18469_Authority_June

!" !!! !"#$%&'"()*'+ !!"!!#$%&!'(') Pennsylvania Special Election Results On March 25 th , a special election was held for two seats in the Pennsylvania legislature. James Malone, former Mayor of East Petersburg, was elected to Senate District 36, representing parts of Lancaster County. Dan Goughnour, former police officer in the McKeesport Police Department, was elected to House District 35, representing parts of Allegheny County. Representative Goughnour took the oath of office and was sworn in as a state representative on April 7 th . The House Democrats remain in the majority at 102 to 101. New Consumer Advocate Appointed Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Dave Sunday officially nominated Darryl Lawrence to permanent post as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate on March 18 th , following a period of time that Lawrence served as the interim Consumer Advocate. If confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate, Lawrence will represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters. PMAA Regulatory Comments PMAA’s East Solicitor, Steven Hann submitted comments on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PAG-13). He also submitted comments on behalf of PMAA on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Public Water Supply Manual – Part II: Community Water System Design Standards (Draft Technical Guidance). Both letters can be viewed on our website ( municipalauthorities.org/ regulations/ ). Legislation HB 50 (Representative Lisa Borowski, Delaware) – This bill would require third-class cities with home rule charters to obtain approval from 75% of surrounding municipalities before privatizing their water or wastewater systems, ensuring fair participation in significant decisions. The bill aims to protect public ownership, prevent profit-driven rate hikes, and maintain affordable, reliable, and transparent water and wastewater services for Pennsylvania's residents. HB 308 (Representative Patrick Harkins, Erie) – A bill applying the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) to Pennsylvania’s public employees. This bill passed the State House of Representatives on April 9th and moves to the State Senate for consideration. PMAA opposes this legislation and signed onto an opposition letter with the Local Government Conference. HB 322 (Representative Joe Ciresi, Montgomery) - Amends Title 66 (Public Utilities), in Public Utility Commission, further providing for consumer protection and information. Provides for public comments, adding that any notice of a proposed rate change or system acquisition must include instructions on how to submit public comments. This bill was voted unanimously out of the House Consumer Protection Committee ( see PMAA support letter on page 56 ). HB 369 ( Representative Robert Freeman, Northampton ) – This legislation would change the definition of “land bank jurisdiction” by removing the requirement that a municipality have a population of at least 10,000 in order to establish a land bank. Additionally, it would remove the fewer than 10,000 population requirement for two or more municipalities to jointly form a land bank. This bill passed the State House of Representatives on March 25th and was referred to the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee for consideration. PMAA supports this legislation. HB 509 ( Representative Carol Kazeem, Delaware ) – This bill would require distressed municipalities