An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for commercial haulers and brokers of animal and food processing residuals; and imposing penalties.
What changed between versions
Explicitly added 'animal processing residuals' to the definitions and requirements, ensuring the law covers waste from slaughterhouses and meat processing, not just food manufacturing.
Added a new section granting the Department of Agriculture temporary authority to issue regulations immediately to facilitate the program's launch.
Added the Agricultural Advisory Board as a required consultant for the certification program, alongside the State Conservation Commission.
Updated the definition of 'Food processing residuals' to be more specific about the types of commodities processed (fruits, vegetables, crops).
Changed the effective date for the certification program requirements from 18 months to a specific future date of January 1, 2027, while other parts of the act take effect immediately or in 60 days.
Clarified that the Department of Environmental Protection, not the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for enforcing violations of the Solid Waste Management Act.
Reorganized the entire bill text to follow standard statutory format with numbered sections (1301-1311) rather than the previous narrative style.