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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
No Welfare for Drug Dealers
To help ensure public assistance benefits are dedicated to those truly in need, the House endorsed legislation this week to prevent convicted drug dealers from receiving welfare.
House Bill 129 would prohibit individuals convicted of violating the Controlled Substance Act from eligibility for public assistance. The applicable sections of the Controlled Substance Act are the so-called “kingpin” provisions which relate to a specific set of offenders who sell and deliver large quantities of illegal drugs.
When individuals are arrested for drug trafficking crimes, a subsequent search by law enforcement often reveals large sums of money and information indicating that the individual was receiving welfare benefits.
The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
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Good Citizenship Award Presented
Last week, I presented the Zach Mako Good Citizenship Award at the Northern Lehigh High School Senior Academic Awards Night. Kyle Krempasky of Slatington was chosen as the recipient by the faculty at the school. The award is presented to a student who exemplifies good citizenship through outstanding character, leadership, scholarship and service. Congratulations, Kyle!
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Keeping Dangerous Drugs off the Streets
Legislation designed to help keep unused prescription drugs from finding their way to the streets was approved by the state House and sent to the state Senate for review.
House Bill 2152 would allow hospice staff to properly destroy unused drugs following a patient’s death.
According to the Department of Health, 13 individuals are dying every day in the Commonwealth due to an opioid or heroin overdose. In 2016 alone, 4,812 Pennsylvanians died from an overdose of opioid drugs.
This legislation is a follow-up to a federal regulation from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that encourages hospice staff to help families destroy leftover medications. However, those staff members are prohibited from destroying the medications themselves unless permitted by state law. Several surrounding states, including Ohio, Delaware and New Jersey, have already enacted similar laws.
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Ensuring Justice, Safety for Crime Victims
In an effort to help ensure justice and safety for crime victims, the House Judiciary Committee this week reported out six bills to empower victims and safeguard them from being penalized or ignored by the justice system.
Among the bills in the package are those designed to give child victims safe harbor protections, particularly so they can get the crucial help and services they need; prevent young children and those with intellectual disabilities and autism from feeling victimized all over again by testifying against their abuser; exclude evidence of past sexual victimization from trials; and amend the state Constitution to include a Victim’s Bill of Rights (Marsy’s Law).
Additionally, the package includes a comprehensive rewrite of the state’s anti-hazing laws. Of note, the bill would encourage students to seek emergency assistance for those who have been hazed, and individuals would be immune from prosecution for hazing and underage drinking if they call 911 or law enforcement, believe they’re the first to call for help, and remain with the victim until emergency personnel arrive.
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Protecting Our Students
Keeping students safe was the goal of bipartisan legislation endorsed by the House Education Committee this week.
The first measure, House Bill 2327, would allow public school entities, such as school boards, to go into private, executive session for school safety discussions. This would prevent information about a school’s security measures from falling into the wrong hands and compromising student safety.
The second, House Bill 2215, would require school entities to conduct one school security drill per school year in each school building in place of a monthly fire drill. This would take Act 55 of 2017, which was passed last year to encourage schools to conduct the safety drill yearly, one step further to enhance school safety.
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| Office Locations |
2030 Center Street, Northampton, PA 18067 | Phone: 610-502-2701
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Slatington Borough Hall, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080 | Phone: 610-760-9805
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402A Irvis Office, PO Box 202183. Harrisburg, PA 17120-2183 | (717) 772-5398
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| Email Address: ZMako@pahousegop.com |
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