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In this Update:
Join us for State Services Day
State representatives K.C. Tomlinson, Kristin Marcell, Joe Hogan, and I are hosting a State Services Day with State Treasurer Stacy Garrity on August 9 from 1:30 to 3pm at the Neshaminy Activity Center, located at 1842 Brownsville Rd. in Feasterville. The free event is offered to all residents of the 6th Senatorial District. The PA Treasury Department will be on site to provide information on the PA 529 College and Career Savings plan as well as help find unclaimed property and submit claims. At last year’s state services events we were able to assist with recovering over $200,000 owed to those in attendance. Our staff will also be able to assist with senior SEPTA passes, PennDOT forms, birth and death certificate applications, property tax/rent rebate applications, and more! Honoring Retiring Bucks County Dispatcher
I was proud to honor Robert Kay last week on his well-deserved retirement form the Bucks County Department of Emergency Communications. Rob began his tenure of service with the Bucks County Department of Emergency Communications in December 1986 and he retired from the position of Dispatch Supervisor. Presenting and honoring Rob with a citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania for his retirement was extra special as I have known him for over three decades. I want to extend my congratulations again to Rob and I thank him for his many years of dedicated service to Bucks County. Senate Passes Bipartisan 2024-2025 Budget
The Senate approved a bipartisan 2024-25 state budget of $47.59 billion that expands education opportunities, supports healthy and safe communities, while including no new taxes and addressing the economic challenges our commonwealth faces in the years ahead. Below are key highlights. Expanding Education Opportunities Significant resources are included in this year’s budget to empower parents and families to make the best decisions regarding the educational needs of their children. Overall, K-12 spending increases by $1.3 billion, the second-largest increase of K-12 funding ever. Additional funding is also included for:
Also included was a $75 million increase in the highly successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This brings total funding for the program to a record $630 million to provide scholarships to ensure young people can learn in the best environment possible. The budget also includes significant investments in higher education, including a 6% increase in funding for community colleges. It includes resources to help attract and retain more students to Pennsylvania schools and connect them with quality careers in their communities after graduation with components of the Grow PA post-secondary education and career preparation plan. Under the plan, Grow PA scholarships of $5,000 would be available to students enrolled in high-demand education programs if they agree to live and work in these industries in Pennsylvania after graduation. In addition, $36 million in new funding for the Ready to Succeed Scholarship program, will allow more students to qualify for assistance. Supports Healthy and Safe Communities In addition to the new support for education, additional funding is also included to support our law enforcement and keep our communities safe. The Attorney General’s Office will receive nearly $5 million in new funding to improve the safety of our communities through new law enforcement initiatives targeting Human Trafficking ($1 million), Organized Retail Theft ($2.7 million) and appointing a special prosecutor for crimes on SEPTA properties ($1.2 million). New funding for county mental health ($20 million) and rate increases for nursing facilities ($134 million), intellectual disability/autism services ($278 million) and LIFE providers ($16.7 million) will make a huge difference in lives of many Pennsylvanians. Significant new resources will also be available for transportation infrastructure. The budget continues the process to phase out the State Police from the Motor License Fund and includes an additional $80.5 million in one-time dollars, making more resources available to help repair our roads and bridges, along with an additional $80.5 million in funding allocated for public transit. The budget includes key measures to boost the economy by removing barriers for businesses to relocate to or expand in Pennsylvania: a continuation of the Corporate Net Income Tax phase-out and the elimination of the Start-Up Penalty. The 2024-2025 budget passed with overwhelming bipartisan support from both the House of Representatives and Senate. Governor Shapiro signed the budget into law on July 11. Program Connecting Veterans with Benefits Receives Senate Approval
The Senate this week unanimously approved legislation to establish in law the PA VETConnect program to help Pennsylvania veterans access programs, services and benefits in their communities. Senate Bill 447 would establish in law the PA VETConnect program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and helps the commonwealth’s more than 700,000 veterans access services in their communities. The database of resources enables local veteran advocates – including staff at county veterans affairs offices – to point veterans to information, resources, programs and services in their area and across the commonwealth. Senate Votes to Expand Authority of Hospice Licensed Practical Nurses
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1080 to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements, saving money and limiting unnecessary emotional distress for the patient’s family. Pennsylvania law currently allows registered nurses (RNs), medical doctors, physician assistants and coroners to make death pronouncements. Many hospice facilities across Pennsylvania face workforce shortages. Giving LPNs the authority to make death pronouncements can help hospice facilities address their staffing issues. The Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation Survey
The Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation is undertaking a Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Plan (CRPOS) and is requesting input form from people who live in Bucks County and visitors of the parks system to understand how people use the park system, what works well, and what could be improved. Residents and visitors can get involved by using their phone, tablet, or computer to visit https://metroquestsurvey.com/5fa1. The plan will make it easier for people to access the parks, recreational facilities, historic sites, and nature centers that make up the 9,000+ acre County park system. The plan will focus on ensuring that all parks meet the standards residents and users need and expect. It will provide forward-thinking and actionable recommendations to improve the County park system. The County will provide regular updates on its website (www.buckscounty.gov/ParkPlan) about what’s going on with the project, the schedule, and opportunities for the public to get involved.
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