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| News You Can Use |
| Legislative Headlines |
Delozier Selected for Deputy Policy Role
For the upcoming 2019-20 legislative session, I have been one of 10 members selected to serve as a deputy chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee. As a deputy Policy Committee chairman, I will be taking an active role in developing sound public policies to address Pennsylvania’s most critical issues.
The House Majority Policy Committee conducts hearings and roundtable discussions about important statewide and regional issues that matter most to Pennsylvania citizens; gathers testimony and information from key stakeholders; and works within the House Republican Caucus to develop policies to address those issues. The Policy Committee also works in tandem with the speaker and majority leader to examine and refine critical pieces of legislation in advance of floor consideration.
I am excited to be a part of this dynamic team – which brings a wealth of experiences in government and in business – to help set our agenda for the new session.
More information about the Policy Committee is available online at PAGOPPolicy.com.
Clean Slate Law Taking Effect – PA Has First in the Nation
Pennsylvanians with low-level offenses on their records who have gone 10 years without a subsequent arrest, prosecution or conviction will have their records automatically sealed under a new law I authored that takes effect this month.
Act 56 of 2018 allows records of second and third-degree misdemeanor criminal convictions to be automatically sealed after a 10-year period without subsequent offenses. The law does not apply to violent offenses or those committed with a firearm or other dangerous item; sexual offenses; cruelty to animals; or corruption of minors. For a free screening on whether a criminal record is eligible for sealing under the new law, please click here.
Last week, I participated in a Washington, D.C. panel discussion sponsored by The Washington Post highlighting my work on this issue, as we are the first state in the nation to make this change. Gov. Tom Wolf and John Wetzel, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, were on the panel with me.
This legislation balances the opportunity for low-level, nonviolent offenders to move forward, while at the same time not shielding the records of violent criminals.
Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to enact this “clean slate” legislation.
Renew Dog Licenses Now
Pet owners are reminded to renew their dog’s license for 2019. All dogs three months of age or older must be licensed in Pennsylvania, either on an annual basis or with a lifetime license.
Annual licenses are $8.50, while lifetime licenses are $51.50. Dogs who are spayed or neutered can be licensed for $6.50 for the year, or $31.50 for a lifetime license. Discounts are available for senior citizens and those owners with disabilities. Applications for license renewals can be found here. Completed applications must be returned to the owner’s county treasurer’s office.
Under Pennsylvania state law, owners who fail to license and/or immunize their dogs could face fines up to $300 per violation for each dog three months of age or older. In addition, owners of non-vaccinated pets may be fined up to $300 plus court costs.
Applications for 2019 Pennsylvania House Scholarships Now Available
High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship.
Each year the program awards four-year scholarships to two students preparing for post-secondary education. The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. It is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.
The program is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.
Students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school in order to be eligible for a scholarship. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.
The application is available through the foundation’s website at tfec.org. Once on the site, click on the “Scholarship” tab at the top of the page. Then click on any of the counties listed underneath or the link entitled “any other county in the state of Pennsylvania” to access the scholarship information. The application deadline is March 1, 2019.
New Tool to Fight Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Building on the work of lawmakers to develop policies to combat the opioid crisis, the Departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Human Services recently unveiled a Drug and Alcohol Referral Tool (DART) to help individuals identify drug and alcohol treatment options and support services for themselves or a loved one.
DART is not a diagnostic assessment and does not gauge eligibility for any programs. It is designed to assist people who are looking for services but are not sure where to begin. Users get the results based off their answers to survey questions. They can skip a question at any point.
After completing the questionnaire, people are able to email, download, and/or print their results. The tool does not ask any identifying information and does not save answers after the tool is closed.
The tool is a free, anonymous resource and can be found here.
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| Rep. Delozier in the Community |
• Earlier this week, the Trinity High School Concert Band serenaded visitors at the Capitol. We have some very talented musicians in the 88th Legislative District.
• Last week, I assisted New Cumberland Middle School eighth-grade students on their proposal for the National Geographic GeoChallenge. This year’s theme is reducing plastic in our waterways. The students are proposing to add a 10-cent tax to all plastic bags in stores and to place posters in grocery stores reminding people to use reusable totes.
• Zanelli’s Italian Restaurant and Bakery in New Cumberland recently held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony. I was glad to be a part of the event and sample some of the delicious food.
• Last Friday marked the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was honored to participate in a remembrance ceremony at the Capitol to mark this terrible day in history. It was a moving event as four survivors were in attendance.
• Earlier this week, the Lower Allen VFW donated more than $35,000 in small games of chance money to area schools. During the past year, the organization has donated more than $240,000 to local causes. We are fortunate to have such generous groups and residents in our community.
• Bob Reilly, Kathy Pavelko and Mike Wilson were honored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC at its annual Catalyst Awards ceremony. The awards are given to visionary leaders and businesses for demonstrating a commitment to making a difference in the Harrisburg region. Reilly was the former deputy chief of staff to Rep. Scott Perry. Pavelko is president and CEO of WITF, and Wilson is the chief marking officer and chief relationship officer at Members 1st Federal Credit Union. Each received a congratulatory letter from my office.
• In memory of all U.S. Armed Forces personnel, I joined members of the General Assembly and Gold and Blue Star Mothers in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Capitol on Monday in partnership with Wreaths Across America. This nonprofit organization was founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Individual wreaths, signifying every branch of the armed services, were formally presented by respective representatives of the military, as well at Gold and Blue Star Mothers. A remembrance wreath also was presented.
• Katrina Martin and Elise Sengoz, fifth-grade students in the West Shore School District, had their artwork selected for the 2019 Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Drug-Free calendar. Each month, artwork from students across the state is featured with drug-free messages. In addition to being spotlighted in the calendar, each student received $529 for their Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program account. Katrina, a student at Washington Heights Elementary School, is pictured with me in the state Capitol. Elise, a student at Highland Elementary School, was not in attendance. Congratulations to both girls!
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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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