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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Value of a Community College Education
On Tuesday, I met with students from Lehigh Carbon Community College as part of the annual Community College Advocacy Day in Harrisburg. Each young man told me about how the school is helping him reach his career goals. Pictured with me (from left) are Seth Gordon and Sebastian Buckley.
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Celebrating Service to the Community
This past weekend, I presented Leo Livengood with a House citation recognizing him on receiving the Spirit Award at the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce 26th annual Spirit Award Dinner and Dance. The award is presented to an individual who has shown tremendous support to the community through volunteer service, financial support or donation of items. I also gave citations to the Slatington Lions Club and Slatedale-Emerald Lions Club as they received the Nonprofit of the Year Award. Congratulations to all!
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Veterans Assistance Available May 2
Each month one of my district offices hosts monthly veterans’ outreach hours. Openings are still available for the Thursday, May 2, session in my Slatington District Office, 125 S. Walnut St. Appointments also are still available for the Thursday, June 6, session in my Northampton District Office, 2030 Center St. Please call one of my district offices at 610-502-2701 or 610- 760-9805 to schedule an appointment.
During the special hours, a service officer from the American Legion is available to meet with local veterans and assist them with issues they may be having accessing benefits and services from the U.S. Veterans Administration.
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Strengthening Protections for Victims of Crime
With this week being National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the House began working through a package of bills designed to help protect victims of crime.
A cornerstone of this package is Marsy’s Law, a bill that seeks to amend the state Constitution by adding a victims bill of rights.
Other bills in the package passed this week include measures to shield rape victims from being re-victimized by irrelevant cross examination; allow victims and witnesses with intellectual disabilities or autism to submit out-of-court statements rather than face their perpetrators in court; expand the types of crimes for which an out-of-court statement can be accepted; and allow crime victims to attend any proceeding relating to their cases, unless attending would materially alter the victims’ testimony.
The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.
Learn more about efforts to protect crime victims in Pennsylvania here.
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Expanding the Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse
As the Commonwealth marks April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the House passed a two-bill package known as the Pennsylvania Hidden Predator Act to help empower victims of child sexual abuse.
House Bill 962, sponsored by Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), would change the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, allowing childhood victims until age 55 to file suit, and provide for waivers of sovereign and governmental immunity relating to claims of childhood sexual abuse. It would also abolish the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse moving forward.
House Bill 963, sponsored by Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair), would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide a two-year window in which civil lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse may be filed in court, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable statute of limitations defense.
The House also started the process of amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide a two-year window to anyone for whom a statutory limitations period has expired to commence action arising from childhood sexual abuse.
These bills are important in the effort to ensure justice for victims of past abuse.
Reporting suspected abuse is the best way to protect children. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you can call the Department of Health’s toll-free ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.
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Trout Season Open Statewide
This Saturday, April 13, marks the statewide opening day of trout season. Fishing begins at 8 a.m.
To participate, anglers ages 16 and older must have a valid Pennsylvania Fishing License and a Trout/Salmon Permit, both available at gonefishingpa.com or at more than 700 issuing agents. Multi-year licenses are also available in 3-year, 5-year and 10-year increments. Prices for licenses and permits remain the same as last year. Youth anglers ages 15 and under do not require licenses or permits.
To locate stocked trout fishing waters near you, select the 2019 Trout Stocking Schedule at fishandboat.com. Waterways on this list are searchable by county, organized in alphabetical order and provide the date, time and meeting place for each stocking event. Hard copies also are available in my district offices.
The FREE Fish Boat PA Mobile App is the most useful tool in an angler’s tackle box. Download the app from the Apple App or Google Play stores to locate stocked waterways or wild trout streams, use the fish identification tool, and view fishing and boating regulations.
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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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