Happy Thanksgiving.....and a safe and enjoyable time afield to all!
SESSION WRAPS UP
Newly elected President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati took the oath of office yesterday prior to the farewell speeches of departing senators. When the Legislature returns in January, Scarnati is expected to be elected again to the post.
The Senate and House of Representatives are poised to wrap up the last remaining business before them and will adjourn sine die at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2006.
I'll be providing a legislative wrap-up after the Governor signs or vetoes all the bills passed recently.
Passed both Houses:
HB 2563 Staback (PN 3806) Amends Title 34 (Game) by allowing law enforcement officers or any person who possesses a license to carry a firearm to be in possession of a firearm during any activity regulated under Title 34. The bill states that this does not allow hunting with this firearm unless provided for by law.
Nov 21, 2006 - H-Signed in the House
Nov 21, 2006 - S-Signed in the Senate
HB 2134 Fairchild Act limiting the collection of Social Security numbers on State & local government forms; prohibiting health insurers from using Social Security numbers; & further providing for duties of the Department of Transportation. (PN 4868) The Social Security Number Privacy Act states individuals applying for or renewing a professional license or certification, occupational license or certification or recreational license required by a Commonwealth agency or municipality must be permitted to provide an alternative to disclosing their Social Security number (SSN) if SSNs are collected by the agency or municipality solely for the purpose of complying with 23 Pa.C.S. Sec. 4304.1(a)(2) (relating to cooperation of government and nongovernment agencies). No health insurer may place an insured's SSN on a health insurance identification card. The bill requires DPW to apply for an exemption under the federal Social Security Act.
Nov 22, 2006 - S-In the hands of the Governor
Dec 2, 2006 - S-Last day for Governor's action
HB 2133 Fairchild (PN 4822) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) providing for special registration plates by stating that if the vehicle is licensed to a business that is not a member of the special group, the department would issue the plate as long as the business owner or officer making application is a member of that group. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to issue an identification card to any person 10 years of age or older (current law does not specify an age). The bill also requires lighted lamps when a vehicle operator cannot discern a person or vehicle upon the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, including rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, smoke or smog, or any time when the vehicle's windshield wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to precipitation or atmospheric moisture, including rain, snow, sleet or mist. Under the bill, members of rescue organizations would have the authority to use flashing or revolving blue lights. The bill states that an annual permit may be issued authorizing movement on specified highways of a hot box. "Hot box" is defined as an enclosure consisting of welded steel plate chained to a semitrailer with a removable lid lined with refraction for purposes of insulation and retention of heat. Other types of vehicle permits are also specified. Lastly, an annual permit may be issued authorizing the movement on highways of domestic animal feed and whole or unprocessed grain, in bulk, which exceeds the maximum vehicle gross weight specified in Subchapter C (relating to maximum weights of vehicles). (Prior Printer Number: 2937, 3636, 4709) Note: This bill started out with just the above highlighted text, for the purpose of allowing those under 16 to receive photo identification type cards, so that if/when HB2134 passed, those without a drivers license would have another form of ID other than having to use their SSN.
Nov 21, 2006 - H-Signed in the House
Nov 21, 2006 - S-Signed in the Senate
SB 1209 Waugh (R) (PN 2047) The Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to award grants for the purpose of developing the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program in kindergarten classes in PA. Any school district, charter school or private school with a kindergarten program may submit an application to the department for funding. The program would contain the following elements: (1) a list of PA farmers who have agreed to supply food products from PA farms; (2) nutrition and agriculture education; (3) training of teachers and other educational staff on nutrition and agriculture education; (4) the inclusion of parents, caregivers and community groups in educational activities; and (5) field trips to PA farms or other direct agricultural educational experiences which teach children about sources of food and PA agriculture. Grant amounts would be limited to 75% of the amount necessary to develop the program, not to exceed $15,000 annually, per school. (Prior Printer Number: 1769)
Nov 21, 2006 - H-Signed in the House
Nov 21, 2006 - S-Signed in the Senate
Legislation Passed the House:
HB 3007 Semmel Amends "An act encouraging landowners to make land & water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith & repealing certain acts" further providing for liability of landowners. The bill seeks to limit liability for land and water areas available to the public for a "recreational user" defined as any person who enters or uses land for a recreational purpose.
11-20-06 Final Passage (Vote Y: 191/N: 0)
Unfortunately, there was not enough time left on the Senate's Calendar to take up this bill this year. We've been promised that it will be reintroduced next year and be one of their top priorities for passage.
Executive Action:
DCNR: RETENTION OF TWO SURVEYING FIRMS; PROJECT REFERENCE NO. FDC-500-905
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources retained two surveying firms for year-long open-end contracts for various surveying and engineering related services on various civil and environmental projects located on State park and State forest land. One contract will be primarily for various projects at facilities located in the northcentral portion of PA, while the other will be for eastern PA. Both contracts allow for a maximum of four 12-month extensions. Letters of interest may be submitted to Eugene J. Comoss, P. E., Director, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 8th Floor, 400 Market Street, PO Box 8451, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8451. General information may be obtained by contacting Rodger Cook at (717) 783-7943.
DEP: EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, TREATMENT OPERATIONS OR TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on its plan to continue to regulate erosion, sediment and stormwater runoff associated with earth disturbance at oil and gas exploration, production, processing or treatment operations or transmission facilities. Written comments on this plan may be submitted to Chief, NPDES Construction and Erosion Control, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Watershed Management, Division of Waterways, Wetlands and Stormwater Management, PO Box 8775, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8775 or by email to ep-oilgaspermit@state.pa.us. Questions regarding this notice should be directed to Kenneth Murin, Bureau of Watershed Management, at (717) 787-6827, or Ronald Gilius, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, at (717) 772-2291.
DEP: PROPOSED REVISION TO THE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR OZONE FOR THE GREENE COUNTY 8-HOUR OZONE NONATTAINMENT AREA; PUBLIC HEARING
The Department of Environmental Protection plans to submit a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate the Greene County 8-House Ozone Attainment Area to attainment. DEP will hold a hearing to receive public comments on this proposal, as well as the 2002 base year inventory and a State Implementation Plan revision setting forth a Maintenance Plan, on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the Greene County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, in Waynesburg. Written comments may be sent to the attention of J. Wick Havens, Chief, Division of Air Resource Management, Bureau of Air Quality, PO Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, or emailed to jhavens@state.pa.us.
DEP: PROPOSED REVISION TO THE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR OZONE FOR THE READING 8-HOUR OZONE NONATTAINMENT AREA; PUBLIC HEARING
The Department of Environmental Protection plans to submit a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate the Reading 8-House Ozone Attainment Area to attainment. The DEP will hold a hearing to receive public comments on this proposal, as well as the 2002 base year inventory and a State Implementation Plan revision setting forth a Maintenance Plan, on Tuesday, December 19, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. at the Berks County Services Center, Commissioners Board Room, 13th Floor, 633 Court Street in Reading. Written comments may be sent to the attention of J. Wick Havens, Chief, Division of Air Resource Management, Bureau of Air Quality, PO Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468, or emailed to jhavens@state.pa.us.
