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By a 49-0 vote, the Senate this week approved House Bill 2027, which would amend Section 5 of the Commonwealth’s Urban Redevelopment Law. The legislation would allow nonresidents who own and operate businesses in a third-class city to serve as members of a city authority. A majority of the five-member board would still need to be city residents.

     The bill has been sent back to the House for concurrence in Senate Amendments.

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By a unanimous vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 679, which would make it a misdemeanor (up to 5 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine) to possess or transport liquefied ammonia gas for any purpose other than a legitimate agricultural or industrial use. The measure would also make it illegal to possess or transport numerous elements ranging from sodium to iodine if there is intent to use them to manufacture a controlled substance. The bill requires the State Police to maintain a statewide database on the clandestine drug labs, dump sites and equipment/materials.

The measure now goes to the House.

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The Senate voted 49-0 in favor of Senate Bill 977, which would extend additional funding to the Forest Lands Beautification Program.

     The Forest Lands Beautification Program was enacted in 1998 to oversee the removal of illegally deposited waste on state forest and parklands. Until 2003, the Forest Lands Beautification Account received $1.5 million annually from the Commonwealth Recycling Fund to distribute waste removal grants to local government agencies and nonprofit groups, as well as to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

     This legislation would amend the Forest Lands Beautification act to extend a $500,000 annual allotment to the Forest Lands Beautification Program until 2008. Funding could be provided through the Commonwealth Recycling Fund, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and/or the Solid Waste Abatement Fund.

     The bill has been sent to the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

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     The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 689, which would amend the Administration Code by removing the requirement that the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has to provide uniform budget forms to municipalities.  In addition, municipalities would no longer be required to file annual budgets with the DCED. The bill now goes to the House.

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The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1047, which would allow for the sale of the dormant 121-acre Great Meadows Amphitheatre property to the Woodland Zoo in Fayette County.  The bill would lift Act 70 deed restrictions. The bill now goes to the House.

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