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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Celebrating Culture at India Day!
Last Saturday, Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania (AIACPA) held its annual India Day festivities at HACC. India Day is an amazing celebration of culture with parades, dancing, contests, good food and more! I was also pleased to welcome Dr. Varun Jeph, deputy consul general of India, back to Central PA at this fun community event.
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Learning More About Local Conservation Efforts
I had the privilege of joining the team from South Mountain Partnership at Spring Meadows Park in South Middleton Township this week. We discussed their partnership to help preserve Pennsylvania’s natural beauty and resources for the next generation. I enjoyed walking around the trail at the park and discussing initiatives like their “mini grant program” to assist non-profits and municipalities with their conservation efforts.
To learn more about the work of South Mountain Partnership, please click here.
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Discussing Legislative Priorities on ‘Face the State’
I recently appeared on CBS 21's Face the State to discuss two of my bills. The first, which passed the House Housing and Community Development Committee unanimously, would help first-time homebuyers plant roots in Pennsylvania. The second, which I am proud to co-sponsor, would combat human trafficking, the biggest human rights issue of our time. I will continue to advocate fiercely for these issues when the House returns to session next month.
To watch the interview on these issues, please click on the video below.
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Join Me for Toast with Thomas
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Keeping Kids Safe in School
To bolster school safety initiatives, the General Assembly recently allocated $100 million for school safety and mental health grants, as well as $20.7 million for targeted school safety grants, which are provided to nonpublic schools and to municipalities and law enforcement agencies to fund programs to address school violence.
Under the law, each school district that submits an application for a school security and mental health grant will receive a noncompetitive grant of $100,000, plus a proportional amount based on the school district’s percentage of the adjusted average daily membership for all school districts for the most recent year available. Each intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, regional charter school, or cyber charter school that submits an application will receive a noncompetitive grant of $70,000.
To further boost safety, starting in the upcoming 2024-25 school year, each school entity is required to have one full-time school security personnel with firearms training on duty during the school day.
These initiatives will help ensure our children can focus on learning when they are at school.
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Slow Down for School Buses
Students are or soon will be returning to class, and that means we will be seeing school buses back on our roads. Motorists, parents and children are encouraged to refresh their memories about how to share the road safely.
Pennsylvania law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses when their red lights are flashing and their stop arm is activated. This applies to motorists when they are behind or traveling alongside a school bus, as well as when meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus has stopped.
Vehicles should remain stopped until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.
If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
Penalties for failure to obey school bus safety laws can result in a $250 fine, five points on a driving record and a 60-day license suspension. Violators will also be assessed a $35 surcharge to be deposited into the School Bus Safety Grant Program Account.
Parents are reminded to ensure their children are at the bus stop early to avoid rushing. Students should stay where the bus driver can see them while boarding or exiting the bus.
Click here for more information and tips on school bus safety.
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‘Back to School’ Scams Target College Students
The Federal Communications Commission is warning college students to be on alert for scammers seeking to capitalize on the busy academic season.
Such scams may be harder to spot alongside legitimate fundraisers and other efforts that genuinely seek to assist students and their parents. Top student scams include scholarship, tech support, and roommate and rental scams. Campus scammers aren't just using cold calls or robocalls to hijack personal information; they're also sending deceptive emails and text messages that appear to be official.
Things for students and their families to keep in mind:
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You are not required to make loan payments over the phone. |
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Student scams are not limited to the start of the school year; be mindful of scams year-round. |
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Never provide personally identifiable information over the phone, including Social Security numbers, bank account and routing numbers, and credit and debit card numbers. |
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Be sure to keep any student loan information guarded, as scammers tend to target students with loans. |
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Monitor your financial records and bank account information closely and often. |
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For more information on how to avoid phone scams and other unwanted calls or texts, visit www.fcc.gov/robocalls. |
If you’ve been the target of unwanted calls and spoofing or other matters, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the FCC. Click here for details.
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