The Senate and House took final action on these bills and resolutions:

Senior Environment Corps: Senate Bill 1041 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) establishing the Senior Environment Corps Program in law with the departments of Aging and Environmental Protection.

Watershed Education Program: House Bill 2775 (Zug-R-Lebanon) creates a Watershed Education Program within the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts and environmental education centers to support water education efforts.

Fishing License Increase: House Bill 2155 (B.Smith-R-York) increases fishing and boating licenses and permits. The bill also includes new forms of licenses and permits including a Lake Erie stamp, a combo Lake Erie/Trout stamp and charter boat/fishing guide permits. (Note: Companion increases in Game Commission fees were not approved, but should be taken up next year.)

NewsClip: Fishing Fees May Increase in Pennsylvania

Forestland Beautification: House Bill 2227 (Rubley-R-Chester) authorizing the Governor to take $500,000 from the Recycling, Solid Waste Abatement or the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to provide monies for the Forestland Beautification Program in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Dumping Penalty: House Bill 2029 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) the law providing penalties for illegal dumping in Philadelphia was amended to include a penalty of six month suspension of driving privileges.

Coal & Gas Coordination: House Bill 2804 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) amends the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act by removing the requirement that a gas well must be located at least 330 feet from the boundary of the tract on which it is located. It also removes the section of the Act relating to exceptions to the 330 foot requirement, since exceptions won't be required.

National Energy Policy: Senate Resolution 298 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) urging Congress to adopt a national energy policy with emphasis on natural gas supply and energy conservation.

GIS Planning: House Resolution 882 (McIlhinney-R-Chester) urging state geospatical technologies planning.

11/21/2004