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| News You Can Use |
| Legislative Headlines |
Help for Lyme Disease Treatment
Pennsylvania has consistently ranked among the highest in the country in confirmed cases of Lyme disease.
To help those affected by this disease and other related tick-borne illnesses, the House Health Committee approved legislation that would require health insurers to cover treatment plans for Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses as prescribed by a patient’s health care practitioner, regardless if the treatment plan includes short-term or long-term antibiotic treatment.
Lyme disease can be easily treated with antibiotics when caught and treated early. If untreated, the disease can cause joint swelling, cardiac or neurologic complications. The most severe cases can be debilitating.
House Bill 629 now moves to the full House for consideration.
For more information on the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, and how to protect yourself from tick bites, click here.
Good Money Habits Training Resource for Kids
To help high school and college students make smart money decisions, Pennsylvania is launching a new program called the “FinLit Forum.”
The conference-style program involves multiple state and nonprofit agencies that provide high school and college students with critical financial knowledge to be successful in the next stages of their lives.
The program addresses many “real life” financial issues of young people, including banking basics, introduction to budgeting, understanding credit reports and scores, scams and identity theft, insurance 101, and financial aid.
Learn more here.
Supporting First Responders in PA
With fire and emergency medical service organizations across the state struggling due to a lack of volunteers and financial resources, the House and Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees held an informational meeting to discuss recommendations put forth late last year to address these challenges.
According to testimony offered at the meeting, the decline of volunteers in fire and EMS services across the state is having a significant impact on municipalities’ ability to reliably and safely provide public safety services to their citizens.
Much of the decline in volunteers can be attributed to societal and economic changes, such as longer working hours and longer commutes. However, lawmakers were encouraged to consider incentives such as tax credits or college loan forgiveness programs to help recruit new volunteers. Affordable and accessible training was also encouraged as a way to remove barriers to volunteering.
These were among more than two dozen broad recommendations offered by the Senate Resolution 6 Commission, which was charged with studying issues such as recruitment and retention, government support, innovation, training and operations, and more.
One of the report’s recommendations, which requires insurers to reimburse ambulance companies for services provided even if no transport takes place, was signed into law last year. Lawmakers plan to build on that success this year as they prepare to introduce legislation implementing some additional recommendations.
View the full report here.
Tax Day Approaching
The Monday, April 15, deadline to file your federal, state and local taxes is fast approaching.
If you received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2018, you must file a Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax return by midnight on April 15.
You can file online for free through PAdirectfile, a secure, state-only electronic income tax filing system by clicking here.
If you want to use an online tax preparing service, Pennsylvania has deals with certain providers for free e-filing. You can learn more about these services by clicking here.
Income tax assistance is available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center, or by calling 717-787-8201 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Pennsylvanians can also visit a Department of Revenue district office for basic state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at these offices is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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| Upcoming Events in the 88th District |
Tribute to Veterans Breakfast
On Thursday, May 2, I will be holding my annual Tribute to Veterans Breakfast for veterans and active-duty military personnel residing in the 88th Legislative District. The breakfast will be at the First Church of God Community Center, 201 E. Green St., Mechanicsburg. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., and the program starts at 8 a.m. This year’s theme is “Our Military Bases and Our Communities.” Please register by visiting RepDelozier.com or calling my district office at 717-761-4665.
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| Rep. Delozier in the Community |
• Last week, I was honored to have three Trinity High School seniors as guest pages in the House. Guest pages serve on the House floor during session days and witness government up close. Pictured with me (from left) are Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, Maura Consedine, Margaux Bissette and Rebecca Jackson.
• Last week, the bipartisan, bicameral House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, of which I am a co-chair, met for the first time. The group is looking to advance policies to address important issues related to reform of the criminal justice system, such as barriers to employment in the occupational licensure system; education and workforce skills during incarceration and probation/parole; and successful rehabilitation and re-entry.
• Recently, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) presented a group of 18 people, including me, with its Outstanding Leadership Award for our role in the new Clean Slate Law. Act 56 of 2018 automatically seals records of second- and third-degree misdemeanor criminal convictions after 10 years without a subsequent arrest, prosecution or conviction.
• West Shore School District held its Special Olympics track and field meet earlier this week. It was an honor to help open the event. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this a memorable day for the athletes.
• I had a great Wednesday morning speaking to Dr. Charlene Lane’s Messiah College social work students about the legislative process and advocacy. Thanks for the great dialogue!
• Earlier this week, I traveled to Philadelphia to advocate for modifications to the state’s probation system. I met with advocates and other legislators committed to reform efforts. There needs to be a balance between supporting law enforcement and making sure those who have served their time can return to our communities as productive members of society.
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| Office Locations |
| 2929 Gettysburg Road, Suite 6, Camp Hill PA 17011 | Phone: (717) 761-4665 |
| 107 Ryan Office Building, PO Box 202088, Harrisburg PA 17120-2088 | Phone: 717-783-5282 |
| Email: sdelozie@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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