Environmental Bills Signed Into Law In 2011

The following bills related to environmental funding and programs or resolutions requiring action were signed into law or adopted during 2011--

General Fund: House Bill 1485 (Adolph-R-Delaware)-- which contains $27.1 billion in spending and a 4.1 percent reduction from the FY 2010-11 General Fund budget.  It was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 1A.  A summary and House Fiscal Note and Senate Fiscal Note are available.  

Natural Gas Well/Coal Spacing: Senate Bill 265 (MJ White-R-Venango) updates the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act to establishing adequate and safe spacing between Marcellus Shale natural gas well clusters and workable coal seams was signed into law by Gov. Corbett as Act 2.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Fiscal Code: Senate Bill 907 (Browne-R-Lehigh) the Fiscal Code was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 26.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.
            The bill includes provisions related to:  Filing returns for certain sales and use taxes;  Neighborhood Improvement Zone Fund; Financially Distressed Municipalities; Creating a new Keystone Special Development Zone; Vocational Rehabilitation Fund applications; Tobacco Settlement Fund deposits; Transfer from PennVEST to H2O Water Infrastructure Program; and Audits of Race Horse Development Fund.

Act 319 Exceptions: House Bill 143 (Major-R-Susquehanna) amending Act 319 to authorize the splitting off of land for noncoal mining was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 34.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.
            House Bill 144 (Pickett-R-Bradford) amending Act 319 to authorize taxation of oil and gas well production was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 35.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Ag Security Areas: House Bill 562 (Cillen-R-Berks) further providing for the purchase of conservation easements under the Agricultural Area Security Law was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 44.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Recreation Liability: House Bill 870 (Everett-R-Lycoming) further providing for recreation liability for opening land to recreational noncommercial aircraft operations was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 47.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Air Penalties: Senate Bill 151 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) sharing Air Pollution Control Act fines with municipalities was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 57.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Acceptable Data: Senate Bill 263 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring data to support rulemakings was  signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 60.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Keystone Fund Report: Senate Bill 302 (MJ White-R-Venango) further providing for annual reports from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 61.  A summary and Senate Fiscal Note are available.

Bluff RecessionSenate Bill 791 (Earll-R-Erie) further defining bluff under the Bluff Recession Setback Act was signed into law by the Governor and is now Act 72.  A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

Pipeline Safety: House Bill 344 (Baker-R-Tioga) authorizing the PUC to regulate pipeline safety. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Corbett as Act 127  A summary and new Senate Fiscal Note are available for the bill.

LIHEAP Study: Senate Resolution 165 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the efficiency of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program was adopted by the Senate.

Water Trails: Senate Resolution 143 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct an economic impact study of water trails in the Commonwealth was adopted by the Senate.


1/2/2012

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