The following Senate and House bills of interested were moving this week—

Senate

Conservation Districts: Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery) to update the 1945 law creating Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for consideration. (See separate story)

Game Commission: House Bill 1214 (Surra-D-Elk) changing the terms of Game Commissioners from eight to four years was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House

State Energy Office: Special Session House Bill 36 (George-D-Clearfield) creating a State Energy Office within the Department of Environmental Protection was passed by the House and sent to the Senate. Last week the House passed Special Session House Bill 16 (King-D-Bucks) establishing a State Energy Office as a cabinet-level agency. The George bill is supported by the Rendell Administration.

NewsClips: House OKs Bill Creating PA Energy Office

Editorial: State Level Energy Office Makes Sense

Deer Audit: House Resolution 642 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to do an audit of the Game Commission’s Deer Management Program was adopted by the House and now becomes effective.

NewsClips: PA Deer Management to be Audited

PA Game Commission Deer Management Audit Approved

House OKs Deer Management Audit

Civilian Conservation Corps: House Resolution 648 (Baker-R-Tioga) Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps was adopted by the House.

Allegheny National Forest: House Resolution 693 (Rapp-R-Warren) affirming the consent of the Commonwealth to the acquisition of Allegheny National Forest Lands is conditioned on the preservation of state and private property rights was adopted by the House.

Lyme Disease: House Resolution 684 (Rubley-R-Chester) declaring May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” was adopted by the House.

Arbor Day: House Resolution 696 (Ross-R-Chester) recognizing April 25 as Arbor Day was adopted by the House.

Phosphate Detergent Ban: Senate Bill 1017 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) providing for a ban on dishwasher detergent with phosphates was referred to and reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Deep Mine Safety: Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) updating the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act was amended, reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Geospatial Council: House Bill 1304 (Fairchild-R-Mifflin) to establish a Geospatial Coordinating Council was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

County Waste Fee: House Bill 934 ( Scavello-D-Monroe) authorizing counties to impose a waste management fee was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

4/11/2008