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In this Update:
School Bus Bill Improves Safety for Pennsylvania Children
My bill to enhance school bus safety and better protect children traveling to and from school has been approved by the Senate. By strengthening penalties and tightening safety requirements, we are sending a clear message that reckless driving around school buses will not be tolerated. Senate Bill 65 increases the required stopping distance for drivers approaching from the opposite direction when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing, expanding the buffer from 10 feet to 15 feet. It also raises penalties for violations, including higher fines and license suspensions for repeat offenders, and mandates additional driver education or examinations. The legislation also establishes penalties for drivers who fail to prepare to stop when a school bus activates its flashing amber lights, adding an important layer of accountability. Additionally, the bill emphasizes increased education and awareness for motorists by requiring PennDOT to include a reminder in driver’s license renewal paperwork and encouraging school districts to publicize prevention efforts. During Operation Safe Stop in October 2024, law enforcement and bus drivers across a mere 22 school districts reported 131 violations in a single day, underscoring the urgency of these reforms. With Senate approval, we are one step closer to enacting stronger safeguards for students across the commonwealth. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Protecting Animals from Painful Experiments
The Senate unanimously approved legislation aimed at protecting dogs and cats from painful, taxpayer-funded experiments. Senate Bill 381, also known as the Beagle Bill, would:
Senate Bill 381 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Approves Bill to Expunge COVID-Era Citations
The Senate approved legislation to expunge punitive COVID-related citations issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) against small businesses with liquor licenses. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives. Every other commonwealth agency has dropped enforcement actions for COVID-era rule violations, recognizing the difficult situation restaurants faced. However, the PLCB has been using its license renewal process to punish license holders for not complying with COVID-related executive orders. This includes issuing conditional licenses, which come with higher insurance premiums, and requiring the sale of a liquor license, effectively putting someone out of business. Senate Bill 241 would help local businesses by expunging COVID-related citations from the record of restaurants and bars that are under the purview of the PLCB. Judiciary Committee Advances Key Legislation for Pennsylvanians
The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved five bills addressing a range of issues affecting Pennsylvanians. Sen. Argall’s Senate Bill 111 would allow the Department of Corrections to hire and promote corrections officers who reside out of state, helping to expand the pool of qualified candidates for the commonwealth’s correctional facilities. When our prisons are short-staffed, it exacerbates problems of security and safety that we are obligated to address. By removing residency requirements, we expand the pool of applicants and increase the chances of filling the required complement of officers. Criminal minds always seem quick to adapt to changing economics and to exploit new vulnerabilities. Since the pandemic, there has been a resurgence in the theft of catalytic converters, which contain metals valuable in recycling. Businesses that maintain vehicle fleets are particularly attractive targets. Such thefts are costly inconveniences. By modernizing existing law, Sen. Farry’s Senate Bill 914 can provide law enforcement with the tools they need to conduct investigations and curtail the ability of thieves to profit from such crime. Rep. Olsommer’s House Bill 18 would require courts to convene a review hearing within 60 days of a petition to modify or terminate a guardianship order, strengthening protections for vulnerable Pennsylvanians under guardianship. Our intention is to ensure a timely and effective determination, which takes stress and strife from the process and better serves the interests of the incapacitated individual. Pennsylvania has a troubling inequity in our custody law, where a deployed individual can have that status used against them in child custody cases. Rep. Craig Williams’ House Bill 414 would clarify custody matters for parents subject to military deployment, ensuring that deployed parents maintain their rights and responsibilities. Rep. Rabb’s House Bill 1406 would address theft of real property through title or deed fraud, grading such offenses as a felony of the second degree to reflect the seriousness and sophistication of these crimes. By defining the specific offense, it becomes easier for prosecutors to pursue and win cases and thereby obtain justice for the victims. Local Veteran William Dunn Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel William J. Dunn, Jr., on his recent promotion. Since 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn has served our commonwealth and country with distinction while deployed with the U.S. Army and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He has served in key legal and leadership roles at home and abroad, including deployments with Task Force Spartan in the Middle East theater of operations, in support of NATO exercises in Europe, and throughout multiple domestic disaster relief efforts. He is currently the Deputy Chief of the Army National Guard Trial Defense Service where he assists in overseeing defense council services for Army National Guard personnel across 54 states and territories. His career reflects not only a commitment to justice and service, but also the strength and dedication of Pennsylvania’s citizen-soldiers. We thank him, his wife Jennifer, and sons Aiden and Liam for their continued sacrifice and service. Importance of Community Pharmacies Highlighted at Briefing
Community pharmacies and the important role they play for Pennsylvania residents was the focus of an informational briefing with pharmacists, the state Department of Human Services, the Insurance Department and others. Roughly 600 pharmacies have closed across the commonwealth within the last two years, reducing access to professionals serving on the frontlines of health care. The Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus discussed the impacts of Act 77 of 2024, the Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) reform measure. The law banned harmful practices, strengthened network adequacy requirements, increased PBM transparency and accountability and implemented additional oversight. Further action needed to protect community pharmacies was among the topics explored at the briefing, which can be viewed here. Nanticoke City Fire Department Holds Blessing Ceremony
Members of the Nanticoke City Fire Department held a ceremony to bless their brand new “Truck 1.” We pray for their protection as they endeavor to save lives and property. Remembering September 11, 2001
It was a privilege to host retired NYPD homicide task force detective and current WILK Newsradio personality Rob O’Donnell as our Senate guest chaplain on the eve of Remembrance Day. Rob was involved in 9/11 response and recovery efforts as well as the 93 World Trade Center bombing. He offered a heartfelt and inspiring prayer in memory of those lost and a message of hope for the future of our commonwealth and country in these increasingly divisive times. He also shared an autographed copy of an extremely poignant photo he captured at Ground Zero on September 13, 2001. Luzerne County Community College also held its annual September 11th Remembrance Ceremony and Brick Dedication at its Walk of Honor monument. We paused to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania on that tragic day, and we hold in our hearts the families left behind. All of the heroes who courageously gave their lives to save others remain a source of inspiration for a nation brought together in grief and determined to keep America’s enemies at bay.
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