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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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Upcoming District Events
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Around the 139th
I was delighted to attend the 20th Annual Veterans Salute Open House dedicated to honoring all Veterans at Camp Ladore in Waymart. Many organizations were represented to assist with any veteran-related questions. The Salvation Army at Ladore is committed to expressing gratitude in support of these brave individuals who selflessly defended our freedoms and rights.
Worth the wait! Senator Lisa Baker and I had a beautiful evening at Hawley Borough’s National Night Out. This annual event emphasizes the significance of community involvement and safety. I had the opportunity to interact with residents and community partners that provided informational resources. It’s an exceptional opportunity to build police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, all in an effort to make our neighborhoods safer.
We replaced 36 hard-to-read license plates this weekend! Special thanks to PSP Trooper Nathan Gilpin for certifying the plates to be replaced.
Good news alert! Girl Scout Troop 50143 recycled cookie cartons into cat scratcher toys and donated them to Dessin Animal Shelter. The troop also created a “how to” video on the project to show how others can help the environment and your local shelters. Thank you, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, for sharing this inspirational story with me. Well done!
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Keeping Kids Safe in School
This year’s state budget continues to invest in school safety with $100 million allocated 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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Attention Hunters: DMAP Permits Now Available
Pennsylvania hunters may now purchase Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits on an array of public and private lands.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is offering 7,000 DMAP permits on 41 game lands encompassing more than 360,000 acres. View PGC’s available DMAP areas here.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is offering 30,328 permits in 101 units totaling more than 1.3 million acres. View DCNR’s available DMAP areas here.
Permits are also available on participating private lands. The goal of the program is to help landowners better manage the deer population and habitat on their properties.
DMAP permits cost $10.97 for Pennsylvania residents and $35.97 for nonresidents. They can be purchased from any license issuing agent or online at www.huntfish.pa.gov. Hunters must identify the DMAP unit number when purchasing a permit.
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Do you have a question, concern or problem that needs to be resolved? Reach out by phone or email or stop by the office. My staff and I are here to help you.
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