These bills and nominations of interest saw action in the House and Senate this week—

Senate

PUC Nominations: The Senate unanimously confirmed Gov. Rendell’s two nominees for the Public Utility Commission—Robert Powelson and Wayne Gardner.

River Basin Funding: Senate Resolution 344 (Brubaker-R-Lancaster) urging Congress to provide funding for river basin commissions was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and adopted by the Senate.

Nonstructural Alternatives to Flooding: House Bill 2539 (Seip-D-Schuylkill) and House Bill 2546 (Conklin-D-Centre) authorizing nonstructural alternatives to control flooding were reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and were tabled.

Neighborhoods: House Bill 1280 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) amending the Municipalities Planning Code to further define traditional neighborhood development was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Historic Preservation Grants: House Bill 221 (Tangretti-D-Westmoreland) establishing an Historic Preservation Incentive Program was tabled.

Electric Rate Cap Transition: Senate Bill 1134 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) providing for a transition period after rate caps come off in 2010 was referred back to the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

House

Renewable Energy Funding: Special Session Senate Bill 1 (MJ.White-R-Venango) establishing an Alternative Energy funding program was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Biofuels Incentives/Mandates: Special Session Senate Bill 36 (MJ. White-R-Venango) providing for a study and mandate for biodiesel was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee; Special Session House Bill 3 (Gerber-D-Montgomery) providing for an ethanol and biodiesel mandate was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee.

Alternative Energy Portfolio: Special Session House Bill 62 (Depasquale-D-York) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to include coal gasification and carbon sequestration projects in Tier II was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee.

AEPS Energy Mandate: Special Session Senate Bill 64 (Waugh-R-York) amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to include paper making liquors as a Tier I alternative energy source was amended to increase the solar energy set aside in Tier I, reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, then referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Mercury Thermostats: House Bill 44 (Rubley-R-Chester) banning the sale, installation and unsafe disposal of mercury thermostats was reported from the House Rules Committee, referred to, amended and reported from the House Appropriations Committee and amended by the House on Second Consideration and is on the House Calendar for final action.

Game Commission Board: House Bill 2381 (Hanna-D-Centre), which would prohibit former or current Game Commission employees or deputy conservation officers from serving on the board, was reported out of the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

"Outside interests have begun to dictate the board's decisions on hunting regulations and the management of state game lands," Rep. Hanna said. "Sportsmen and women have grown increasingly disappointed with the lack of other factors considered when making decisions."

"The current board does not consider the impact of their decisions on social and economic factors in the community," Rep. Hanna said. "A fresh perspective on wildlife management that will look at the issues from the people who are impacted most is needed."

NewsClip: Lawmaker Would Cut Game Deputies’ Powers

Elk Fence/Damage: House Bill 2575 (Hanna-D-Centre) providing for deterrent fences and payments for elk damage was given Second Consideration by the House and is now on the House Calendar for final action.

Energy Assistance: House Resolution 627 (George-D-Clearfield) urging federal government to provide more heating assistance funding was adopted by the House.

7/4/2008