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| News You Can Use |
| Legislative Headlines |
No-Tax-Increase, Timely Budget Passes House
This week, the House approved a no-tax-increase budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that respects the taxpayer while also investing more money for all levels of education and protecting our communities and families.
The $32.7 billion spending plan is a 1.7 percent increase over the current fiscal year budget, which is below the rate of inflation. For the first time in a decade, the budget sets aside money for the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
For education, the budget creates a new, $60 million initiative to ensure Pennsylvania’s children are in a safe learning environment and invests $100 million more for basic education, $25 million more for early childhood education and an additional $15 million for special education. This equates to a record-high $12.3 billion for prekindergarten through 12th-grade education. Additionally, the budget includes a 3 percent increase for Pennsylvania’s state-related universities and community colleges; a 3.3 percent boost for the State System of Higher Education; and $30 million more for career and technical education.
Additional funds will help protect communities by training more state police troopers, caring for those with intellectual disabilities, supplying home visiting services for families affected by opioid crisis and supporting emergency medical services.
This budget is the result of prudent spending, an improved economy and responsible policies that prevented the need for the governor’s repeated calls for increased taxes over the last four years.
More information is available here.
House Approves Resolution to Address Workplace Harassment, Misconduct
The House this week approved two resolutions I authored with Reps. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) and Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) to further safeguard employees and any individual who works for government or at the state Capitol from sexual and workplace-related harassment.
Specifically, House Resolution 828 would create a task force to investigate the laws, practices and procedures surrounding harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace. This comprehensive review would reveal any inadequacies in current laws, regulations and policies surrounding this subject, and compile a report to the General Assembly with its findings and recommendations. The task force – which would consist of attorneys, human resources professionals, employers, state agencies and victims’ service organizations – would provide legislators with a blueprint for potential legislation. It is largely based on the resolution that created the very successful Child Protection Task Force established in 2011 following the child abuse scandals in Pennsylvania.
House Resolution 829 would review anti-harassment and discrimination laws and policies affecting Commonwealth employees. The Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) would be tasked with reviewing the number, types and results of workplace complaints in state government agencies and entities, and provide a comparison of workplace policies related to harassment and sexual misconduct.
My floor remarks are available here.
Processing Birth Certificates Faster
This week, the House voted overwhelmingly for legislation that aims to prevent unreasonable delays in getting birth certificates to citizens who need them.
With the implementation of REAL ID, many Pennsylvanians will be requesting a copy of their birth certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records. Despite efforts to work with the department to improve processing times, it currently takes as long as six months for the state to issue a birth certificate.
House Bill 84 would overhaul the process for issuing birth certificates by permitting the Division of Vital Records to coordinate with city and county officials, along with more than 150 registrars statewide, to help with the issuance of the birth certificates. It also would mandate a top-to-bottom, third-party review of the current process to issue birth certificates, with a goal of increasing efficiency and processing times.
House Bill 84 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
New Fireworks Law in Effect for Independence Day
Pennsylvanians celebrating Independence Day in Pennsylvania will have more options for purchasing fireworks, thanks to a new law passed last fall.
Under the new law, consumers can now purchase and use “Class C” or “consumer-grade” fireworks that include firecrackers, Roman Candles, bottle rockets and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material. The expansion includes those fireworks that were previously only available to out-of-state residents.
“Display fireworks,” which are classified as including salutes that contain more than 2 grains or 130 milligrams of explosive materials, and professional-grade aerial shells containing more than 60 grams of pyrotechnic compositions, are still only to be used by professionals with a permit from the municipality where the display will take place.
Several restrictions are in place regarding where fireworks can be ignited or discharged, including having express permission of the property owner. Fireworks cannot be discharged from or within a motor vehicle or building, toward a motor vehicle or building or within 150 feet of an occupied structure. Also, it is recommended to check on any applicable local ordinances.
Anyone 18 years or older can purchase fireworks. They are legal to be sold at any licensed facility, including temporary ones. These temporary structures can sell fireworks between the dates of June 15-July 8, and Dec. 21-Jan. 2 each year.
For more information on the law and fireworks, click here.
July 4 Marks PA’s Second Fish-for-Free Day
The second Fish-for-Free Day in Pennsylvania will be held Wednesday, July 4.
Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone – residents and non-residents – to legally fish in Pennsylvania without a fishing license. All other fishing regulations apply.
To make the fishing experience more convenient, people can borrow equipment from dozens of fishing tackle loaner sites across the state. Many of the sites are located at state parks, along with some county parks and public libraries. Click here for the list of loaner sites.
More information is available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website, which includes interactive maps, regional fishing reports, and tips on fishing fundamentals. Fishing licenses can be purchased online at GoneFishingPa.com.
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| Committee Updates |
Monday, June 18
Labor and Industry Committee:
HB 2459 (Kampf) – Construction Code Act/adoption by regulations.
SB 934 (Baker) – Administrative Code/elevator safety.
Tuesday, June 19
Judiciary Committee:
HB 273 (Donatucci) – Title 18/voluntary no firearm purchase list.
HB 2060 (Quinn, M.) – Titles 18 and 23/designed to strengthen the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Act.
HB 2227 (Stephens) – Titles 18 and 42/persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.
HB 2275 (Grove) – Title 18/Crimes Code update.
HB 2463 (Nelson) – Title 18/persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.
Wednesday, June 20
Judiciary Committee:
HB 1872 (Dean) – Title 18/ban on rapid fire or “multiburst trigger activators” in Pennsylvania.
HB 2266 (Cruz) – Mental Health Procedures Act/mental health review officer.
HB 2267 (Cruz) – Title 18/requiring mental health notifications be reported to the PA State Police within 72 hours.
Wednesday, June 20
Labor and Industry Committee:
HB 2071 (Stephens) – Workplace Violence Prevention Act.
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| Rep. Delozier in the Community |
• It wouldn’t be June in Mechanicsburg Borough without celebrating the 90th annual Jubilee Day, which is sponsored by the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce. Jubilee Day is touted as the “largest, longest-running one-day street fair on the East Coast.” My staff and I handed out a variety of Commonwealth information to visitors. It was a great opportunity to interact with constituents outside the office.
• Naturalization Court was held in Carlisle last Friday to swear in individuals who completed the requirements to become American citizens. I put together a selection of state brochures with helpful information about the Commonwealth that was given to them. Welcome to each of our new citizens!
• This week, I led a press conference advocating for passage of legislation to seal low-level criminal records after 10 years without a subsequent criminal arrest. After the press conference, my legislation (House Bill 1419) was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would build upon Act 5 of 2016 by automatically sealing records of second- and third-degree misdemeanor criminal convictions after 10 years without a subsequent arrest, prosecution or conviction.
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| Office Locations |
| 2929 Gettysburg Road, Suite 6, Camp Hill PA 17011 | Phone: (717) 761-4665 |
| 141 East Wing, PO Box 202088, Harrisburg PA 17120-2088 | Phone: 717-783-5282 |
| Email: sdelozie@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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