Pennsylvania SB 682: An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental Protection, repealing provisions relating to Department of Environmental Protection and providing for Department of Environmental Services; and making editorial changes.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 671
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 682
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY YAW, PENNYCUICK, STEFANO AND DUSH, APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, APRIL 28, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), entitled "An
act creating the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources consisting of certain functions of the Department
of Environmental Resources and the Department of Community
Affairs; renaming the Department of Environmental Resources
as the Department of Environmental Protection; defining the
role of the Environmental Quality Board in the Department of
Environmental Protection; making changes to responsibilities
of the State Conservation Commission and the Department of
Agriculture; transferring certain powers and duties to the
Department of Health; and repealing inconsistent acts," in
renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining
rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental
Protection, repealing provisions relating to Department of
Environmental Protection and providing for Department of
Environmental Services; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 5 heading of the act of June 28, 1995
(P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources
Act, is amended to read:
CHAPTER 5
[RENAMING DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
AND DEFINING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY OF
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Section 2. Section 501 of the act is repealed:
[Section 501. Department of Environmental Protection.
The Department of Environmental Resources is renamed the
Department of Environmental Protection.]
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 501.1. Department of Environmental Services.
(a) Renaming of Department of Environmental Protection.-- The
Department of Environmental Protection is renamed the Department
of Environmental Services.
(b) References.--A reference to the Department of
Environmental Protection in a statute or a regulation shall be
deemed a reference to the Department of Environmental Services.
(c) Designation.--
(1) To provide an efficient and cost-minimizing
transition, licenses, contracts, deeds and any other official
actions of the Department of Environmental Protection shall
not be affected by the use of the designation of the
department as the Department of Environmental Services.
(2) The Department of Environmental Services may
continue to use the name Department of Environmental
Protection on badges, licenses, contracts, deeds, stationery
and any other official documents until existing supplies are
exhausted.
(3) The Department of Environmental Protection may
substitute the title "Department of Environmental Services"
for "Department of Environmental Protection" on its documents
and materials on a schedule as it deems appropriate.
(d) Signage.--The Department of Environmental Services may
not replace existing signage at department locations with the
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redesignated name until the signs are worn and in need of
replacement. This transition shall be coordinated with changes
in administration.
(e) Computer systems.--The Department of Environmental
Services shall continue to use the name Department of
Environmental Protection on its computer systems until the time
of routine upgrades in each computer system in the department.
The change in name shall be made at the time of the routine
upgrade to the department computer systems.
Section 4. Sections 503, 504, 507, 508 and 509(a) of the act
are amended to read:
Section 503. Continued authority of Department of Environmental
[Protection] Services, State Conservation Commission
and Department of Agriculture.
(a) Powers and duties.--The Department of Environmental
[Protection] Services shall continue to exercise the same powers
and perform the same duties and functions by law vested in and
imposed upon the Department of Environmental [Resources]
Protection not otherwise amended or transferred by this act to
the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
(b) Administrative officers.--All appointive administrative
officers holding office in the Department of Environmental
[Resources] Protection when this act becomes effective shall
continue in office in the Department of Environmental
[Protection] Services until the term for which they were
respectively appointed shall expire or until they shall die,
resign or be removed from office.
(c) Sand and gravel permits.--Section 1808(d) of the act of
April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative
Code of 1929, is saved from repeal and the Department of
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