The House has now adjourned until September 23 sending the Education Code bill to the Governor and amending and returning the Tax Code, Welfare Code and Fiscal Code bills back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. There is no word yet when the Senate is going to return to session. Here are the details--
-- Tax Code: House Bill 465 MacKenzie (R-Berks) the Tax Code was amended earlier in the week by the Senate with a dozen new provisions, including: extending the Wild Resource Conservation Tax Checkoff until 2018 and a repeal of the never used Coal Waste and Ultraclean Fuels Tax Credit. The bill was amended again by the House before they adjourned and it now returns to the Senate for a concurrence vote. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.
-- Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 591 (Vulakovich-D-Allegheny) budget-related amendments to the Fiscal Code was amended and reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House. The bill includes provisions related to eliminating General Fund appropriations to DEP for the Consumer Energy Program for FY 2012-13 and FY 2013-14, appropriates $150,000 for independent research regarding natural gas drilling to DEP, gives priorities to municipalities in counties of the sixth, seventh and eighth class with approved applications for Sewage Facilities Planning Grants, directing DCNR to enter into an agreement to manage Washington Crossing Historic Park with the PA Historical and Museum Commission. The bill returns to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
Environmental Bills On Governor's Desk
Environmental Bills On Governor's Desk
-- Stormwater: Senate Bill 351 (Erickson-R-Delaware) authorizing municipal authorities to undertake stormwater projects was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill returned to the Senate and the Senate concurred in House amendments. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.
-- Permit Extensions: House Bill 784 (Evankovich-R-Armstrong) extending permit pending and approved in the Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies through July 2, 2016 was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate. The bill returned to the House which concurred in Senate amendments. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.
-- On-lot Septic System Reviews: House Bill 1325 (Maloney-R-Berks) amending Act 537 to provide that on-lot septic systems approved by DEP meet anti-degradation requirement. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.
-- Oil & Gas Royalties: Senate Bill 259 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for the reporting of royalties from oil and gas wells and combining gas leases for horizontal drilling was concurred in by the Senate. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.
-- Oil & Gas Royalties: Senate Bill 259 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for the reporting of royalties from oil and gas wells and combining gas leases for horizontal drilling was concurred in by the Senate. A summary and House Fiscal Note are available. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.
NewsClips:
Gas Drilling Royalty Owners Oppose New Bill