Members of the PA House To Introduce A Severance Tax Bill
On December 12, 2013, several Pennsylvania state representatives announced their plan to introduce a bill creating a severance tax on unconventional natural gas extraction. The proposed tax, which would replace Act 13’s existing impact fee, would be 4.9% of the value of natural gas sold from an unconventional well. Of the proceeds, 40% would be distributed to the impacted municipalities, and the remaining 60% would fund various statewide programs such as basic education (40%), the Growing Greener environmental stewardship fund (10%), investment in public lands (10%), programs for adults with special needs (8%), drug and alcohol programs (8%), the human services development fund (5%), behavioral health programs (5%), solar energy-Pennsylvania Sunshine Program (4%), the Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (3%), rape and domestic violence programs (2%), industry partnerships (3%), and veterans’ homes (2%). The sponsors of the proposal include Representatives DiGirolamo, Murt, DeLissio, and Readshaw.