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In this Update:

• Empowering Parents to Control Their Own Child’s Access to Sexually Explicit Content in School
• Senate Backs Israel, Condemns Hamas
• Senate Advances Critical Support for EMS, Hospitals and Nursing Homes
• Senate Votes to Increase Access to Addiction Treatment Programs
• Join Me for a Coffee & Conversation Event on Oct. 26
• Bill Enhancing School Bus Safety Receives Senate Support
• Visiting Local Drugstore, Lititz Apothecary
• Students Tour State Capitol
• Grants Available to Prep PA for New Businesses
• Last Chance to Register to Vote in the Nov. 7 Election

Empowering Parents to Control Their Own Child’s Access to Sexually Explicit Content in School

The Senate Education Committee advanced my bill to provide parental control of student exposure to sexually explicit content, which Pennsylvanians over the age of 18 can view examples of here, in schools. Prior to the vote, the committee held a public hearing on the measure.

Senate Bill 7 would require schools to:

• Identify sexually explicit content in school curriculum, materials and books.
• Create an opt-in policy that would:
  • Notify parents of the sexually explicit content by including a list of the book titles on the form.
  • Give parents the opportunity to review the materials.
  • Require parents to give direct consent for their children to be provided or have access to sexually explicit content.
• Provide children with non-explicit alternatives if their parents do not opt in.

Importantly, Senate Bill 7 would not ban any books from any Pennsylvania school curriculum or library, but rather empower parents to control only what their own children have access to in school. Empowering parents and families is a priority of the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.

Senate Backs Israel, Condemns Hamas

Following the murderous attacks of innocent people by the terrorist group Hamas, the Senate approved a resolution condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7 carnage.

Senate Resolution 185 shows Pennsylvania’s support of the Jewish people as they defend against this terrorist threat. It says that we stand “firmly with the people of Israel and their right to defend themselves.” It labels the attacks by Hamas as “shocking, barbaric and evil,” further adding they “amount to war crimes of the worst kind.”

The resolution further stipulates, “Israel has every right to defend itself with all due force” and noted Pennsylvania’s “special relationship” with Israel since the country declared independence in 1948.

Senate Advances Critical Support for EMS, Hospitals and Nursing Homes

This week, the Senate approved legislation advancing critical public health components of the budget process.

Passage of House Bill 1351 addresses the crucial public health needs for emergency medical services, hospitals and nursing homes and ensures Pennsylvanians continue to receive access to needed health care services.

The bill:

• Increases EMS reimbursement rates for services and ensures providers are compensated for all loaded miles. The changes will drive $126 million of new revenue and new resources into the EMS network statewide.
• Reauthorizes a state assessment on hospital services, generating revenue supplemented by federal funds and returned to hospitals. The first payment to hospitals is typically made in mid-October.
• Freezes the Nursing Facility Case Mix Rate to reduce volatility and level the playing field so Pennsylvania nursing homes can continue to meet the needs of vulnerable patients.

Senate Votes to Increase Access to Addiction Treatment Programs

To combat prevalent opioid addiction, the Senate unanimously passed legislation increasing access to licensed addiction treatment programs for Pennsylvanians.

Senate Bill 941 would provide regulatory flexibilities that can be used during an opioid epidemic to create real solutions to workforce shortages and directly help those in need of treatment get access quicker. 

Additionally, Senate Bill 941 would establish annual reporting requirements to the General Assembly regarding unnecessary barriers to workforce recruitment and access to treatment.

Join Me for a Coffee & Conversation Event on Oct. 26

Join me for a free Coffee & Conversation event on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 9-11 a.m. at Mastersonville Fire Company, 2121 Meadow View Road, Manheim, PA 17545. There will be coffee and light refreshments for guests to enjoy.

The event is an informal opportunity to discuss issues that are important to Lancaster County communities and what’s happening in Harrisburg.

Please click here to RSVP if you would like to attend.

Bill Enhancing School Bus Safety Receives Senate Support

The Senate passed a bill to improve school bus safety by increasing penalties for those refusing to follow the law.

Senate Bill 897 would give judges the discretion to increase fines above the current $250 for refusing to stop for a school bus when red lights are flashing or a stop arm is extended. It would also require repeat offenders to complete a PennDOT Driving Improvement School. Additionally, it would establish a new penalty for individuals who fail to proceed with caution past a school bus with flashing amber lights.

According to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, approximately 1,000 drivers annually are convicted of passing a stopped school bus with signals flashing. Many more citations are issued without resulting in a conviction.

Visiting Local Drugstore, Lititz Apothecary

I enjoyed a great visit to Lititz Apothecary, which is located just a few short steps from my District Office in Lititz. The owner, Chet Patel, and the staff at this corner drugstore are phenomenal. They pair old-fashioned customer service – which we all know is harder to find than ever – with the latest advances in technology so customers receive rapid and accurate filling of their prescriptions.

Lititz Apothecary offers convenient services to simplify your life, including medication packaging and medication synchronization. Synchronization allows patients to pick up all of their ongoing prescription refills at the pharmacy once a month. Medication packaging makes it easy for people who have multiple prescriptions to take them on the right days at the right time because doses are pre-packaged by time of day in a 28-day supply.

Learn more here.

Students Tour State Capitol

Students from Classical Conversations Inc.’s Ephrata North Homeschool program recently visited the state Capitol to tour the historic building and learn more about their state government.

Tours are free and very informative. If you’re interested in learning more about this national historic landmark, book your tour here.

Grants Available to Ready PA for New Businesses

To attract and retain more businesses in the commonwealth, PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) will make $10 million in grant funding available to help locations become “shovel ready.”

Eligible projects must be in Pennsylvania and support the development of competitive sites. These include undeveloped sites and sites that were previously utilized or underutilized – such as former industrial, commercial, military, school, or hospital sites or buildings.

Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities and industrial development agencies may apply for the funding here through Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Last Chance to Register to Vote in the Nov. 7 Election

If you wish to vote on Election Day on Nov. 7, you must be registered to vote by Monday, Oct. 23.

There are four ways to register to vote: online, by mail, in person at your county voter registration office and at PennDOT and some other government agencies.

Find the details about each of these methods here.

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