buildings Tax Credit: House Bill 5 (M.Smith-D-Chester) providing for a High-Performance Buildings Tax Credit.

Tax Exclusion: House Bill 6 (Preston-D-Allegheny) excluding the purchase price of electric hybrid vehicles from sales and use tax.

Alternative Energy Tax Credit: House Bill 9 (DePasquale-D-York) providing for an alternative energy tax credit.

Energy Star Tax Credit: House Bill 10 (DePasquale-D-York) excluding EnergyStar compliant appliances and other products from sales and use tax.

Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards: House Bill 13 (Bennington-D-Allegheny) strengthening the position of energy conservation in meeting the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.

Reallocating Growing Grener II Bond Proceeds: House Bill 14 (Leach-D-Montgomery) reallocating the Growing Greener II bond proceeds to fund installation of residential solar energy systems.

Minimum Energy Efficiency: House Bill 15 (King-D-Bucks) setting minimum energy efficiency standards for certain appliances.

State Energy Office: House Bill 16 (King-D) establishing a State Energy Office.

Animal Waste Recycling: House Bill 21 (Caltagirone-D-Berks) establishing the Animal Waste Recycling Fund to provide tax credits for qualified animal waste recycling facilities.

9/28/2007