The following bills of interest are moving in the Senate and House—

Senate

Deep Mine Safety: Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) making the first comprehensive revisions to the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act in 45 years, in-part based on recommendations made after the 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue, was amended and reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Health Law Revision: Senate Resolution 194 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish a task force and an advisory committee to review, update and codify Pennsylvania’s public health law was adopted by the Senate.

House

Great Lakes Compact: House Bill 1705 (Harkins-D-Erie) authorizing Pennsylvania to join the Great Lakes Compact governing water withdrawals in the Lake Erie Basin was reported from the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House floor is in now on the House Calendar for final action. NewsClip: State May Join Great Lakes Compact.

Floodplain Mapping: House Resolution 465 (Hanna-D-Center) urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to review and update flood insurance maps every 10 years was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Energy Prices: House Resolution 546 (George-D-Clearfield) urging Congress to investigate gas and energy prices was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. It is now on the House Calendar for action.

Scrap Theft: House Bill 1742 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) the Scrap Material Theft Prevention Act was reported from the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House floor and is now on the House Calendar for final action.

Electric Prices: House Resolution 506 (George-D-Clearfield) directing DEP and the PUC to evaluate measures to manage the transition from electricity price caps and to minimize the impact on residential customers was adopted by the House.

1/18/2008