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In this Update:

• Legislative Survey: Paper Ballots or Electronic Ballots at Your Voting Precinct?
• This Week’s Hot Jobs in Erie County
• Erie Homecoming 2022
• Trick or Treating Schedule for the Erie Area
• Game & Fisheries Committee Holds Hearing on Antler Restrictions
• Senate Approves Laughlin Bill to Ease Antlerless Deer Hunting License Sales
• Measure to Improve Notification of Government Data Breaches Sent to Governor
• Senate Approves Measures to Support Police and Crime Victims
• Senate Acts to Add Sex Traffickers to Sex Offender Registry
• Health Care Reform Measure Receives Final Approval
• Mail-In Ballot Application Deadline is Nov. 1
• Recognizing the Contributions of First Responders

Legislative Survey: Paper Ballots or Electronic Ballots at Your Voting Precinct?

You can answer the survey question here.

This Week’s Hot Jobs in Erie County

Check out Erie County Hot Job listings at PA CareerLink.

For more information on the postings below, type in the job number at https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/.

Erie Homecoming 2022

Last week was Erie Homecoming 2022 and I was happy to attend the two-day event that’s focused on learning how to invest in Erie.

The event featured plenty of opportunities to hear about the incredible work so many passionate Erieites engage in to make our hometown a vibrant community. It was also a chance to experience the changes taking place in our town through unique and engaging presentations, tours and networking opportunities.

Trick or Treating Schedule for the Erie Area

Communities will be holding Halloween nights between now and Oct. 31. In addition to stocking up on candy, please keep an eye out for distracted children crossing streets and scurrying about.

The Erie Times-News has compiled here a list of the scheduled trick-or-treating fun for those living in Erie County municipalities.

Have fun and stay safe!

Game & Fisheries Committee Holds Hearing on Antler Restrictions

The Senate Game & Fisheries Committee this past week held a public hearing to discuss antler restrictions.

General Assembly Approves Laughlin Bill to Ease Antlerless Deer Hunting License Sales

The General Assembly has approved my legislation, Senate Bill 431, which will make it easier for hunters to obtain antlerless deer hunting licenses. The legislation now heads to the governor.

SB 431 removes county treasurers as the sole provider of antlerless tags, and includes all sellers authorized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) through the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System, including online sales.

Currently, hunters apply for antlerless deer licenses by sending an application to a county treasurer in a timely manner. Allowing for the sale of antlerless deer hunting licenses through other means such as online or through the PGC’s Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System will make it far more convenient for hunters.

Measure to Improve Notification of Government Data Breaches Sent to Governor

My legislation requiring that state agencies, their contractors and local governments provide timely notification to victims of a data breach received final approval this week.

Breaches involving personally identifiable information must be reported within seven days of such a breach being determined, under Senate Bill 696.

In addition to timely notification, the measure requires the state Attorney General to be notified of a state-level breach and county district attorneys to be notified of county, municipal and school district breaches. The bill was sent to the governor for enactment.

Senate Approves Measures to Support Police and Crime Victims

Taking further action to stem the rise in violent crime in Pennsylvania, the Senate this week passed measures to support law enforcement and crime victims.

House Bill 103 seeks to better protect our law enforcement officers against harassment by strengthening penalties against criminals who intentionally spit on or throw bodily fluids at officers.

House Bill 1546 further protects law enforcement officers by prohibiting the release of a public safety official’s home address or telephone number.

While criminal prosecutions punish offenders, restitution for crime victims often falls short. When that happens, victims often turn to the civil justice system.

The Senate passed House Bill 2525 to make it easier for crime victims to obtain relevant information learned by law enforcement during the investigation of the crime. Crime victims can then use that information in civil legal actions to recover damages for their injuries.

In addition, the Senate approved House Bill 140 to help fight rampant crime in Philadelphia. It requires the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute crimes committed within its mass transit system.

These efforts build on the work that has been accomplished over the past two years to protect crime victims, prevent human trafficking and strengthen penalties for criminals who seek to elude officers.

Senate Acts to Add Sex Traffickers to Sex Offender Registry

A measure requiring offenders convicted of a sex trafficking-related crime to register as sex offenders received final legislative approval this week.

Senate Bill 118 adds these crimes to the reporting requirements of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law. The law requires the State Police to maintain a public, online registry of persons who reside, work or attend school in the Commonwealth and who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to certain sexual offenses in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction.

Most defendants in the FBI’s human trafficking cases had prior criminal records and are prone to recidivism. The Megan’s Law Registry has proven to be a deterrent to subsequent sexual offenses committed by those who are on it. The bill was sent to the governor for enactment.

Health Care Reform Measure Receives Final Approval

The Senate gave final approval of a measure that would standardize and streamline the process of prior authorization and step therapy for medical services.

Prior authorization is the process in which health care providers obtain advance approval for purposes of payment coverage and reimbursement from an insurer before a specific procedure or service is delivered to the patient. Step therapy allows insurers to recommend different drug treatment option(s) to patients to address costs.

A recent survey of physicians found that 91% of doctors said prior authorization delays can lead to negative clinical impacts on patients, and 78% of doctors said that prior authorization delays can lead to their patients abandoning treatment plans.

Senate Bill 225 would create standards and timely feedback for commercial health insurance plans, as well as Medicaid plans, when health care providers seek prior authorization approval from insurers. The bill also reforms step therapy protocols. The bill was sent to the governor to be signed into law.

Mail-In Ballot Application Deadline is Nov. 1

Tuesday, Nov. 1, is the deadline to apply for mail and absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election. 

Applications can be requested online or you can download the form and return it to your County Voter Registration Office no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Instructions for preparing and returning your ballot can be found here. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Recognizing the Contributions of First Responders

We sometimes take for granted the sacrifice and dedication of first responders, without whom our communities could not safely function.

Thank you, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and everyone else who answers the call, anytime, day or night.

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