The Senate and House will return to voting session the week of March 31.

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

On the Senate/House Agenda

The Senate and House published committee schedules for next week and floor Calendars for the week of March 31—

Calendars

House (March 31): House Bill 1078 (Hanna-D-Clinton) establishing the Elk Damage Fund providing for deterrent fences for deer, bear and elk and payment of claims for elk damage; House Resolution 546 (George-D-Clearfield) urging Congress to investigate gas and energy prices; House Resolution 627 (George-D-Clearfield) urging federal government to provide more heating assistance funding; House Bill 2233 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending grants under the Elm Street Program beyond the original five year term;

Special Session House Bill 13 (Bennington-R-Mifflin) amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to provide for increased use of energy efficiency, extends the compliance period from 15 to 21 years and provides additional milestones for the use of alternative energy; Special Session House Bill 16 (King-D-Bucks) establishing a State Energy Office; Special Session House Bill 17 (McIlvaine Smith-D-Montgomery) excluding purchase price of hybrid electric vehicles from sales and use tax; Special Session House Resolution 6 (Thomas-D-Philadelphia) designating the week of November 11-17 as “National Geography Awareness Week.”

Senate (March 31) House Bill 1214 (Surra-D-Elk) changing the terms of Game Commissioners from eight to four years; House Bill 1281 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) requiring municipalities to take steps to protect the Appalachian Trail; House Bill 1329 (Kessler-D-Berks) further providing for appeals and challenges to zoning ordinances.

Committees

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing to solicit testimony on proactive policies on a transition to market-based electric rates and on Special Session House Bill 54 (George-D-Clearfield) providing for a temporary extension of rate caps; the House Republican Policy Committee holds a hearing on Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy compliance costs at Juniata College.

Bills Introduced

These environmental bills of interest were introduced this week—

Social, Economic, Recreation Impacts of Game Commission Decisions: House Bill 2381 (Hanna-D-Centre) prohibits current or former employees of the Game Commission from being named commissioners and requires “In all wildlife management decisions, the commissioners shall be guided by the principles of best management practices utilizing scientific analysis supported by verifiable data with equal regard for the social, economic and recreational impacts of their decisions.”

Green Schools: Senate Bill 1318 (Waugh-R-York) requiring the Department of Education to create a central clearinghouse of prototypical school facility designs, including those that incorporate green building features.

3/21/2008