House Adopts State Forest Leasing, Recycling Fee Amendment

The House, by a vote of 105 to 92, adopted the omnibus amendment to the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1407 (DeLuca-D-Allegheny)-- offered by House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne).
The House completed amendments and put the bill over for the day. The House announced there will be no more votes in the House today.
The amendment contains miscellaneous provisions reportedly agreed to by Senate Republicans and Gov. Rendell related to the Budget IV agreement, including leasing State Forest lands to generate $60 million in revenue, creating a Use Tire Cleanup Program, extending the $2 Recycling Fee to 2020.
Provisions related to water infrastructure were also included-- boiler plate language to implement the $400 million water infrastructure passed by voters last November and a revision to the definition of the types of organizations eligible for H20 Water Infrastructure financial assistance.
The language also authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to charge fees of up to $150 to applicants applying for funds under the Alternative Energy Investment Act of 2008; and eliminates $15 million in funding to DEP for the Consumer Energy Program for FY 2009-10.