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Legislative Update - June 2007
June 21, 2007
PACD Meets with PA Farm Bureau
PACD met with PA Farm Bureau (PFB) leaders this week to discuss
dedicated conservation district funding. PFB has always supported increased
conservation district funding, and this year has made conservation district
funding a top budgetary priority. During the meeting we had the opportunity
to share our frustration over the ever increasing costs of district
programs and administration. We broached the subject of dedicated funding
and suggested that PFB consider a surcharge on all fertilizer sold in
PA, both for agriculture and lawn care products, to be used for a conservation
district dedicated fund. The PFB Policy Committee is planning on sending
the issue to their county organizations and recommend that they consider
this type of district funding approach. Their county groups can use
the information to pass local resolutions, which will then be considered
at the annual PFB convention in November. Any district who has a close
relationship with their county PFB may want to consider talking with
them about conservation district dedicated funding.
Senate Finance Committee Passes REAP
The Senate Finance Committee met this week and passed SB 690, the
REAP legislation. The bill, sponsored by Senator Mike Waugh, is a credit
program providing state tax credits to offset some or most of the costs
of environmental improvements on agricultural land. Landowners and businesses
may also receive tax credits for installing riparian forested buffers
on non-agricultural land. Qualified applicants receive a tax credit
of 25 percent, 50 percent or 75 percent of project costs, depending
on the BMP installed. All BMPs shall be maintained for the life of the
practice as determined by NRCS. The bill was amended to reflect an annual
$10 million cap on possible tax credits, and will now go to the Senate
Appropriations Committee. To see a copy of SB 690, go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm
and key in SB 690. PACD also participated in a press conference held
by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in support of REAP.
House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committees Meet
Both the House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committees
met this week to discuss Energy Policy. The Senate Environmental Committee
held a hearing on the subject while the House Environmental Committee
passed HB 1200 making changes to the PA Energy Development Authority
and HB 1203 amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act
to be in line with Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Proposal.
To print a copy of HB 1200 and HB 1203, go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm
and key in HB 1200 or HB 1203.
House Agriculture Committee Meets to Discuss Wind Power and Food
Safety
The House Agriculture Committee met and passed HB 656. This legislation
allows landowners to install windmills for energy generation without
losing their clean and green benefits. The Committee also passed HB
1422, which updates and recodifies the food safety laws in PA. The Committee
sentiment was to strengthen food safety laws to include mechanisms aimed
at minimizing the threat of terrorist attacks. To print a copy these
pieces of legislation go to http://www.legis.state.pa.uscfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm.
Budget Update
PACD sent a follow-up budget request letter to all members of the
House and Senate this week. We are also talking to a number of staff
and legislators concerning our budget concerns. At this point it is
unclear when the General Assembly will fully address the state budget,
but we do know that negotiations are taking place between the Governor’s
office, the Senate leadership and the House leadership.
June 7, 2007
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Passes SB 356
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee passed SB 356
this week. This legislation statutorily establishes a Pennsylvania Center
for Environmental Education (PCEE). PCEE was originally established
by Executive Order on December 20, 1996. The original focus of the Center
was to provide increased public and private access to quality environmental
education through service, education, and research. SB 356 simply gives
PCEE statutory authority.
Since PCEE’s inception, the PA Association of Conservation Districts
(PACD) has held a seat on their Board and plays an integral role promoting
the goals of the Center. While SB 356 allows for environmental representation
on the PCEE’s Board, PACD was not specifically designated as a
Board member. Representative Mike Carroll introduced an amendment assuring
PACD a seat on the PCEE board to continue the environmental education
efforts both organizations strive to achieve. This amendment passed
along with the bill. SB 356 will now go to the full House of Representatives
for consideration. For a copy of SB
356, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/.
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