Nearing the End of Legislative Session
Budget Debates Resume
The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s legislative session ends on November 30th. While taking a brief pause for the election (more on that below), the legislature is expected to return next month to complete the state’s operating budget. Normally the budget is finalized in June of each year, but due to the uncertainty of funding and expenditures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the Assembly at that time decided to pass a temporary five month “stop gap” budget.
With questions about the viability of further federal stimulus measures and ongoing revenue shortfalls, it is possible that any number of decisions could be made with respect to raiding special funds (like the Environmental Stewardship Fund aka ‘Growing Greener’ and the Keystone Fund) used for recreation and conservation projects. With the outdoors proving to be one of the few respites available for Pennsylvanians during this pandemic, and the use of our public lands and recreational amenities skyrocketing, demand on these resources has underscored their importance.
Citizens, businesses, and newspapers across the Commonwealth are urging legislators to protect these investments, and we will be doing all that we can to make sure those voices are amplified in Harrisburg. But it is critical that representatives hear from the employers and enthusiasts in their district, so we urge you to lend your own voice toward protecting the Keystone Fund and Environmental Stewardship Funds. You can identify your legislators here.
Clock Likely Runs Out on Key Recreation Bills
With the end of the legislative session, a number of recreation-focused bills that had been primed for consideration will likely fail and need to be reintroduced next year. This includes legislation for E-Bicycles (HB2646), liability reform (HB1941), expanding recreational access (HB2131), among others. You can find these and more on our bill tracker, which will be refreshed at the end of the year. PEC will be working with partners to get these bills quickly reintroduced and acted on in 2021.
Hearings on Recreational Use Surge During Pandemic
PEC was pleased to participate in a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing in September on the growth of outdoor recreation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Frank Maguire, Director of Trails and Recreation, highlighted both PEC’s report on the surge in trail usage as well as the importance of the recreational economy to Pennsylvania – which itself has adapted during these unprecedented times. The hearing is archived on the Committee’s website. A copy of PEC’s testimony is available here.
PEC also presented to the General Assembly’s Parks and Recreation Caucus in October on these same issues.
You can keep track of legislation at PEC’s tracker page, and by following PEC’s twitter account (@pecpa).
