My Legislation on the Move
Legislation of mine that would give thousands of homeless children in Pennsylvania a chance for a healthy and productive life was unanimously approved by the House Human Services Committee this week. House Bill 2204 will next move to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
There are an estimated 6,000 homeless infants and toddlers living in the Commonwealth. My legislation would remove barriers to help the families of these children get the assistance and resources needed to ensure a brighter future. Learn more here.
Reporting Child Abuse
School employees will have a heightened role in reporting child abuse under legislation that is headed to the governor’s desk. This week, we unanimously approved House Bill 434, which would change the mandatory reporting guidelines for school employees by requiring that they report suspected abuse against students directly to the Department of Public Welfare’s child abuse hotline, instead of to their superiors. The bill also expands background checks to school employees and volunteers working directly with children, including student teachers.
The measure is the latest update to the Child Protective Services Law which we have been working on improving this session to ensure better safeguards are in place for Pennsylvania’s children.
Regulating Indoor Tanning Booths
A measure was signed into law this week which places new restrictions on indoor tanning facilities, including a ban on their use by minors. Specifically, the new law prohibits minors age 16 and younger from using the tanning facility and requires minors at age 17 to get permission from their parents to use them. The new law also requires every indoor tanning facility to be licensed and inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Violations can result in the loss of registration and the ability to operate within the Commonwealth.
May Economic Brief
The Commonwealth’s General Fund revenue collections in April were $328 million less than expected. So far this year, General Fund collections total $23.9 billion, which is $425 million below the official estimate. Learn more here.
Free Shredding Event on Saturday
In my continuing effort to combat identity theft in the Lehigh Valley, I’m holding another free paper shredding event on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. The service will be available outside my district office, located in Village Center, 21 N. Main St. in Coopersburg. Learn more here.
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