Oct. 14, 2024


 
Capitol Report
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The latest news from the State Capitol
 
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Around the 139th

 
The Pike County Association of Township Officials held their annual meeting on Friday October 4th, and I was able to address the crowd on legislation that could potentially impact their Townships.                                     
 
 
Protecting Public Safety in Our Communities


From rural to urban Pennsylvania, no community has been spared from the crime crisis. In our ongoing effort to improve public safety, House Republicans have developed a four-pillared approach to addressing violent crime in Pennsylvania with focuses on prevention, policing, prosecution and punishment.

Earlier this week, we unveiled bills focused on the prosecution and punishment portion of the package. To address prosecution, the measures would establish a public safety assessment program for severe violent offenders, modeled after the Megan’s Law registry; create a unit within the Office of Attorney General to offer prosecutors to county district attorney offices if extra help is needed; and address bail guidelines.

With regard to punishment, measures would limit discretion of the court when it comes to following sentencing guidelines and require sentences for crimes of violence to be served consecutively, rather than concurrently, when multiple people have been victimized.  

Read more about the prosecution and punishment proposals here. 

In case you missed it last week, more information about the prevention and policing portions of the package is available here.
 
 
How Do I Vote by Mail in PA?


Voters unsure if they can or want to go to the polls to cast their ballot on Election Day next month have the option of voting by mail instead.

Your first step should be checking your voter registration status to ensure you are registered and your information is up to date. If you are not currently registered, the last day to do so is Monday, Oct. 21.

Once you’ve confirmed your registration status, you can apply for the mail-in ballot. Applicants must provide a driver’s license or PennDOT identification number, if you have one. If not, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number and upload your signature (if applying online).

To apply online, or to download a paper copy of the application, click here. 

You may also apply in person at your county voter registration office. If your county’s ballots are available, you could also vote at that time, assuming your mail-in ballot application is approved. Check the availability of ballots in your county here.

The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. The deadline to return your ballot to your county election office is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Additional information about voting by mail is available here.
 
 
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month


According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. This amounts to more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.

One in four women (24.3%) and one in seven men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the U.S. have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month aims to help people recognize and put a stop to
this pattern of abusive behavior used to establish power and control over an intimate partner, causing both physical and emotional harm. Victims may be subjected to abuse, harassment, threats, vandalism, trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking.

As one of the most chronically underreported crimes, domestic violence affects men and women in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic backgrounds.

More information about domestic violence and services available to help victims is available here.
 
 
PFBC Offers Grants to Inspire Interest in Fishing and Boating


The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking applicants for grants to support education programs that promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating through the recruitment of new participants, retention of existing participants and reactivation of former participants – collectively known as "R3."

The grants will reimburse qualifying organizations up to $25,000 for eligible expenses for projects conducted between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The grants require a minimum of 25% match of total project costs. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Dec. 6.

Organizations eligible for funding include school districts, universities and colleges, community and civic groups, sporting and conservation organizations, and local recreation departments. More information, including the application, can be found on the PFBC R3 Grant Program page on the PFBC website.
 

PennDOT Seeks Feedback on Construction, Maintenance Services


PennDOT is hosting an online survey to gather feedback on its construction and maintenance services.

The 24-question survey asks respondents how they receive PennDOT roadway information and how often PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations in construction and maintenance activities. Respondents are also asked about their experiences with reporting concerns to the department, and whether or how they use the state's 511PA traveler information services.

The survey is available through Oct. 22. Click here to begin.
 
 

PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers Closed for Columbus Day Holiday

All PennDOT driver license and photo centers, including the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, Oct. 12, through Monday, Oct. 14, in observance of Columbus Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
 
 
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15


The annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins Tuesday, Oct. 15, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 7. Any new coverage selected or changes to existing benefits will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

During open enrollment, new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage and health plans to complement Medicare, and current Medicare beneficiaries can review and join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage so it better meets their needs.

To help Medicare beneficiaries understand their options, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging offers free, objective health benefits counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI). Available at Pennsylvania's 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), PA MEDI counselors can assist Medicare beneficiaries with plan comparisons, help with enrollment in a new plan, and evaluate eligibility for any of Pennsylvania's Medicare cost-savings programs.

To learn more about PA MEDI assistance, click here. PA MEDI can also be reached at 1-800-783-7067 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Older adults also may call their local Area Agency on Aging for assistance. Click here for a link to contact information.

Information is also available at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
 
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