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In this Update:
Joint Hearing Examines Financial Fraud Against Pennsylvania’s Seniors
As Majority Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, I convened a hearing with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee to examine legislation addressing the impacts of financial fraud against Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable population, our seniors. I am grateful for my Senate colleagues, Chairs DiSanto, Collette and Street for the work we have put into this hearing as we look to address the needs of our seniors and the comprehensive rewrite of the Older Adult Protective Services Act. Across the Commonwealth, seniors are suffering from financial scams and facing exploitation, losing the little funds they heavily rely on. This places the seniors and their families in very trying situations. The legislation we are reviewing and seek to further develop will provide relief to our seniors and their families. As many individuals adjust to difficult economic times, it is important that we do everything we can to assist the needs of our aging population, so that they are better equipped for the challenges they face. As more of our seniors seek to age independently at home the opportunities for vulnerabilities of abuse and fraud increase. Testimony was provided from the Secretary of Aging, Secretary of Human Services, and many leading stakeholders on these issues. The full hearing can be viewed here. Senate Approves RGGI Electricity Tax Repeal
The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax enacted through an executive order by the Wolf administration in 2019. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. RGGI, a multi-state compact, would increase electricity rates for consumers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs and lead to the closure of Pennsylvania power plants. No new investments in baseload generation have come to Pennsylvania in the five years since the Wolf administration attempted to enter the state into RGGI. Govs. Tom Wolf and Josh Shapiro have faced sharp criticism for pushing Pennsylvania to participate in RGGI despite bipartisan objections from the General Assembly. Last year, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Pennsylvania’s entrance into RGGI may only be achieved through legislation duly enacted by the General Assembly, not merely through rulemaking by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). This ruling has been appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by Shapiro, and that appeal remains pending. Senate Bill 1058 will repeal the CO2 Budget Trading Program regulation that was put into effect by DEP and EQB. $CAM JAM Next Week!
Join the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities for $CAM JAM! A fun and interactive event that brings experts in law enforcement and state agencies together to educate target audiences on how to protect their money from financial fraud and abuse. This program is in partnership with AARP Pennsylvania. For more information you can contact Lori Heaton at 814-643-5115 ext. 207 or lheaton@hbfaaa.org. On Tuesday, September 24, from 10 A.M. until noon, $CAM JAM will be held at the McConnellstown Fire Hall located at 6136 Shenecoy Road in Huntingdon. On Wednesday, September 25, from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M., $CAM JAM will be held at the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources located at 25185 Great Cove Road in McConnellsburg. Bill to Establish Safe Exchange Zones Passes Senate
The Senate passed the Denise Williams Act, which would create a grant program to be used to establish Safe Exchange Zones throughout Pennsylvania. The bill advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 173 is named in memory of Denise Williams of Cambria County, who went to purchase an item found on Facebook Marketplace and was brutally murdered during the exchange. This legislation would help establish safe areas for individuals to exchange goods purchased through an online marketplace, carry out child custody exchanges and conduct similar interactions. These zones will be equipped with video surveillance and be located either within 100 feet of a law enforcement office or near a public area with an active public presence. The establishment of Safe Exchange Zones will be voluntary and contingent upon approval of the participating law enforcement agencies. Senate Passes Juvenile Justice Reform Bills
The Senate passed bills to reform the state’s juvenile justice system by implementing Juvenile Justice Task Force Report recommendations to help streamline the expungement process, provide fair and impartial legal representation for juveniles and improve accountability and oversight in juvenile court proceedings. The two bills now head to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 169 would update the juvenile court system by requiring disposition review hearings every three months instead of nine. The hearings are designed to ensure juveniles receive necessary services and treatment, assess their threat to the community and decide if they should remain in placement or be released under supervision. The court would also set the date for the next review hearing. Senate Bill 170 would modify the expungement of juvenile records by reducing the waiting period for expungement from five years to two years for most misdemeanors, while maintaining the five-year period for felonies, misdemeanor firearm offenses and indecent assault. The bill would also standardize the expungement process by requiring the chief juvenile probation officer to initiate expungements for eligible individuals, with the district attorney having the opportunity to object. Exceptions to expungement, such as for sex offenses and cases with subsequent convictions or pending proceedings, would remain unchanged. PA Senate Urges Congress to Pass the TREAT PTSD Act
The state Senate adopted a measure urging Congress to provide lifesaving therapy to Americans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Senate Resolution 311 calls on Congress to pass the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, also known as the TREAT PTSD Act. The TREAT PTSD Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with access to a lifesaving therapy known as stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB works by applying an injection into the bundle of nerves that send signals of fight or flight to the body. The treatment relieves feelings of stress quickly for those with PTSD and provides them with a renewed chance to heal. This procedure has been used for nearly 100 years for pain conditions, including shingles and phantom limb pain. The federal legislation, House Resolution 3023, is now before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health. September is College Savings Month
Saving for your child’s higher education can be daunting, but starting early – even if you are only able to set aside a little – can make a big difference. You can prepare for your child’s future and enjoy tax advantages using the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. The two plans, the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan and the PA 529 Investment Plan, do not impact Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility. Both plans can be used to pay for education costs like tuition and fees, books, supplies, and room and board at technical schools, community colleges, four-year institutions and apprenticeship programs. Out and AboutThank you to the Fulton County Conservation District for hosting local, state and federal conservation partners on a tour through the beautiful Fulton County countryside where we could view projects that were recently completed. Projects included environmentally sensitive road maintenance projects and a major stream restoration. Attendees were then welcomed back to the district’s headquarters to learn about future plans for the property, as well as their Cover Crop Incentive and No-Till Drill Rental Programs.
My staff was pleased to attend the Mifflin County Farm Bureau’s Third Grade Agricultural Tour which offered twenty different stations for students to participate in. This event was held at the Kauffman Farm in Reedsville.
It was an honor to meet Casey Kaufhold at the Capitol this week, who won the Mixed-Team Bronze Medal in Archery at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A two-time Olympian and No. 1 in the world in women’s recurve, Casey is truly a remarkable young woman, who has made not only Pennsylvania but the United States proud!
Congratulations to the Caring Healthcare Network of Altoona on joining the Blair County Chamber of Commerce!
I was thrilled to participate in the presentation of a grant for $3,180 from the PA Skills Charitable Giving to the Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company for a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC). This rescue boat, which can be used for shallow, swift water rescue and ice rescue, will allow the fire company to be an asset to the county and the entire region during flooding emergencies. Thank you to the PA Skills Charitable Giving for supporting our local fire departments and congratulations to the Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company on this grant award!
I enjoyed attending the Crossroads Pregnancy Center’s annual banquet in Huntingdon County this week. Their keynote speaker, Kirk Walden, gave a great message that tied in the Center’s theme, “United for Life!” Pictured with me is Kirk Walden and Cindy Mansberger, Executive Director of Crossroads Pregnancy Centers.
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