Senator Baker E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Judiciary Committee Approved Four Bills
  • Measure Requiring Confirmation of PEMA Director Passed
  • Capitol Visitors
  • Senate Passes Bill to Protect Newborns
  • Increasing Accountability and Disaster Response Capability
  • Broadband Grant Program Opens May 10
  • Register to Vote by May 1
  • Free Tick Testing for All Pennsylvanians
  • Call Before You Dig

Judiciary Committee Approved Four Bills this Week

Video: Full judiciary committee meeting.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, approved several notable bills addressing food insecurity, the ongoing opioid crisis, wiretapping and additional judgeships.

  • A bill I sponsor, Senate Bill 598, would extend the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act six years from the current expiration date of Dec. 31, 2023.
  • Senate Bill 645 would allow certain vacant or abandoned lands that are being used as community gardens to be adversely possessed after 10 years.
  • Senate Bill 165 amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the operation of safe injection sites and provide for related penalties. The bill is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
  • Senate Bill 361 would add one Court of Common Pleas judge to each of three judicial districts.

The four bills were approved by the committee and now head to the Senate for consideration.

Measure Requiring Confirmation of PEMA Director Passed

The state Senate approved my legislation this week requiring Senate confirmation of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director.

Senate Bill 433 was passed by a bipartisan vote, taking a positive step toward establishing a more robust check and balance system for PEMA. This will increase accountability and ensure the agency is prepared to handle emergencies efficiently and effectively.

The bill now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Capitol Visitors

I had the pleasure of welcoming visitors to the Capitol this week!

Luzerne County Community College and Misericordia University came to Harrisburg for Community College Advocacy Day and Independent Colleges Day, and I enjoyed showing them our Senate.

Constituents from northeastern Pennsylvania and participants of a victims’ rights rally also toured our beautiful state capitol. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit!

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Newborns

The Senate unanimously passed legislation to protect babies whose parents are unable to care for them. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Bill 267 would expand Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law to allow parents to surrender their unharmed baby at participating urgent care centers. The urgent care centers will ensure the newborn is transported to a hospital and placed in the care of a health care provider.

Currently, people may bring their newborn (up to 28 days old) to any Pennsylvania hospital, to a police officer at a police station or to an emergency services provider at an EMS station. The Department of Health estimates that 50 babies have been saved by Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law since 2003.

Increasing Accountability and Disaster Response Capability

Legislation requiring Senate confirmation of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director was approved by a bipartisan Senate vote. Senate Bill 433 would increase accountability and ensure the agency is prepared to deal with emergencies efficiently and effectively.

PEMA is the lead emergency coordination agency in the commonwealth tasked with guaranteeing the safety of 13 million residents. This includes oversight of 911 centers and the Emergency Alert System, as well as hazardous materials and incidents involving five nuclear power plants.

Five state agencies with fewer employees than PEMA require Senate confirmation. The bill is before the House of Representatives for consideration.

Broadband Grant Program Opens May 10

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority recently approved the Pennsylvania Broadband Infrastructure Program which will provide $200 million in funding to businesses, nonprofits, local governments and economic development organizations.

This program will fund line extension and development projects, as well as large-scale regional infrastructure projects. Upon completion, projects must deliver service that meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 Megabits per second, with prioritization being given to fiber-optic deployment.

The application period will begin May 10 and will close July 10. View program guidelines here.

Register to Vote by May 1

The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania’s May 16 primary election is Monday, May 1. Your county election board must receive your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot by Tuesday, May 9.

To legally register, individuals must be a citizen of the United States, reside in their local voting precincts at least 30 days prior to the election and be at least age 18 on Election Day, Tuesday, May 16. Once registered to vote, you are not required to register again unless you change your residence, name or political party affiliation.

Voter registration forms, mail-in ballot applications and absentee ballot applications are available here or from your local county’s Board of Elections. You can also use the site to check your registration status.

Free Tick Testing for All Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of Lyme disease cases. As we continue to fight Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in the commonwealth, East Stroudsburg University offers a valuable resource for all Pennsylvanians.

The university has a tick lab, which provides free testing on ticks for harmful diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and more. Send a tick sample to the lab and receive the test results that are often necessary evidence for doctors to treat you and increase your chance of staying healthy.

This week, the Senate passed a bill to require school officials to notify a student’s parents or guardian if a tick is removed from them at school and inform them of the symptoms of Lyme disease. The bill also calls for schools to provide the tick to parents or guardians if they would like to send it to the lab for testing.

To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and then pull upward with a steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

For more information about tick-borne diseases or how to submit a tick for testing here.

Call Before You Dig

As the weather improves, more people are doing outdoor projects. To stay safe during your excavation project and avoid hitting an underground utility line, call PA One Call by dialing 8-1-1 before you dig.

State law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three days prior to excavation. This minimizes risk to the contractors or homeowners who are doing the digging; to utility workers and emergency responders who are mobilized to deal with the damage; and to bystanders who live, work or travel near the locations of the incidents.

Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the One Call system, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776. Learn more here.

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