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In this Update:
Robinson Announces $1.7 Million in Funding for Local ProjectsI am thrilled to announce $1.7 million in grant funding for projects in the 37th district from the Commonwealth Financing Authority! I was glad to work with bipartisan colleagues in the PA House of Representatives to advocate for and help secure this funding. These projects range from flood mitigation to waterline replacement to supporting our first responders with facility upgrades and equipment purchase. You can read the full list of projects here. Labor and Industry Committee Advances LegislationDuring this week’s Senate Labor and Industry Committee meeting, we advanced legislation to ensure claimants make good faith efforts to fulfill their work search requirements. Senate Bill 153, introduced by Senator Michele Brooks, clarifies the existing unemployment compensation law regarding claimants who purposefully discourage their own hire. Current unemployment compensation law requires claimants to look for work by applying for two jobs per week and completing one work search activity, barring a few narrow exceptions. Read more here. Robinson to Introduce Legislation to Combat Radon in SchoolsI was pleased to announce my plan to reintroduce my legislation for increased radon testing in schools. Radon is a significant threat to Pennsylvania due to our unique geology and poses a great risk to developing children in schools. My legislation will require all schools in the commonwealth to test for radon at least once every five years. You can view my remarks on the senate floor here. Senate Acts to Fight Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Public Assistance ProgramsThis week, the Senate passed three bills to stop waste, fraud and abuse in Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medical Assistance program (Medicaid). The bills will be sent to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 155 would prevent deceased people from receiving benefits by requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against recipients of public assistance. A state audit previously found 2,324 deceased public assistance recipients received benefits totaling $700,000 in a 12-month period. Senate Bill 156 would require DHS to compare wage records held by employers and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue with public assistance recipients quarterly to prevent fraud. From 2019-23, the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General filed more than 2,900 criminal complaints of welfare fraud, with more than $15 million owed in restitution. Senate Bill 157 would update the Public Assistance Integrity Act to require DHS to issue a yearly report on its efforts to ensure lottery winners are not receiving cash benefits. The Public Assistance Integrity Act, a bipartisan initiative signed into law in 2018, closed a loophole that did not require lottery winnings to be considered as income when determining eligibility for benefits. Bill Enabling World Cup Team Doctors to Practice in PA Receives Senate SupportWith World Cup soccer set to come to Philadelphia, the Senate approved legislation enabling international team doctors to treat their players in the commonwealth. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Philadelphia will host the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA World Cup in 2026. In both of those contests, athletes will be supported by their traveling team doctors. Under current law, each international doctor would be required to obtain a medical license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine to treat players, even for just a single match. Senate Bill 184 would exempt international team doctors from needing to obtain a Pennsylvania medical license to care for their athletes. Much like how the law treats team physicians licensed in other states, international doctors would be limited to treatment of just their players and would be prohibited from practicing in all health care facilities in the commonwealth. New Law Conveniently Returns Money to PennsylvaniansMoney you weren’t expecting may soon be coming your way! The Pennsylvania Treasury Department sent the first batch of letters this week to people who have unclaimed property, thanks to legislation passed by the Senate last year. The new law, PA Money Match, allows the Pennsylvania Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. Eligible properties must be valued at $500 or less and belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address. After doing so, they will receive a check for their property in about 45 days. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced this week that the first round of PA Money Match has the potential to return more than $2 million to more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians – and more will be coming later this year. Treasury is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property, which includes things like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates, insurance payments and more. Check if you have unclaimed property, and contact my office if you need any assistance in filing a claim. Game Commission Provides Avian Influenza InformationEarlier this year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was the cause of death for wild waterfowl in northeastern Pennsylvania. To best protect the health of wildlife, domestic animals and humans, the Game Commission asks the public to assist them by doing the following:
Because HPAI impacts more than just wildlife, please also report any sick or dead domestic bird to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. Anyone who isn’t feeling well after having contact with sick or dead birds is encouraged to contact their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258. Upcoming Property Tax, Rent Rebate ClinicMy office will be hosting our first Property Tax and Rent Rebate Clinic on Tuesday, February 11 at the Collier Township Community Center. This clinic is free and open to the public. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is eligible to homeowners and renters in Pennsylvania over age 65, as well as widows and widowers over 50 and individuals over 18 who are 100% disabled. Eligibility is determined by income threshold. Click here for eligibility requirements and more information about the program.
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