Authority_October_2020

12 October 2020 - The Authority Following a short summer recess, the General Assembly returned to session earlier than usual, beginning Septem- ber 1st for the House and September 3rd for the Senate. At the end of May, the legislature passed a five-month, stop-gap state budget with a spend total of $25.1 billion for fiscal year 2020/2021 which started July 1st. This leaves the General Assembly and Governor to determine how to pay for the other seven months of fiscal year 2020/2021 in the coming months. With the resignation from office and speakership in June, House Speaker Mike Turzai (Allegheny) accepted a position as General Counsel at Essen- tial Utilities, formally known as Aqua America. This led to the following changes in House leadership positions. House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (Lancaster) was elected in a unan- imous floor vote to serve as House Speaker for the remainder of this legislative session, ending November 30th. In addition, the House Repub- lican Caucus elected Majority Whip Kerry Benninghoff (Centre, Mifflin) to replace Cutler as majority leader, which led to the election of Represen- tative Donna Oberlander (Armstrong, Clarion, Forest) to replace Benning- hoff as majority whip. LAWS ENACTED HB 1003 (Representative Keith Gilles- pie – York) allows the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to directly issue citations to owners who fail to mark their dams. It also updates the definition of “run-of-the-river dams” to require adequate markings. The signs and buoys are of a design and content determined by the PA Fish & Boat Commission to warn the swim- ming, fishing and boating public of the hazards posed by the dam. Any person who fails to mark new or existing run-of-the river dams commits a summary offense of the first degree ($250 fine) for the first offense and a misdemeanor of the third degree ($250 to $5,000 fine) for any subsequent of- fense. With respect to maintenance of signs and buoys, any person who fails to comply commits a summary offense of the second degree ($150) for the first offense and a summary offense of the first degree ($250) for any subse- quent offense. The bill passed the House (Y: 194/N: 0) and the Senate (Y:49/N: 0) and was signed by the Governor (Act 39 of 2020) on July 1, 2020. HB 1860 (Representative Mark Long- ietti – Mercer) allows municipalities of any size to create a redevelopment authority. This amends current law which allows only municipalities of 10,000 or more to create redevelop- ment authorities. The bill passed the House (Y: 173/N: 21) and the Senate (Y: 49/N: 1), and was signed by the Governor (Act 58 of 2020) on July 14, 2020. HB 2455 (Representative John Law- rence – Chester, Lancaster) requires the plan for COVID-19 testing pur- suant to the federal Paycheck Protec- tion Program and Health Care En- hancement Act as well as subsequent reporting be submitted to the General Assembly. In addition, the bill adds language regarding a Cooperation Agreement and an Effect of Cooper- ation Agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. The bill passed the House (Y: 201/N: 1) and the Senate (Y: 50/N: 0), and was signed by the Governor (Act 70 of 2020) on July 23, 2020. LEGISLATION HB 1069 (Representative Aaron Bern- stine – Lawrence) requires a public agency to post public meeting agendas on its website no later than 24 hours prior to a meeting as well as prohibits an agency from taking official action on items not included on the meeting agenda. Changes may be made to the agenda during a meeting upon major- ity vote of the individuals present and voting. Additionally, it specifies that an updated agenda must be posted on a publicly accessible website, if one is available, and at the agency’s principal office location no later than the first business day following the meeting. Bill Status: Passed the House (Y: 196/N: 0) on January 14, 2020, and voted out of Senate State Government Committee on July 13, 2020. HB 1563 (Representative Dan Moul – Adams) amends the Municipality Authorities Act allowing an owner of a multiple unit property served by a single meter to request a rate study and subsequent adjustment of water and sewer rates. The current version of the bill (P.N. 2128) creates a multitude of problems to a complex issue. PMAA opposes the bill and testified at a hear- ing of the Senate Local Government Committee on July 14, 2020. The Penn- sylvania State Association of Township Supervisors provided written testimony also opposing the bill. Bill Status: Passed the House (Y: 197/N: 4) on June 26, 2020, and re- ferred to the Senate Local Government Committee. Senate Local Government Committee public hearing held on July 14, 2020 (PMAA testified). Government Re l at i ons Update