Senate Bill 356 (MJ.White-R-Venango), establishing the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education in statute, was signed into law by Gov. Rendell in early July as Act 71

“We are delighted to receive this vote of confidence from the Commonwealth,” said PCEE director, Kathleen Cowles Paul. “PCEE has been working hard to expand its services and outreach, providing a growing number of Pennsylvanians with the educational tools and information necessary to have environmental education make a difference in their lives.”

Senate Bill 356, co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White, Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair, establishes a PCEE governing board, ensuring it remains focused on environmental education issues..

“The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is a statewide resource for environmental education materials, with readily accessible web resources,” said Sen. White. “The state has set environment and ecology curriculum standards that students must meet. This new law will ensure that the PCEE will be able to count on stable support from the Commonwealth.”

“I’m proud that Slippery Rock University has turned the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education into a truly statewide resource,” said Sen. White. “Enacting this legislation will make learning tools available to teachers, home-school parents and students via the Internet and newsletters. It’s been a long time coming, but PCEE is a proven education program that finally has committed state support.”

The Senate approved similar legislation sponsored by Sen. White in the previous two legislative sessions, but the House of Representatives did not vote on the measures. The current version was approved by the Senate last year, and the bill received House approval today. Sen. White worked closely with Gov. Rendell to ensure he would support the measure.

The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is a statewide environmental education resource for state agencies, county conservation districts, educators and nonprofit organizations.

The PCEE was established 12 years ago by Gov. Tom Ridge.

7/25/2008