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Dear Friend:

Thank you for taking the time to read this special edition of my e-newsletter. During this past session, we as a Commonwealth and nation have faced many adversities with COVID-19 and the devastating health and economic impacts.  Much of the legislature’s attention over this past year was focused on passing legislation that would help mitigate the effects of the virus while opening our economy in a safe manner.  This e-news edition summarizes my legislation that passed this past session, much of it a response to COVID-19 to assist our most vulnerable citizens, our businesses, and our schools.

I would like to wish all of our local families a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday season and I offer my warmest wishes for a safe and great new year ahead.

Sincerely,

Scott

2019-20 Legislative Session in Review

The two-year legislative session that ended November 30 was highlighted by measures to help Pennsylvania respond to COVID-19, including providing resources to the individuals and organizations who were deeply affected by the virus – hospitals, long-term care providers, community services providers, first responders, food banks, and affected employers and employees. Lawmakers also fought back in cases in which Governor Wolf’s mitigation efforts exceeded his authority and infringed on the civil liberties of Pennsylvanians.

In addition to responding to COVID-19, the General Assembly passed new laws to reform state government, improve public safety, support education at all levels, protect first responders and address Pennsylvania’s opioid epidemic.

I was pleased to author 15 new laws in the current session:

• Allowing volunteer fire companies to keep more of the money they bring in during fundraisers
• Requiring the Pennsylvania Inspector General to review the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network (PA-STARNet).
• Providing new educational resources for students who are facing extended absences from school due to injury or illness.
• Allowing Lancaster County municipalities to opt-out of allowing video gaming terminals (VGTs)
• Revising an outdated law that previously increased costs to counties due to ballot printing requirements.
• Helping local governments respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and reauthorizing a key panel responsible for containing health care costs.
• Assisting the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in a redesign to deal with financial and enrollment pressures.
• Protecting young victims of sexual assault from having to attend school with their attackers.
• Helping more local taxpayers benefit from school property tax discounts and extended payment deadlines.
• Providing municipal property tax payment and penalty relief for local tax payers.
• Protecting members of volunteer fire companies, ambulance corps and rescue squads who are injured in the line of duty.
• Improving a local economic development program through the addition of a loan component.
• Strengthened local economic development program by adding emergency flexibility to respond to COVID-19.
• Designating a bridge in West Cocalico Township in honor of Sheriff Terry A. Bergman.
• Rejoined a fractured parcel of land in order to allow completion of an economic development project.

I also authored two proposed amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution that were approved by the General Assembly:

• Limiting the length of emergency declarations and requiring legislative approval of extensions of emergency declarations.
• Removing an antiquated ballot requirement that increases costs to local taxpayers.

A complete list of bills approved during the 2019-20 Legislative Session is available here.

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