On the Senate/House Agenda/Session Schedule/Bills Introduced

The next scheduled voting session day is March 9 for the Senate and House, but between now and then both chambers will hold hearings on Gov. Rendell's proposed budget. NOTE: Many budget hearings will be carried on the PA Cable Network on cable and online.

Session Schedule

Here's the House and Senate session schedule through June 2009--

House

March 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

April 1, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 20

Senate

Budget Hearings: Feb. 23, 24, 25, 26 – March 2, 3, 4, 5

March, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

April 1, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2 , 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

Calendars

House (March 9): House Bill 92 (Staback-D-Schuylkill) authorizing up to a $1 fee on purchasers of hunting licenses and stamps through the automated licensing system.

Senate (March 9): Senate Resolution 20 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to determine the impact of state tax credit programs.

Committees

The following Committees have meetings this week--

House: the Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings: Access To Fresh Food,Department of Transportation.

NOTE: Many budget hearings will be carried on the PA Cable Network on cable and online.

Senate/House Bills Moving

These environmental bills saw action this week--

House

Main Street Program: House Bill 102 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending the duration of Main Street Program Grants was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

"Many times we have seen that the current five-year time frame to turn a traditional downtown around is not long enough," Rep. Freeman said. "A Main Street community just begins to see progress and the funding stops because of the program's time limit, causing revitalization momentum and success to suffer. If we allow those communities to continue in the program for additional time, we can help ensure their success in achieving their Main Street revitalization goals."

Appalachian Trail: House Bill 263 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) setting a deadline for implementing the PA Appalachian Trail Act was reported from the House Local Government Committee and referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Game Licensing Costs: House Bill 92 (Staback-D-Schuylkill) authorizing up to a $1 fee on purchasers of hunting licenses and stamps through the automated licensing system was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.

Senate

EQB Counsel: Senate Bill 85 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing the Environmental Quality Board to hire legal counsel was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Infrastructure Bond Fix: Senate Bill 86 (Musto-D-Luzerne) making a technical correction to the Water and Sewer Systems Assistance Act which authorized the successful $400 million bond issue passed by voters last November was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Air Pollution Control Plans: Senate Bill 115 (M.White-R-Venango) amending the Air Pollution Control Act to publish the State Implementation Plan on line and requiring the review of the Plan by the House and Senate environmental committees was amended and reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Environmental Fund Reporting: Senate Bill 116 (M.White-R-Venango) requiring DEP to compile a comprehensive report on all special funds and restricted revenue accounts administered by the agency was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Keystone Fund Report: Senate Bill 117 (M.White-R-Venango) requiring additional reporting of expenditures from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund was amended and reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Hazardous Sites Fund Reporting: Senate Bill 118 (M.White-R-Venango) requiring the deposit of penalties assessed under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act in the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Energy Assistance: Senate Bill 156 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) providing home energy assistance handship funds for home energy providers under the Department of Public Welfare was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Tax Credit Study: Senate Resolution 20 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to determine the impact of state tax credit programs was amended to include the Film Development Tax Credit and reported from the Senate Finance Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Bills Introduced

These bills of interest were introduced this week--

Box Turtle: House Bill 318 (Curry-D-Montgomery) designating the Eastern Box Turtle as the official reptile for the Commonwealth.

Flood Insurance: House Bill 323 (Miller-R-York) enacting the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Program.

State Building Energy Reduction: House Bill 324 (Miller-R-York) requiring a 30 percent reduction in energy use in state buildings.

Electric Vehicles: House Bill 424 (Fleck-R-Blair) encourages the use of neighborhood electric vehicles.

NewsClip: Bill Introduced To Encourage Neighborhood Electric Vehicles


2/13/2009

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