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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 26, 2023 10:41 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Steven J. Santarsiero |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Revolving Door Rule for DEP Employees |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation that would prohibit employees from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from accepting employment in the fracking industry for a period of two years following their termination of employment with the state. As confirmed by the 2020 Attorney General Grand Jury Report, “DEP employees were frequently lured away to work for the oil and gas operators they were supposed to be regulating.” To combat this conflict of interest and ensure integrity within a department entrusted to regulate an industry that has shown to put profits over the health and safety of our communities, a revolving door policy is a simple and straightforward way to prevent DEP employees from jumping directly into a job with an oil and gas company. Specifically, my bill would prohibit an employee of DEP from accepting employment within the fracking industry for a period of two years following termination of employment, whose duties substantially involve licensing, enforcement, development of law, promulgation of regulations or development of policy, relating to the unconventional gas industry, or who has other discretionary authority which may affect or influence the outcome of an action, proceeding or decision within the industry. This is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 1011 from last session, which was co-sponsored by Senators Kearney, Saval, Hughes, Comitta, Fontana, Cappelletti, Muth, and Costa. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |