A bill that would benefit boroughs in Warren County that is championed by State Sen. Scott Hutchinson highlights some of the challenges that plague the legislative process in Harrisburg.

When a state road runs through a township, PennDOT is responsible for the stormwater drainage from that road.

But in boroughs that stormwater responsibility falls to the municipality.

Hutchinson called it a “bill I’ve been working on for a long time. In my mind, it’s a fairness bill.”

He explained that the inconsistency from township to borough dates toa 1948 law.

“At that time, boroughs were more vibrant, growing and centers of wealth so they could afford things a little bit better,” he said.

In the 75 years since that legislation, the borough vs. township equation has flipped.

Hutchinson said the “growing areas of the state” are mostly suburban townships. “Many townships today are huge” while some boroughs have just 100 to 150 people.

There are five boroughs in Warren County, ranging from 148 people to 1,726 people – Bear Lake (148), Clarendon (410), Sugar Grove (564), Tidioute (626) and Youngsville (1,726).

This is where competing interests have complicated the legislative process.

“In a perfect world,” Hutchinson said, “PennDOT would be responsible for their stormwater on all their roads. PennDOT pushed back,” citing cost.

So the proposal was altered to cover small boroughs – those with a population less than 2,500.

“One of our problems is many of the large boroughs are saying ‘We want in on this, too,'” Hutchinson said. “My message to them – maybe we’ll get there eventually. Let’s start here.”

“PennDOT still doesn’t like it,” Hutchinson added. “We have passed it in the Senate once. (I) reintroduced it this session (and) hope we’re able to get that done.”

This session’s version of the bill is SB 191 and it has cleared the Transportation Committee. It is now before the Appropriations Committee for consideration.