Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

The Senate is expected to consider Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), the Taxpayer Transparency Act. It would direct the Office of the Budget to create and maintain a searchable budget database-driven website that the public can access for free to obtain information on grants and contracts, as well as agency performance results.

committees: PA CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN, GAS WELLS, ANTI-BLIGHT

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), will consider six bills Tuesday, including legislation to extend the deadline for submitting a Pennsylvania Climate Change action plan and tighten oil and gas well reporting requirements.

Senate Bill 829, sponsored by Senator White, extends the timeframe for submittal of the PA Climate Change Action Plan and restores a public comment period. Senate Bill 297, sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), requires oil and gas well operators to submit a semi-annual report in addition to the existing annual report, and makes other changes to increase transparency and encourage investments in the Marcellus Shale region.

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, chaired by Senator Yaw, will hold a public hearing Tuesday to listen to testimony on blighted property and the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act (Senate Bill 1291 of 2008).

Review

SENATE PANEL ENDORSES SEN. BRUBAKER'S STIMULUS OVERSIGHT BILL

The Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks), approved legislation Tuesday that would provide transparency and oversight of all federal stimulus dollars spent in Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), would create a bipartisan commission to provide oversight and accountability for all funds distributed to Pennsylvania through the federal stimulus program. The Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability will be required to track, monitor and report on all funds received from the federal government as part of the stimulus package.

The bill was amended to add two additional citizen representatives to the oversight commission, bringing the total number of commission members to 11.

Senate Bill 6 was sent to the full Senate for consideration. (For the makeup of the Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability please see Fast Facts, below.)

Senator Brubaker

SENATE APPROVES COAL BED METHANE WELL DISPUTE ACT

The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation introduced to establish a special review board to arbitrate coal bed methane well disputes.

Currently, disputes between surface land owners and the holders of mineral rights for those properties are often resolved in county courts after a lengthy, expensive and acrimonious process for all parties involved.

Senate Bill 275, sponsored by Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), creates a three-member Coal Bed Methane Review Board to consider objections and attempt to reach an agreement on issues such as the location of coal bed methane wells and/or access roads.

The Coal Bed Methane Review Board would be made up of a member appointed by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, a member appointed jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Pennsylvania Coal Association, and a member appointed jointly by the deans of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of Penn State University. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives.

SENATE VOTES TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL SPENDING

The Senate approved several bills last week increasing transparency and accountability in state spending on environmental initiatives.

The Senate approved the following bills, sponsored by Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango):

Senate Bill 115 requires the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to post and maintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website, and to provide the same to the standing Senate and House oversight committees. The State Implementation Plans are the Commonwealth's formal submittals to the Environmental Protection Agency detailing how the government will comply with various air quality standards. This legislation would ensure that the plans are readily available for public and legislative review and comment.

Senate Bill 116 requires the DEP to annually compile a comprehensive report on all of the special funds and restricted accounts that it administers.

Senate Bill 117 requires state agencies which receive funding under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Key '93) to submit annual reports to the governor and General Assembly - including a description of projects and amounts requested - and post the information online.

Senate Bill 118 requires DEP to deposit any HSCA-related fine money into the HSCA fund. Any business which causes a hazardous spill or release is obligated under the HSCA statute to pay 100 percent of recovery and cleanup costs, and is also liable for significant fines.

SENATE ACTS TO MAKE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AVAILABLE TO VIETNAM VETERANS

Legislation extending the honorary diploma program known as "Operation Recognition" to Vietnam veterans was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 674, sponsored by Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), amends the Public School Code to allow school districts to establish such a program in order to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans who were unable to graduate due to their military service.

BILL TO BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING APPROVED BY COMMITTEE

The Senate Transportation Committee, chaired by Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that would make it illegal for motorists to text while driving.

Senate Bill 143, sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), would make texting while driving a secondary offense if a motorist has been cited for another violation and would carry a fine of $100. Pennsylvania would join 10 other states that have prohibited texting while driving for all classes of drivers. Eight more states prohibit texting by novice drivers or certain specialized driving classifications.

Senate Bill 143 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Senator Tomlinson

COMMITTEE VOTES TO PROTECT PRESERVED FARMLAND FROM PROPERTY TAX INCREASES

The Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that could exempt more preserved farmland from property tax increases.

Senate Bill 172, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), would allow local taxing authorities to exempt farmland properties acquired by a non-profit land trust from property tax millage increases.

Under current law, counties, local governments and school districts have the option to provide an exemption from increases for farmland preserved only through the State Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program.

In the Spotlight

Act 73 of 2001 established "Operation Recognition," providing school districts the authority to grant high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans of World War II. Act 187 of 2002 extended the program to Korean Conflict veterans, but Vietnam veterans have not yet been included in the program.

To be eligible under Senate Bill 674, the honorably discharged veteran must have served in the Vietnam War between the dates of November 15, 1961 and March 28, 1973. Also, they must have attended high school between 1958 and 1973 and have been a member of a graduation class between the years 1962 and 1975./p>

Senator Waugh said: "After having tried unsuccessfully last session to move this legislation through the Senate, I am pleased by the tremendous bi-partisan support it has garnered this year. While it isn’t a done deal yet, we are much closer to finally being able to offer this opportunity to our Vietnam veterans."

Fast Facts

Senate Bill 6: Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability Members

Secretary of the Budget
Three members of the Governor's Cabinet
One majority member of the Senate
One minority member of the Senate
One majority member of the House
One minority member of the House
Three members of the general public