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In this Update:
Non-Profit Grant Seminar – Register Today!I am pleased to invite you to my nonprofit grant seminar, titled “Introduction to Finding and Securing Foundation Grants.” This is an excellent opportunity for nonprofit organizations to gain valuable insights into the grant-seeking process. The event will be held on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Erie’s Blasco Library H.O. Hirt Auditorium, located at 160 East Front Street. The seminar is free, but pre-registration is required. You can register for the seminar at the following link: https://www.senatorlaughlin.com/nonprofit-grant-seminar-reg/ I look forward to seeing you there and helping you navigate the process of finding and securing foundation grants. Honoring Shawn GilesEarlier this week, we came together to honor the anniversary of the tragic loss of Northeast firefighter Shawn Giles, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. Shawn, like all our dedicated Pennsylvania volunteers, risked his life every day to keep us safe. As we remember his courage and unwavering commitment to protecting others, let’s honor his legacy by strictly adhering to the Move Over Law, ensuring the safety of those who continue to serve. Learn more about the Move Over Law here: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/…/Move-Over,-Slow-Down.aspx Celebrating Pennsylvania’s Tourism IndustryPennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger visited Presque Isle State Park to emphasize the significant impact of tourism on Pennsylvania, particularly in Erie. Tourism is a major driver of our economy, creating jobs and fostering growth in our region. Thanks to everyone who joined to celebrate the beauty and economic vitality of Erie County. As I always say, the future of Erie is so bright – you need to wear shades! Green Building AllianceThank you to the Green Building Alliance for hosting the 2030 District Reception at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. A nice presentation was made showcasing Erie’s progress toward major carbon and energy reduction. The team shared insightful trends and findings showing how our community is making greener strides. I’m glad our city has been taking steps to create a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. A Closer Look at Supporting Student Safety InitiativesFamilies need to be able to trust their children will be protected from harm when they’re at school, and students deserve to focus on their learning. Continuing Senate Republicans’ leadership of efforts to provide safe learning environments for students, $100 million was included in this year’s state budget for all school districts to address school safety, security needs and mental health concerns. An additional $20 million for safety grants is also made available to nonpublic schools that apply by Thursday, Sept. 26. Applications for both grant programs are available online. New this year, schools may use their funding for the purchase of lockable cellphone bags to benefit students’ mental health by giving them a much-needed break from their mobile devices while in school. Over the last decade there has been a sharp drop in children’s mental health, which directly correlates to the increased use of cellphones and social media apps. The cellphone bags are another tool schools may choose to use if they feel it’s appropriate based on their area, school board and parents’ perspective. Recently passed legislation calls for every school district in Pennsylvania to have a school security officer who has completed armed security training to protect students. The security presence will consist of at least one trained and vetted school security officer, which may be either a school police officer, school resource officer or school security guard. See what other steps Senate Republicans are taking in our work to strengthen Pennsylvania here. Senate Approves $75 Million to Expand Educational Opportunities for StudentsParents know best when it comes to the individual needs of their children, which is why Senate Republicans continue to stand up for parental empowerment and involvement in their children’s education. We’ve worked to dedicate an additional $75 million this year to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). The EITC program helps to provide students with the opportunity to learn in the environment that best meets their specific educational needs. Through a collaborative approach of providing tax credits to businesses making contributions to create additional educational opportunities for Pennsylvania families, more children are able to receive assistance. Eligible contributions are those made to scholarship organizations, educational improvement organizations and pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations. Students are eligible to receive a scholarship if their household’s annual income is no greater than $112,348 plus $19,775 for each dependent member of the household. Learn more about the EITC program here. You Can Now Get Customized Travel Alerts with 511PAWe all want to avoid heavy traffic, road closures and anything else that will delay us on the road, and potential hassles will be different for motorists depending on where they live and where they are going. 511PA now offers the opportunity to sign up for personalized travel alerts based on specific areas and routes, days and times, and road issue (type of trouble and when cleared). On 511PA’s website, navigate to “My 511” at the top to set up an account to begin receiving alerts. Expanded Access to Benefits for PA Disabled VeteransA new Pennsylvania law that went into effect this month exempts 100% of disabled veterans’ benefit payments from income calculations for any commonwealth program or benefit. Act 27 of 2024 ensures veterans who receive disability compensation will not have those payments counted against them when applying to programs such as the Real Estate Property Tax Exemption, the Educational Gratuity Program, the Veterans Temporary Assistance Program and the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. The exclusion also applies to unspent veterans’ benefit payments and is extended to the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran upon that veteran’s death. Celebrating Back to School Month by Brushing Up on School Bus SafetyAs students head back to school, school buses require additional caution from drivers. School districts are now permitted to use automated cameras on stop signal arms to enforce the school bus stopping law. Learn more and find parent safety tips and a reminder of other laws here. Pennsylvania law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses when their red lights are flashing and their stop arm is extended. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. Penalties for failure to obey school bus safety laws can result in a $250 fine and a $35 surcharge to be deposited into the School Bus Safety Grant Program account, five points on a driving record and a 60-day license suspension.
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