PRINTER'S NO. 415
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
33
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, DINNIMAN, AUMENT, COSTA, FOLMER, HAYWOOD,
KEARNEY AND SCHWANK, MARCH 13, 2019
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 13, 2019
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing a special bipartisan, bicameral legislative
commission to recommend safety, oversight and interagency
coordination improvements for the transport of oil, natural
gas and other hazardous liquids through pipelines in this
Commonwealth and develop and promote legislation in
furtherance of the commission's recommendations.
WHEREAS, The residents of this Commonwealth have a right to
safe communities and benefit from regulations and laws which are
established to enhance their safety and protect the environment;
and
WHEREAS, Natural gas and oil extraction have increased
dramatically over the last decade in this Commonwealth,
resulting in the construction of new pipeline infrastructure to
transport hazardous liquids, gases and byproducts in large
quantities through the most sensitive areas of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, While the construction and operation of any pipeline
carries some measure of risk, the public safety and
environmental risks associated with the construction and
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transport of volatile chemicals are compounded dramatically when
high-volume pipelines operating under high pressure are situated
in close proximity to homes, schools and population centers; and
WHEREAS, The construction of pipelines throughout this
Commonwealth has resulted in hundreds of environmental and
safety violations that have negatively impacted the residents of
this Commonwealth, resulting in the contamination of private
wells and public waterways and demonstrating the need for
exploring measures that will result in improved management,
increased safety and more comprehensive oversight of pipeline
construction and operation; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the disposition provided by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, it is imperative that
consumer complaints are reviewed and rectified in an efficient
manner; therefore be it
RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
General Assembly establish a special bipartisan, bicameral
legislative commission to recommend improvements to the process
of regulating pipeline construction and operation in this
Commonwealth and develop and promote legislation in furtherance
of the commission's recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission consist of the following
members:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of
the Senate or designees.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Affairs Committee and the Professional Licensure
Committee of the House of Representatives or designees.
(3) The Chief Counsel of the Law Bureau of the
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or a designee.
(4) The Director of the Bureau of Investigation and
Enforcement of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or
a designee.
(5) The Director of the Environmental Emergency Response
Program of the Department of Environmental Protection or a
designee.
(6) The Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management of
the Department of Environmental Protection or a designee.
(7) The president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition or a
designee.
(8) The executive director of the Pipeline Safety
Coalition or a designee.
(9) The president of the Pennsylvania Municipal League
or a designee.
(10) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association
of Boroughs or a designee.
(11) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association
of Township Commissioners or a designee.
(12) The president of the Pennsylvania State Association
of Township Supervisors or a designee.
(13) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of
Hazardous Materials Technicians or a designee.
(14) Two fire chiefs of volunteer fire companies in this
Commonwealth, one of whom shall be selected by the President
pro tempore of the Senate and one of whom shall be selected
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(15) Two fire chiefs of municipal fire companies in this
Commonwealth, one of whom shall be selected by the President
pro tempore of the Senate and one of whom shall be selected
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by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(16) Four fire or emergency medical services members at-
large, two of whom shall be selected by the President pro
tempore of the Senate and two of whom shall be selected by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(17) The Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency or a designee.
(18) The State Fire Commissioner or a designee.
(19) The Executive Director of the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania or a designee.
(20) The President of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil
and Gas Association or a designee;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission elect a chair from its
membership; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and recommend
legislation to improve the safety, oversight and interagency
coordination for pipelines in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the commission may utilize the annual reports
regarding informal consumer complaints produced by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission under 66 Pa.C.S. ยง 308.1
(relating to consumer protection and information) in developing
the legislation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission may hold hearings and take
testimony at such places as the commission deems necessary in
this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
provide staff support to the commission and assist with the
final report; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission make a final report of all
legislative recommendations by July 1, 2020, which shall be
submitted to the chairperson of the Consumer Protection and
Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate and the
chairpersons of the Consumer Affairs Committee and the
Professional Licensure Committee of the House of
Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the members of the commission shall serve
without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all necessary
and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties; and be it further
RESOLVED, That reasonable expenses incurred by the commission
be equally divided between the Senate and the House of
Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the approval of the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Consumer Protection Committee of the Senate
and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Consumer
Affairs Committee and the Professional Licensure Committee of
the House of Representatives, by action of a majority of members
of the committees, shall be required to preauthorize all
proposed actions of the commission that will entail the
expenditure of State funds and shall also be required to approve
all expenditures, including expense reimbursement requests of
commission members, prior to payment.
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