According to the AWZSE Annual Legislative Report, speeding in AWZSE enforced work zones has been reduced to 17.2% for all traffic, and excessive speeding (11+ mph over the posted speed limit) has been reduced to 2.6% since the start of the program. Read more

“Some of these offending companies treat fines for illegally dumping trash as the cost of doing business. We cannot allow that to continue to be the case,” Bullock said in a statement. “More than just being an eyesore, illegal dumping does long term damage to the environment and health of community ecosystems and costs taxpayers money with the strain it puts on municipalities.” Read more

HARRISBURG, May 24 – State Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to allow individual municipalities to adjust their minimum wage based on factors that affect workers in those communities . Boyle’s legislation would repeal a section of the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act that prohibits municipalities from enacting a minimum wage separate from the statewide wage. “The 2006 amendment to our minimum wage law that prohibits individual municipalities from setting their own wages is outdated,” Boyle said. “We have to give local governments the tools to customize solutions that work best for their communities.” Boyle said the legislation would allow Philadelphia to set a minimum wage that is higher than the rest of the state. Read more

HARRISBURG, May 23 – Today, the PA House Human Services Committee voted two bills out of committee to address mental health initiatives and funding for programs as well as funding for kinship care legal assistance. The first bill ( H.B. 849 ), introduced by state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, would take recommendations from the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health on how to appropriate $100 million in one-time ARPA funds. As part of the 2022-23 budget (through Act 54 of 2022), the General Assembly established the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health, a 24-person commission tasked with providing recommendations to the General Assembly on how to appropriate $100 million in one-time ARPA funding to address adult behavioral health needs in Pennsylvania. The commission, composed of experts in the behavioral health field, advocates, providers, and legislators, met over the course of four weeks for a total of 17 hours to create a set of recommendations they believe would be the first step towards true change for all Pennsylvanians. H.B. 849 would take the following recommendations from the commission and turn them into actionable legislation, as well as expand these efforts to address the needs of struggling youth: $37 million towards workforce development. $23.5 million to improve the criminal justice system and public safety systems. $39 million to expand access and service delivery. $500,000 to evaluate the Read more

Focusing on prioritizing people over profit, fighting social inequality Read more

HARRISBURG, May 23 – The House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee voted unanimously today in support of House Bill1032, state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler’s Solar for Schools legislation. Solar for Schools would provide grants to install solar to public k-12 schools, community colleges, and career technical schools across Pennsylvania. The program would fund 50% of the cost of project construction. Federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act would cover 30- 50% of the remaining installation costs, with school districts responsible for the remaining 0- 20%, plus costs associated with operation and maintenance. The vote comes on the heels of Fiedler’s tour of solar arrays at various schools across Pennsylvania. "I've been able to see firsthand the value that solar arrays bring by reducing costs for school districts and taxpayers, limiting our carbon footprint, and creating new jobs,” Fiedler, D-Phila., said. “I am thrilled Solar for Schools passed the committee. This legislation merges labor and environmental priorities to improve our environment and bring new jobs to our commonwealth.” Committee Chair Robert Matzie, D-Beaver, commended the legislation after voting in favor of the bill. “Solar for Schools is a solid bill that will help school districts and taxpayers save money,” Matzie said. “As chairman of the committee, I was happy Read more

“With the current gun violence crisis taking place in Philadelphia and around the commonwealth, today’s passage of two bills out of the House is a step in the right direction to prevent future tragedies,” Bellmon said. “As co-chair of the PA Safe Caucus, I applaud my colleagues who voted to make the commonwealth a safer place.” Read more

State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., last night hosted a press conference and community peace walk in conjunction with the local police chaplains, at Belfield Recreation Center as part of the “Third Thursday Initiative” to address gun violence in northwest Philadelphia. This was the first Third Thursday event of 2023.  Read more

PHILADELPHIA, May 9 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today expressed their condolences to the family grieving the loss of a loved one after one man opened fire at another while both men were canvassing for the city’s upcoming primary election. Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas described the incident as a senseless loss and said that the shooting is also a sad reminder of the ongoing gun violence crisis impacting the city. “We don’t know yet what led up to this tragedy. Further details on this have not been released, but we do know that a family is mourning one of their own,” Cephas said. “We do know that someone lost their life due to gun violence in our city and it is heartbreaking. As of today, there have been 142 homicides in our city this year. This needs to stop,” Cephas added. Rep. Danilo Burgos, vice chair of the delegation, indicated that the institution urges the community to be part of a collective effort to spread awareness and combat gun violence. “My heart goes out to the victim’s family; I extend my condolences during this difficult time. As a community we must focus on prevention measures and bold regulations. Our delegation is determined to improve public safety and protect our families because our families deserve better, we need peace,” Burgos said. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, delegation treasurer, shared thoughts of sympathy for the victim’s family. “I Read more

Pa. state Rep. Darisha Parker joined Auditor General Timothy DeFoor and students and faculty of Martin Luther King Jr. High School in North Philadelphia to discuss the importance for integrating financial literacy education programs into high school curriculum for Pennsylvania students. Read more