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| News You Can Use |
| Legislative Headlines |
Giving Students Flexibility for Graduation Requirements
As a way to ensure students get the most out of their educational experience, the House passed legislation this week that would remove the heavy focus on standardized testing as a requirement to graduate and instead allow students various options to show proficiency in pursuing their own career paths.
Senate Bill 1095 would provide Pennsylvania students with additional options to fulfill high school graduation requirements beyond the Keystone Exams. Students who do not score proficient on the Keystone Exams would be able to demonstrate their readiness to graduate through alternative routes.
Specifically, the bill outlines several commonsense options for assessing student performance while also giving teachers more flexibility with classroom instruction time. Some alternatives include a student’s successful completion of work-based learning programs, a service learning project, or an offer of full-time employment as evidence of post-secondary readiness.
As part of the bill, the Keystone Exam graduation requirement would be put on hold until the 2021-22 school year. The alternate graduation options in Senate Bill 1095 would take effect when that delay expires.
This legislation, which now goes back to the Senate, seeks to enhance a multi-bill package to expand career and technical education to benefit both students and employers looking to fill jobs in high-demand fields.
New Law Enhances Training, Oversight of Humane Officers
To help ensure the state’s animal cruelty laws are enforced in the fairest way possible, legislation has been signed into law to strengthen the training and oversight of Humane Society police officers.
Act 77 of 2018 increased initial and annual training hours for Humane Society police officers, and requires the training to include the proper procedure to file citations and warrants, including when and how to contact other law enforcement.
Other provisions of the new law require training in farm operations and biosecurity, including at least one on-site visit to a working commercial farm operation. Any organization that employs Humane Society police officers will be subject to the state’s Right-to-Know Law.
Additionally, a Humane Society police officer must be a resident of Pennsylvania. If the appointment of a Humane Society police officer is revoked in one county, it would be revoked in all counties.
House Passes Bill to Crack Down on Hazing
Legislation that seeks to better ensure the safety of students on college campuses by cracking down on hazing passed the House this week.
Senate Bill 1090 is a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s anti-hazing law to give law enforcement better tools to prosecute hazing-related activities and to encourage those nearby to call for assistance for someone who may need help.
Specifically, the bill would increase penalties for those involved in hazing; require schools to have policies and reporting procedures in place to stop hazing; and ensure that parents and students are provided with information related to the issue. The legislation also would establish clear parameters on hazing for organizations such as fraternities and sororities.
The legislation is named in memory of Tim Piazza, a Penn State student who died as a result of hazing in 2017 and was denied medical care for hours. The measure now heads back to the Senate for concurrence.
Look, Listen and Learn During Fire Prevention Week
The Office of State Fire Commissioner is urging residents to “look, listen and learn” as part of this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week, which lasts through Saturday, Oct. 13.
With today’s homes being filled with synthetic materials that burn hotter and faster, residents may have as little as two minutes to safely exit a burning structure.
The theme focuses on three basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire: Look for places fire could start; listen for the sound of the smoke alarm; and learn two ways out of every room.
A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place that is a safe distance from the home.
For additional information about Fire Prevention Week and home escape planning, visit firepreventionweek.org.
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| Committee Updates |
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Judiciary Committee:
HB 928 (Jozwiak) – Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act/marijuana possession.
SB 500 (Vulakovich) – Title 23/commencement of proceedings.
SB 502 (McGarrigle) – Title 23/relief.
SB 897 (Stefano) – Titles 18 and 42/expand the Restitution Law to include governmental entities.
SB 915 (Greenleaf) – Title 42/Post-Conviction Relief Act amendment.
SB 916 (Greenleaf) – Title 42/update to DNA testing law.
SB 961 (Rafferty) – Title 75/homicide by vehicle while DUI with prior DUI offenses.
SB 1092 (Mensch) – Title 18/creating an offense for domestic violence in front of children.
SB 1127 (Aument) – Titles 18 and 62/SNAP trafficking penalties.
SB 1209 (Langerholc) – Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act/addressing the untested rape kit backlog.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Judiciary Committee:
SB 10 (Reschenthaler) – Titles 42 & 53/Municipal Sanctuary and Federal Enforcement (SAFE) Act. |
| Rep. Delozier in the Community |
• The West Shore Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business and Industry Night last week. It was a great opportunity to speak to area business owners.
• The annual First Responders Breakfast at the YWCA was held recently. As a former crisis volunteer, I know how important it is for those who are first on scene to have the care and compassion victims need. New Cumberland Borough Sgt. Caroline Weber was recognized for her work with victims.
• My staff and I participated in the 20th annual East Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest this past weekend. The event is always a great way to begin fall.
• The West Shore Foundation held its annual gala on Saturday. The foundation provides support to our communities, teachers, staff and the entire district. The festivities included CBS 21’s Steve Knight; a silent auction; and guest speakers Michael McElrath, vice president of operations at EMCOR and Cedar Cliff High School Class of 1989, and Adam Seldow, head of education partnership at Facebook and Red Land High School Class of 1993.
• I participated in the sixth annual “Walk a Mile for a Vet” in New Cumberland hosted by Girl Scout Troop 713 from Cedar Cliff High School. Thousands of dollars were raised for the homeless veterans house in Harrisburg. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude, and this is just one way to help them.
• I was presented with a Guardian of Small Business Award by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in recognition of my small business voting record during the 2017-18 legislative session. I will continue to do all I can to help our small businesses grow, prosper and create family-sustaining jobs.
• Residents of Essex House toured the Capitol this week. During their visit, I had a chance to catch up with the group. I hope everyone enjoyed their time in Harrisburg.
• The annual Mechanicsburg Halloween Parade was held on Tuesday in downtown Mechanicsburg. It was great to see so many unique and amazing costumes. |
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| Office Locations |
| 2929 Gettysburg Road, Suite 6, Camp Hill PA 17011 | Phone: (717) 761-4665 |
| 141 East Wing, PO Box 202088, Harrisburg PA 17120-2088 | Phone: 717-783-5282 |
| Email: sdelozie@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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