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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 220

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 3 Session of 2005


        INTRODUCED BY QUIGLEY, HARPER, ADOLPH, HERSHEY, BUNT, McGILL,
           CRAHALLA, CORNELL, RUBLEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, WATSON, SCHRODER,
           FICHTER, FLICK, GODSHALL, O'NEILL, PETRI, WRIGHT, HENNESSEY,
           ALLEN, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
           BOYD, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CIVERA, DALLY, J. EVANS,
           FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FLEAGLE, GANNON, GEIST, GILLESPIE,
           GINGRICH, GOOD, GOODMAN, HARHART, HASAY, HERMAN, HICKERNELL,
           M. KELLER, KENNEY, KILLION, LEH, MAHER, R. MILLER, MUSTIO,
           PYLE, RAPP, RAYMOND, REICHLEY, ROSS, SATHER, SAYLOR,
           SCAVELLO, S. H. SMITH, STERN, R. STEVENSON, THOMAS, TRUE,
           YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 3, 2005

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
           FEBRUARY 3, 2005

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania
     2     Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions;
     3     establishing the Environmental Endowment Account and the
     4     Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund; continuing the
     5     Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund; further providing for agencies;
     6     providing for intergovernmental coordination, for evaluation
     7     of applications and for extension of fees; authorizing
     8     incurring of indebtedness, sale of bonds, temporary financing
     9     and debt retirement; providing for certification and
    10     publication of certification; further providing for deposit
    11     of disposal fees, for sunset and for adjustments; and making
    12     a repeal.

    13     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    14  hereby enacts as follows:
    15     Section 1.  The definition of "departments" in section 6103
    16  of Title 27 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended
    17  and the section is amended by adding definitions to read:
    18  § 6103.  Definitions.

     1     The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
     2  shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     3  context clearly indicates otherwise:
     4     * * *
     5     "Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund."  The
     6  Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund established in
     7  the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128, No.43), known as the
     8  Agricultural Area Security Law.
     9     * * *
    10     "Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act."  The act of February
    11  9, 1999 (P.L.1, No.1), known as the Capital Facilities Debt
    12  Enabling Act.
    13     "Departments."  The [Department of Agriculture, the]
    14  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the
    15  Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth.
    16     * * *
    17     "Environmental Endowment Account."  The Environmental
    18  Endowment Account established in section 6104.1 (relating to
    19  funds and accounts).
    20     "Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund."  The Environmental
    21  Stewardship Sinking Fund established in section 6104.1 (relating
    22  to funds and accounts).
    23     * * *
    24     "Green PA Bond Act."  The act of        , 2005 (P.L.    , No.
    25    ), known as the Green PA Bond Act.
    26     "Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund."  The Hazardous Sites Cleanup
    27  Fund established in section 6104.1(c) (relating to funds and
    28  accounts).
    29     * * *
    30     "Issuing officials."  The Governor, the Auditor General and
    20050H0003B0220                  - 2 -     

     1  the State Treasurer.
     2     * * *
     3     Section 2.  Section 6104 of Title 27 is amended to read:
     4  § 6104.  Fund.
     5     (a)  Establishment.--There is established a special fund in
     6  the State Treasury, to be known as the Environmental Stewardship
     7  Fund.
     8     [(b)  Sources.--
     9         (1)  Money appropriated by the General Assembly, interest
    10     earned by the fund, penalties, money received from the
    11     Federal Government or other sources and money received from
    12     the fee established under section 6112(b) (relating to
    13     extension of fees) shall be deposited in the fund. Moneys
    14     appropriated by the General Assembly to the fund shall be
    15     transferred on a quarterly basis in increments of at least
    16     20%.
    17         (2)  For fiscal years 1999-2000 through 2003-2004, the
    18     fund may receive money, upon approval of the Governor, from
    19     the Recycling Fund and the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund. The
    20     combined total of appropriations from these two funds for the
    21     program shall not exceed $30,000,000 annually.
    22         (3)  It is the intent of the General Assembly that
    23     $100,000,000 per fiscal year be appropriated from the General
    24     Fund for fiscal years 2000-2001 through 2003-2004 to the
    25     fund. The Governor's annual budget submission for fiscal
    26     years 2000-2001 through 2003-2004 shall include the sum of
    27     $100,000,000 per fiscal year for allocation in accordance
    28     with this section.
    29     (c)  Appropriation.--The money in the fund is hereby
    30  appropriated, upon approval of the Governor, to the departments
    20050H0003B0220                  - 3 -     

     1  and the authority for the purpose of implementing the provisions
     2  of this chapter.]
     3     (b.1)  Sources.--The following shall be credited by the
     4  Treasury Department to the fund:
     5         (1)  Proceeds from the sale of the bonds issued in
     6     accordance with the Green PA Bond Act and section 6114(a)
     7     (relating to Commonwealth indebtedness).
     8         (2)  Money received from the Federal Government or other
     9     sources.
    10         (3)  Any money that may be appropriated by the General
    11     Assembly.
    12     (d)  Allocation[.--It is the intent of the General Assembly
    13  that the money appropriated in subsection (c) be allocated
    14  annually] and appropriation.--Money in the fund is hereby
    15  appropriated on a continuing basis as follows:
    16         (1)  For fiscal year 1999-2000, 28.4% to the Department
    17     of Conservation and Natural Resources, 43.7% to the
    18     Department of Environmental Protection and 27.9% to the
    19     authority.
    20         (2)  For fiscal years 2000-2001 through 2003-2004, 24.1%
    21     to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
    22     37.4% to the Department of Environmental Protection, 14.8% to
    23     the Department of Agriculture and 23.7% to the authority.
    24         (3)  For fiscal year 2004-2005 [and each year
    25     thereafter], moneys in the fund shall be allocated in
    26     accordance with paragraph (1).
    27         (4)  For fiscal year 2005-2006 and each fiscal year
    28     thereafter, 31.3% to the Department of Conservation and
    29     Natural Resources, 43.7% to the Department of Environmental
    30     Protection, and 25% to the authority.
    20050H0003B0220                  - 4 -     

     1     (e)  Legislative oversight.--
     2         (1)  An annual expenditure plan for the fund shall be
     3     submitted by the Governor to the General Assembly as part of
     4     the Governor's annual budget submission. The expenditure plan
     5     shall be open for review and comment by the members of the
     6     General Assembly and shall include a detailed listing of the
     7     types of programs for the actual year, current year and
     8     proposed budget year.
     9         (2)  The Secretary of the Budget shall provide quarterly
    10     financial statements showing the status of the Recycling
    11     Fund, the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund [and], the
    12     Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Environmental
    13     Stewardship Sinking Fund to the [chairman] chairperson and
    14     minority [chairman] chairperson of the Appropriations
    15     Committee of the Senate and the [chairman] chairperson and
    16     minority [chairman] chairperson of the Appropriations
    17     Committee of the House of Representatives. Such statements
    18     shall be provided within 30 days of the close of each quarter
    19     of the fiscal year and shall commence with the quarter ending
    20     March 31, 2000.
    21         (3)  The Secretary of Environmental Protection, the
    22     Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and the
    23     Director of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment
    24     Authority shall each submit a report no later than September
    25     15, 2006, and each September 15 thereafter, to the
    26     chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental
    27     Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate and to the
    28     chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental
    29     Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
    30     Representatives for the prior fiscal year. Each report shall
    20050H0003B0220                  - 5 -     

     1     include all of the following:
     2             (i)  A detailed list of all grants and loans awarded
     3         or made with funds received under this chapter.
     4             (ii)  A description of each project which received a
     5         grant or loan awarded or made with funds received under
     6         this chapter.
     7             (iii)  A description of the source of each local
     8         match for each project which received a grant or loan
     9         awarded or made with funds received under this chapter.
    10             (iv)  The environmental impact of each project which
    11         received a grant or loan awarded or made with funds
    12         received under this chapter.
    13             (v)  Any other information the secretary or director
    14         deems necessary or useful for the committee to access the
    15         environmental impact of a grant or loan.
    16     Section 3.  Title 27 is amended by adding a section to read:
    17  § 6104.1.  Funds and accounts.
    18     (a)  Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund.--There is
    19  established a special fund to be known as the Environmental
    20  Stewardship Sinking Fund. The Environmental Stewardship Sinking
    21  Fund shall be used to make principal and interest payments under
    22  section 6114(d) (relating to Commonwealth indebtedness).
    23     (b)  Environmental Endowment Account.--
    24         (1)  There is established within the fund a restricted
    25     account to be known as the Environmental Endowment Account.
    26     The following shall be deposited in the Environmental
    27     Endowment Account:
    28             (i)  Interest earned on the fund.
    29             (ii)  Ninety percent of any excess money in the
    30         Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund balance as
    20050H0003B0220                  - 6 -     

     1         certified in accordance with section 6115 (relating to
     2         certifications).
     3             (iii)  Penalties and fees imposed by the Department
     4         of Environmental Protection and Department of
     5         Conservation and Natural Resources under this chapter or
     6         Chapter 63 (relating to disposal fee).
     7         (2)  Money held or deposited in the Environmental
     8     Endowment Account may be invested or reinvested by the State
     9     Treasurer as are other funds in the custody of the State
    10     Treasurer in the manner provided by law. Any proceeds from
    11     the investment of the Environmental Endowment Account shall
    12     be credited by the Treasury Department to the Environmental
    13     Endowment Account.
    14         (3)  Beginning in fiscal year 2007-2008, whenever the
    15     Governor determines that money from the Environmental
    16     Endowment Account is necessary to meet the environmental
    17     needs of the citizens of this Commonwealth, he shall present
    18     a request for an appropriation along with the specifics of
    19     his proposal and such suggested ancillary and substantive
    20     legislation as may be necessary to the chairperson of the
    21     Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the chairperson of
    22     the Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives.
    23     The General Assembly may then, through approval of a separate
    24     appropriation bill by a vote of two-thirds of the members
    25     elected to the Senate and the House of Representatives,
    26     appropriate money from the Environmental Endowment Account to
    27     meet the needs identified in the Governor's proposal. Any
    28     money appropriated according to this section which then
    29     lapsed shall be returned to the Environmental Endowment
    30     Account.
    20050H0003B0220                  - 7 -     

     1     (c)  Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.--There is established a
     2  special fund to be known as the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.
     3     Section 4.  Sections 6105 and 6112 of Title 27 are amended to
     4  read:
     5  § 6105.  Agencies.
     6     (a)  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.--
     7         (1)  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
     8     shall utilize money it receives from the fund for the
     9     following purposes:
    10             (i)  To rehabilitate, repair and develop State park
    11         and State forest lands and facilities and the acquisition
    12         of interior lands within State parks and State forests.
    13             (ii)  To provide grants to a county [or other],
    14         municipality, conservation [districts and] district or
    15         authorized [organizations] organization for open space
    16         preservation. Grants provided under this subparagraph may
    17         be used for the purpose of land use planning, education,
    18         acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of
    19         greenways, recreational trails, [open space,] natural
    20         areas, river corridors, watersheds, community and
    21         heritage parks and recreation facilities; community
    22         conservation and beautification projects; forest
    23         conservation; and other conservation purposes. Grants
    24         under this paragraph may not be used by an authorized
    25         organization for land acquisition unless the authorized
    26         organization obtains the approval of all counties in
    27         which the land is situated. [Grant moneys may also be
    28         used for the acquisition of farmland for the purposes set
    29         forth in this paragraph.]
    30             (iii)  To provide grants to a county [or other],
    20050H0003B0220                  - 8 -     

     1         municipality [and] or authorized [organizations]
     2         organization for the purpose of research, planning,
     3         inventories and technical assistance intended to protect
     4         and conserve the biological diversity of this
     5         Commonwealth.
     6         (2)  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
     7     [may] shall require matching funds as a condition of the
     8     award of a grant under this subsection. As used in this
     9     paragraph, the term "matching funds" shall include all of the
    10     following:
    11             (i)  Personnel and maintenance costs.
    12             (ii)  Outreach activities.
    13             (iii)  Land and other in-kind contributions.
    14         (3)  For fiscal year 2005-2006, and each fiscal year
    15     thereafter, the Department of Conservation and Natural
    16     Resources shall use a minimum of $15,000,000 of the money it
    17     receives pursuant to this chapter for grants for open space
    18     preservation under paragraph (1)(ii).
    19     (b)  The Department of Environmental Protection.--
    20         (1)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall
    21     utilize money it receives from the fund for the following
    22     purposes:
    23             (i)  To implement acid mine drainage abatement [and
    24         cleanup efforts and plug abandoned and orphan oil and gas
    25         wells], mine cleanup efforts and funding for abandoned
    26         mine reclamation.
    27             (ii)  To provide funding for technical assistance and
    28         financial incentives to facilitate remining.
    29             (iii)  To provide grants to a county [or other],
    30         municipality, county conservation [districts] district,
    20050H0003B0220                  - 9 -     

     1         watershed [organizations and] organization or other
     2         authorized [organizations] organization for acid mine
     3         drainage abatement, mine cleanup efforts and [well
     4         plugging] abandoned mine reclamation.
     5             (iv)  To provide grants and technical assistance to a
     6         county [or other], municipality, county conservation
     7         [districts] district, watershed [organizations and]
     8         organization or other authorized [organizations]
     9         organization to plan and implement local watershed-based
    10         conservation efforts.
    11             (v)  To improve water-quality-impaired watersheds,
    12         including those polluted by past mining activities,
    13         agricultural and urban runoff, atmospheric deposition,
    14         on-lot sewage systems and earthmoving activities.
    15             (vi)  To provide grants for safe drinking water
    16         projects and wastewater treatment projects as provided
    17         for in section 6110 (relating to environmental
    18         infrastructure grants to water and wastewater treatment
    19         facilities).
    20             (vii)  To plug abandoned and orphan oil and gas
    21         wells.
    22             (viii)  To provide grants to a county, municipality,
    23         county conservation district, watershed organization or
    24         other authorized organization for well plugging.
    25         (2)  County conservation districts may further distribute
    26     grants received under this section to watershed organizations
    27     and other authorized organizations to assist in the
    28     implementation of this chapter.
    29         (3)  The Department of Environmental Protection [may]
    30     shall require matching funds as a condition of the award of a
    20050H0003B0220                 - 10 -     

     1     grant under this subsection.
     2         [(4)  For the period commencing with the effective date
     3     of this chapter and ending June 30, 2004, the Department of
     4     Environmental Protection may utilize up to 10% of the money
     5     allocated annually to it under section 6104(d) (relating to
     6     fund) to provide grants for safe drinking water projects and
     7     wastewater treatment projects. Grants under this paragraph
     8     shall be made for the same purposes and shall be subject to
     9     the same limitations as grants authorized in section 6110.]
    10     As used in this paragraph, the term "matching funds" shall
    11     include all of the following:
    12             (i)  Personnel and maintenance costs.
    13             (ii)  Outreach activities.
    14             (iii)  Land and other in-kind contributions.
    15         (5)  For fiscal year 2005-2006, and each year thereafter,
    16     the Department of Environmental Protection shall use a
    17     minimum of $15,000,000 of the money it receives pursuant to
    18     this chapter for Commonwealth efforts or grants for acid mine
    19     drainage abatement, mine cleanup and abandoned mine
    20     reclamation under paragraph (1)(i) and (iii).
    21     [(c)  Department of Agriculture.--Funds allocated to the
    22  Department of Agriculture under this chapter shall be deposited
    23  in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and are
    24  subject to the provisions of the act of June 30, 1981 (P.L.128,
    25  No.43), known as the Agricultural Area Security Law.]
    26     (d)  The authority.--The authority shall utilize money it
    27  receives from the fund to provide financial assistance in the
    28  form of grants and matching grants for storm water, water and
    29  sewer infrastructure projects, including construction or
    30  rehabilitation of collection and conveyance systems. The
    20050H0003B0220                 - 11 -     

     1  authority shall develop criteria to be used to award grants
     2  under this subsection. The criteria and proposed changes thereto
     3  shall be submitted to the Environmental Resources and Energy
     4  Committee of the Senate and the Environmental Resources and
     5  Energy Committee of the House of Representatives for review and
     6  comment. The committees shall have 60 days to submit comments to
     7  the authority. Criteria shall be reviewed by the authority and
     8  the committees at least once every three years.
     9     (e)  Administrative expense limitation.--The departments,
    10  authority and grant recipients that receive moneys from the fund
    11  for the purposes set forth in this section may not expend more
    12  than 2% of the moneys on administrative expenses.
    13     (f)  Expenditure [limitation.--] limitations.--
    14         (1)  No moneys made available through the fund shall be
    15     used for any purpose which, directly or indirectly, precludes
    16     access to or use of any forested land for the practice of
    17     sustainable forestry and commercial production of timber or
    18     other forest products. This [subsection] paragraph shall not
    19     apply to funds used by the Department of Conservation and
    20     Natural Resources, counties or municipalities for the
    21     purchase or improvement of park land to be used for public
    22     recreation.
    23         (2)  No moneys made available through the fund shall be
    24     used to purchase supplies or construction as those terms are
    25     used in 62 Pa.C.S. § 103 (relating to definitions) unless the
    26     purchase is made under 62 Pa.C.S. § 512 (relating to
    27     competitive sealed bidding).
    28     (g)  Regulations.--The departments and the authority may
    29  promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of
    30  this chapter.
    20050H0003B0220                 - 12 -     

     1     (h)  Intergovernmental coordination.--Prior to providing a
     2  grant or loan with money received pursuant to this chapter, an
     3  agency shall ensure that the project is generally consistent
     4  with the county comprehensive plan and any applicable municipal
     5  plan.
     6     (i)  Evaluation of applications.--In reviewing applications,
     7  the departments and the authority shall give priority
     8  consideration to applications which maximize the ratio of
     9  environmental benefit received when compared to dollars spent.
    10  Approved projects must be eligible for tax-exempt bond funding.
    11  § 6112.  Extension of fees.
    12     (b)  Fee established.--Each operator of a municipal waste
    13  landfill shall pay, in the same manner prescribed in section 701
    14  of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction
    15  Act, an amount equal to 25¢ per ton of weighted waste or 25¢ per
    16  three cubic yards of volume-measured waste for all solid waste
    17  received at the landfill. These fees shall be paid to the State
    18  Treasury and deposited into the fund. For fiscal year 2005-2006
    19  and each fiscal year thereafter, these fees shall be deposited
    20  into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund.
    21     Section 5.  Title 27 is amended by adding sections to read:
    22  § 6114.  Commonwealth indebtedness.
    23     (a)  Borrowing authorized.--
    24         (1)  Pursuant to section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII of the
    25     Constitution of Pennsylvania and the referendum authorized by
    26     the Green PA Bond Act and approved by the electorate, the
    27     issuing officials are authorized and directed to borrow, on
    28     the credit of the Commonwealth, money not exceeding in the
    29     aggregate the sum of $800,000,000, in annual increments not
    30     to exceed $115,000,000, not including money borrowed to
    20050H0003B0220                 - 13 -     

     1     refund outstanding bonds, notes or replacement notes as may
     2     be found necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
     3         (2)  All bonds and notes issued under this chapter shall
     4     be:
     5             (i)  exempt from taxation for State and local
     6         purposes; and
     7             (ii)  eligible for tax-exempt bond funding status
     8         under existing Federal law.
     9         (3)  Borrowing authorized under paragraph (1) shall be
    10     made in accordance with the procedures specified in sections
    11     307 and 308 of the act of February 9, 1999 (P.L.1, No.1),
    12     known as the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act, as of the
    13     effective date of this paragraph.
    14     (b)  Sale of bonds.--
    15         (1)  All sales of the bonds shall be made in accordance
    16     with procedures specified in section 309 of the Capital
    17     Facilities Debt Enabling Act, as of the effective date of
    18     this paragraph.
    19         (2)  The proceeds realized from the sale of bonds and
    20     notes except refunding bonds and replacement notes under this
    21     chapter shall be paid into the fund and are specifically
    22     dedicated to the purposes of this chapter. The proceeds shall
    23     be paid by the State Treasurer to the departments in
    24     accordance with the allocations specified in section
    25     6104(d)(4) (relating to fund). The proceeds of the sale of
    26     refunding bonds and replacement notes shall be paid to the
    27     State Treasurer and applied to the payment of principal, and
    28     any accrued interest and premium, and cost of redemption, of
    29     the bonds and notes for which the obligations have been
    30     issued.
    20050H0003B0220                 - 14 -     

     1         (3)  Pending their application for the purposes
     2     authorized, money held or deposited by the State Treasurer
     3     may be invested or reinvested as are other funds in the
     4     custody of the State Treasurer in the manner provided by law.
     5     All earnings received from the investment or deposit of the
     6     funds shall be paid into the fund and credited to the
     7     Environmental Endowment Account.
     8         (4)  The Auditor General shall prepare the necessary
     9     registry book to be kept in the office of the authorized loan
    10     and transfer agent of the Commonwealth for the registration
    11     of bonds, at the request of owners of the bonds, according to
    12     the terms and conditions of issue directed by the issuing
    13     officials.
    14         (5)  There is hereby appropriated to the State Treasurer
    15     from the fund as much money as may be necessary for all costs
    16     and expenses in connection with the issue and sale and
    17     registration of the bonds and notes in connection with this
    18     chapter and the payment of interest arbitrage rebates.
    19     (c)  Temporary financing authorization.--
    20         (1)  Pending the issuance of bonds of this Commonwealth
    21     as authorized, the issuing officials are authorized, in
    22     accordance with this chapter and on the credit of this
    23     Commonwealth, to make temporary borrowings not to exceed one
    24     year in anticipation of the issue of bonds in order to
    25     provide funds in amounts as deemed advisable prior to the
    26     issue of bonds. In order to provide for and in connection
    27     with any temporary borrowing, the issuing officials are
    28     authorized in the name and on behalf of the Commonwealth to
    29     enter into purchase, loan or credit agreements or other
    30     agreement with any bank or trust company, other lending
    20050H0003B0220                 - 15 -     

     1     institution, investment banking firm or person in the United
     2     States having power to enter into the agreement. The
     3     agreement may contain provisions not inconsistent with this
     4     chapter as authorized by the issuing officials.
     5         (2)  Temporary borrowings made under this subsection
     6     shall be made in accordance with the provisions of section
     7     306(b), (c) and (d) of the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling
     8     Act as of the effective date of this paragraph.
     9         (3)  Outstanding notes evidencing the borrowings may be
    10     funded and retired by the issuance and sale of the bonds of
    11     this Commonwealth as authorized in this paragraph. The
    12     refunding bonds shall be issued and sold not later than a
    13     date one year after the date of issuance of the first notes
    14     evidencing the borrowing to the extent that payment of the
    15     notes has not otherwise been made or provided for by sources
    16     other than proceeds of replacement notes.
    17         (4)  The proceeds of all temporary borrowing shall be
    18     paid to the State Treasurer to be held and disposed of in
    19     accordance with this chapter.
    20     (d)  Debt retirement.--
    21         (1)  All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter
    22     shall be redeemed at maturity, together with all interest
    23     due. Principal and interest payments shall be paid from the
    24     Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund. For the specific
    25     purpose of redeeming the bonds at maturity and paying all
    26     interest on the bonds in accordance with the information
    27     received from the Governor, the General Assembly shall
    28     annually appropriate money from the Environmental Stewardship
    29     Sinking Fund for the payment of interest on the bonds and
    30     notes and the principal of the bonds and notes at maturity.
    20050H0003B0220                 - 16 -     

     1     All money in the Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund and
     2     all of the money not necessary to pay accruing interest shall
     3     be invested by the State Treasurer in securities as are
     4     provided by law for the investment of the sinking funds of
     5     the Commonwealth.
     6         (2)  The State Treasurer shall annually determine and
     7     report to the Secretary of the Budget by November 1:
     8             (i)  the amount of money necessary for the payment of
     9         interest on outstanding obligations;
    10             (ii)  the principal of the obligations for the
    11         following fiscal year; and
    12             (iii)  the times and amounts of the payments.
    13         (3)  The Governor shall include in every budget submitted
    14     to the General Assembly full information relating to:
    15             (i)  the issuance of bonds and notes under this
    16         chapter;
    17             (ii)  the status of the fund and the Environmental
    18         Stewardship Sinking Fund; and
    19             (iii)  the payment of principal of and interest on
    20         the bonds and notes at maturity.
    21  § 6115.  Certifications.
    22     (a)  General rule.--Beginning June 30, 2006, and annually
    23  thereafter, the Secretary of the Budget shall certify to the
    24  chairpersons of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and
    25  the chairpersons of the Appropriations Committee of the House of
    26  Representatives any excess Environmental Stewardship Sinking
    27  Fund balance for the current and future fiscal years. The excess
    28  fund balance shall be calculated by subtracting the total actual
    29  debt service on currently outstanding Green PA bonds plus
    30  projected debt service on remaining Green PA bonds authorized
    20050H0003B0220                 - 17 -     

     1  but not issued, from the current balance of the Environmental
     2  Stewardship Sinking Fund plus anticipated Environmental
     3  Stewardship Sinking Fund revenues deposited in accordance with
     4  section 6302 (relating to deposit of disposal fee).
     5     (b)  Additional indebtedness.--Beginning with fiscal year
     6  2006-2007 and each fiscal year thereafter, prior to the issuing
     7  officials incurring additional indebtedness under section 6114
     8  (relating to Commonwealth indebtedness), the Secretary of the
     9  Budget shall certify to the chairperson of the Appropriations
    10  Committee of the Senate and the chairperson of the
    11  Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives whether
    12  sufficient money will exist in the Environmental Stewardship
    13  Sinking Fund to pay the principal of and interest on the
    14  existing indebtedness and proposed additional indebtedness,
    15  incurred and to be incurred by the Commonwealth under section
    16  6114. If the Secretary of the Budget certifies that sufficient
    17  money will exist in the Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund
    18  to pay the principal of and interest on the existing
    19  indebtedness and the proposed additional indebtedness, the
    20  issuing officials may, upon publication of the certification
    21  under subsection (a), incur the additional indebtedness in
    22  accordance with section 6114. If the Secretary of the Budget
    23  certifies that sufficient money will not exist in the
    24  Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund to pay the principal of
    25  and interest on the existing indebtedness and the proposed
    26  additional indebtedness, the issuing officials may not incur the
    27  additional indebtedness. Upon a publication of a certification
    28  to the chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate
    29  and the chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House
    30  of Representatives that sufficient money will exist, the issuing
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     1  officials may incur additional indebtedness in accordance with
     2  section 6114.
     3     (c)  Publication.--The Secretary of the Budget shall transmit
     4  notice of the certifications to the Legislative Reference Bureau
     5  for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
     6     Section 6.  Sections 6302, 6304 and 6306 of Title 27 are
     7  amended to read:
     8  § 6302.  Deposit of disposal fee.
     9         (1)  For the fiscal year 2002-2003, fees received by the
    10     department pursuant to section 6301 (relating to disposal fee
    11     for municipal waste landfills) shall be paid into the State
    12     Treasury as follows:
    13             (i)  The first $50,000,000 in fees collected shall be
    14         deposited into the Environmental Stewardship Fund
    15         established in Chapter 61 (relating to environmental
    16         stewardship and watershed protection).
    17             (ii)  Any fees collected thereafter shall be
    18         deposited in the General Fund.
    19         (2)  For the fiscal [year 2003-2004 and beyond] years
    20     2003-2004 and 2004-2005, all fees collected shall be
    21     deposited into the Environmental Stewardship Fund established
    22     in Chapter 61.
    23         (3)  For fiscal year 2005-2006 and each fiscal year
    24     thereafter, fees received by the Commonwealth under section
    25     6301 shall be deposited as follows:
    26             (i)  $2.50 per ton shall be deposited into the
    27         Environmental Stewardship Sinking Fund.
    28             (ii)  $1.25 per ton shall be deposited into the
    29         Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.
    30             (iii)  25¢ per ton shall be deposited into the
    20050H0003B0220                 - 19 -     

     1         Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund.
     2  [§ 6304.  Sunset.
     3     No fee or surcharge shall be imposed under this chapter on
     4  and after July 1, 2012.
     5  § 6306.  Adjustments.
     6     When the Governor's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal
     7  year, as submitted pursuant to section 12 of Article VIII of the
     8  Constitution of Pennsylvania, contains a revision to the revenue
     9  estimate for the current year of at least 3% less than the
    10  official revenue estimate for the current year, the funds
    11  deposited pursuant to section 6302(2) (relating to deposit of
    12  disposal fee) may be adjusted by transferring or redirecting up
    13  to 25% of these deposits to the General Fund.]
    14     Section 7.  Section 602.3 of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,
    15  No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, is repealed.
    16     Section 8.  Section 6104.1(c) of Title 27 is a continuation
    17  of the former section 602.3(a) of the act of March 4, 1971
    18  (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
    19     Section 9.  If the electorate ratifies the question under the
    20  act of  2005 (P.L. , No. ), known as the Green PA Bond Act, the
    21  Secretary of the Commonwealth shall immediately transmit notice
    22  of the ratification to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
    23  publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
    24     Section 10.  This act shall take effect as follows:
    25         (1)  The following provisions shall take effect
    26     immediately:
    27             (i)  Section 9 of this act.
    28             (ii)  This section.
    29         (2)  The remainder of this act shall take effect upon
    30     publication of the notice under section 9 of this act.
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