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In this Update:
Robinson Legislation Passes Senate, Committees
We had a busy, productive week of session in Harrisburg. I was pleased to see several of my bills pass through the full Senate and various committees, including my legislation to modernize nonprofit fundraising efforts. Senate Bill 416 would allow nonprofit organizations like volunteer fire departments and youth sports teams to accept payments for raffle tickets electronically rather than only by cash and check. This bill passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously and now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Senate Bill 533 passed through the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. I am proud to sponsor this legislation that would allow disabled veteran and Purple Heart recipients to be exempt from certain license and permit fee requirements at game commission permitted events. House Bill 103, companion legislation to one of my Senate proposals, also passed through this committee before passing the full Senate unanimously. This bill would increase the penalty for abandoning boats, which poses significant public and environmental threats to PA waterways. The House version of Senate Bill 577, my legislation to achieve firefighter pension parity, passed through the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Currently, spouses of firefighters lose eligibility to receive pension payments upon remarriage. This provision for surviving spouses of Pittsburgh police officers was updated in 2006, and it is time for this change to be implemented for Pittsburgh firefighters as well. I was pleased to see such strong, bipartisan support for all of these bills this week! Robinson, Mullins Receive Arthritis Foundation Awards
I was honored to receive an award from the Arthritis Foundation along with my colleague Rep. Kyle Mullins for our bipartisan, bicameral partnership on our legislation to allow better access for biomarker testing. Signed into law last year, this legislation gives people targeted, personal information to better treat diseases like cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s, and of course, arthritis.
Disease does not discriminate against age, as Isla knows very well. She shared her struggles with arthritis and how much school she has missed for doctor appointments. Thanks to bills like this, children like Isla and adults will have more personalized, targeted, and successful treatments, and live a fuller life. Thank you all for this incredible recognition! Congratulations, Chief Wharton!
Celebrating over 33 years of service! Congratulations to Upper St. Clair Police Department Chief Jonathan Wharton on your retirement. Thank you for your decades of public service and dedication to keeping the people of Upper St. Clair safe. Enjoy your next chapter! New Businesses in the 37th District
Congratulations are in order for several new business in the 37th district! Wishing all the best to JustAbout Wealth Management, MyLife Counseling, and PGH Insurance Advisors as they begin business at their new locations in Bridgeville. Lifesaving Bill to Eliminate Cost Barriers to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Approved by Senate
Patients who receive abnormal results from supplemental breast cancer screenings will be able to access the necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging at no cost under bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate. This ensures critical continuum of care. Senate Bill 88, which I proudly cosponsor, builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for individuals at high risk. Senate Bill 88 takes the next step with no-cost follow-up diagnostic imaging and expands eligibility to include individuals at average risk. While 26 other states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in offering no-cost supplemental breast screening since the passage of Act 1, Pennsylvania remains the only state without guaranteed coverage for diagnostic imaging. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. You can view my remarks on this legislation here. Senate Targets PA Opioid Crisis with Expanded Reporting Tool
The Senate voted to incorporate overdose reporting by EMS providers into the statewide Overdose Information Network to make sure first responders, treatment providers and other key parties have the information they need to save lives. Senate Bill 89 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate with the Pennsylvania State Police to ensure real-time overdose reporting by EMS providers is incorporated into the statewide mapping system. The bill was also approved by the House of Representatives and will be sent to the governor for his signature. EMS providers would report information including the date and time of the overdose, location, substances used by the victim and more. In other action to prevent opioid deaths, the Senate passed a measure giving EMS personnel permanent authority to leave behind a dose of lifesaving naloxone at non-fatal overdose scenes. School Bus Safety Grant Program Applications Accepted
School districts, school bus companies and municipalities have until July 3 to apply for state grants to improve school bus safety and pay for training and other costs associated with attracting much-needed school bus drivers. Legislation passed by the General Assembly allows school districts to install automated camera systems to enforce the state School Bus Stopping Law and increase safety for school children. A portion of the fines paid by violators are used for the School Bus Safety Grant Program. Details and the online application are available here. Celebrating Great Outdoors Month
The arrival of summer means plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer locally and across our commonwealth. Pennsylvania is home to cool, green forests, thousands of pristine lakes and streams, hiking trails and state parks. Find plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors of our region and the state here.
I’m proud to represent you in Harrisburg. Please contact me if my team can assist you with any state-level issues or services, including PennDOT, PA Department of Revenue, PA Department of Aging, PA State Treasury, etc. I’m always happy to hear from constituents, but if you need assistance or have concerns regarding a federal issue, you may want to contact your U.S. Senators and/or your member in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you. For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can get on the mailing list here. |
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