Legislative action on land transfer bill postponed

By Mike Joseph

BENNER TOWNSHIP — A state House committee has postponed action on legislation that could provide a vehicle for selling nearly 1,200 acres of land to Penn State and another 400 acres to Benner Township.

Do you support legislation that would transfer Rockview land to Penn State and Benner Township?

The State Government Committee was originally scheduled to take up Senate Bill 740 an six other land-transfer measures from around the state at a meeting 10 a.m. Thursday, May 29.

That meeting is still scheduled but possible action on Senate Bill 740, sponsored by state Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, has been reset for 10 a.m. Monday, June 9, in room G-50 of the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

Senate Bill 740 would convey a 13-acre parcel of Rockview land to Centre County and would authorize the sale of three parcels totaling 46 acres around Interstate 99’s Benner Pike interchange to highest bidders.

State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven, said he wants to amend Corman’s bill with legislation that would sell 1,124 acres of Rockview land to Penn State for $902 an acre and 400 acres along Spring Creek to Benner Township for passive recreation.

In a memo to committee members, state Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, committee chair, said that “this agenda revision is in no way indicative of any problems with Rep. Hanna’s proposed amendment” and added that “it remains my intent to request that the committee consider the language currently drafted and contained” in the Hanna legislation.