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House Resolution 515 of 2019 directed the LBFC to

House Resolution 515 of 2019 directed the LBFC to conduct a broad-based study of Pennsylvania's administered, community-based mental health (MH) services.

Some highlights from the report included:
⚫Although these services are provided by counties, certain MH data elements are reported to DHS via 25 standard cost centers. The committee reviewed 6 years of data and found great variability among those cost centers, e.g., for the period FY 2012-2013 through FY 2016-2017 ,with respect to the number of clients serviced with over 665,000 clients, conversely, the center with the fewest clients was Adult Development Training with just 57 clients.
⚫No data existed on short-term private psychiatric facilities, so the committee collected data on private psychiatric facilities in PA. They were able to extract data on capacity, occupancy rates, and length of stay. They found that in 2018, 7 of 19 facilities had occupancy rates above 90%.
⚫Using data from the DOC they were able to determine mental health caseloads as of January 31 of each year. They compared this data to each facility's capacity and average in-house population. They found MH caseloads increased by more than 40% over a 5-year period - despite decreases in jail capacity and average in-house population.

For more information, visit: http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/Resources/Documents/Reports-Highlights/678.pdf

Watch the meeting here: https://pasen.wistia.com/medias/9thdizno8o

Act 1995-17 requires the LBFC to review the need t

Act 1995-17 requires the LBFC to review the need to increase or decrease Pennsylvania's instant check fees for firearm purchases and transfers every five years and issue a report if its findings to the General Assembly.

Some highlights from the report included:
⚫There were 2,740 active PA licensed firearm dealers who performed a total of 742,251 firearms sales and transfers in CY 2019. Of those, 421,543 were handguns and 320,708 were long guns.
⚫In CY 2019, PICS handled 982,036 phone calls and web-based requests for background checks. Of those, 97% were approved without further investigation. Of those, 66% were approved automatically, and 31% required operator assistance.
⚫Of total gun check requests, 15,737 or 1.6%, were initially denied. Of those denials, 4,631 were challenged. 1,633 of challenges and 2,565 were issued a final denial. The 443 remaining challenges were returned to the challenger unprocessed for various reasons.
⚫In FY 2019-2020, approximately 95% of the $8.1 million in PICS expenditures were used for personnel costs.

For more information, visit: http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/Resources/Documents/Reports-Highlights/684.pdf

Act 2018-90 directed the LBFC to conduct a study a

Act 2018-90 directed the LBFC to conduct a study and performance evaluation of expenditures that utilize grants from the Department of Health relating to the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust fund and to report the results to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, House of Representatives Health Committee, and Judiciary Committee of both chambers. The study primarily covered the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018.

Some highlights from the report included:
⚫ Statewide public awareness campaign efforts have continued to increase the number of organ donor designations in the Commonwealth.
⚫The organ donation designation goal for the FYs 2012-2015 grant agreement period was not reached.
⚫ Of the 37 states that submitted their donor designation rates, 20 had a higher rate than PA's 46% in 2012.
⚫Overall, it was found that DOH grantees and sub-grantees met the terms and conditions of their grant agreements' however, some agreement provisions were not met or DOH was not able to document the conditions in question were met.

For more information, visit: http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/Resources/Documents/Reports-Highlights/681.pdf

Watch the meeting here: https://pasen.wistia.com/medias/9thdizno8o

Tomorrow starts Highway Safety Law Awareness Week

Tomorrow starts Highway Safety Law Awareness Week that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) holds to help highlight state transportation laws to educate the public in hopes of making our roadways safer.

#DriveSafe #PATrafficLaw

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday: DYK? In 1791, The

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday:

DYK? In 1791, The Schuylkill and Susquehanna Canal Company, the first public canal company in this country, was chartered.

Today, I was happy to join the Disability Friendly

Today, I was happy to join the Disability Friendly Community meeting to discuss upcoming legislation, the budget, the COVID-19 vaccine & more.

Visit their website for more information, and please sign their Affirmation of Belonging here: https://t.co/meUuqGCeXx

Senate offices will be closed today in observance

Senate offices will be closed today in observance of Presidents’ Day.

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday: DYK? Hawk Mountain

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday:

DYK? Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, located in Kempton, PA was the world's first refuge for birds of prey.

The 2021 trout stocking schedule is now available

The 2021 trout stocking schedule is now available from the PA Fish and Boat Commission. You can search for local stocking sites and schedules. Stocking begins February 15, two weeks earlier than usual. Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day is March 27 and statewide trout season officially begins April 3.
https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/fish-and-boat-commission-details.aspx?newsid=363

Today, I received the second dose of my COVID-19 v

Today, I received the second dose of my COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to all of our healthcare staff in PA who are helping our state get vaccinated.

I was happy to join @thehillschool Constitutional

I was happy to join @thehillschool Constitutional Law course this morning to discuss what it's like to be a state legislator, as well as how the three branches of government work together on the federal and state levels.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the Steam

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the Steamfitters’ Training Center.

Unemployment claimants who have year-end tax quest

Unemployment claimants who have year-end tax questions can find answers through a new Frequently Asked Questions page developed by Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s office. The page includes information on what claimants should do if they have not received their 1099G, how to dispute the amount reported on a 1099G form, and what Pennsylvanians should do if they receive a 1099G because they were a victim of fraud or identity theft, among other topics. https://www.patreasury.gov/uc-swif-ssp/1099G/

A comprehensive $912 million relief package to hel

A comprehensive $912 million relief package to help restaurants, schools, employers, and tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic received final legislative approval on Friday and was sent to the Governor’s desk for enactment into law, which I strongly supported.

A proposed constitutional amendment to limit the l

A proposed constitutional amendment to limit the length of future emergency disaster declarations unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly received final legislative approval today and will be put before the voters to decide in the May 18 primary election.

Senate Bill 2 was approved by the House of Representatives today, following approval by the Senate on January 26.

Under current law, a governor’s emergency declaration can last up to 90 days and be renewed by the governor indefinitely.

This consolidation of power has led to numerous problems throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including flawed guidance that negatively impacted long-term care settings, delayed Unemployment Compensation payments to displaced workers, and individual businesses and entire industries being shuttered longer than necessary.

Under Senate Bill 2, the emergency declaration would be limited to 21 days unless the General Assembly approved a longer duration. It also clarifies that the legislature is not required to present the resolution ending the declaration to the governor for his consideration.

Senate Bill 2 also provides for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the denial of equal rights based on race or ethnicity, bringing the Pennsylvania Constitution in line with the U.S. Constitution.

As a constitutional amendment, the legislation had to be approved by the General Assembly in two consecutive legislative sessions before being put on the ballot for voters to decide. The measure was approved by the General Assembly in the previous legislative session.

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday: DYK? The first Lit

This week’s #PAFirstsFriday:

DYK? The first Little League Baseball game was played on June 6, 1939, in Williamsport between Lundy Lumber and Lycoming Dairy.

On February 3, one day after Punxsutawney Phil pre

On February 3, one day after Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, Gov. Wolf unveiled his proposed state budget, predicting at least 6 more weeks of PA fending off the largest tax and spending increases in state history.

Read more: https://www.senatormensch.com/2021/02/04/op-ed-proposed-state-budget/

If you reside in Senate District 24, take my lates

If you reside in Senate District 24, take my latest survey on reopening PA here: https://www.senatormensch.com/legislative-survey/.

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸.

https://www.senatormensch.com/2021/02/03/governor-unveils-massive-tax-spend-budget-proposal/

Rising property taxes seems to be the story in all

Rising property taxes seems to be the story in all too many communities across our region. And yet so many of our schools still indicate they don’t have the resources required to deliver a top-notch education.

Read more in my latest op-ed: https://www.senatormensch.com/2021/02/01/op-ed-hold-harmless-policy/

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