Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContact Capitol Update Friday, February 17, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol  Thank you to McKean County Commissioners Carol Duffy and Tom Kreiner for the opportunity to discuss several issues facing the region, including reauthorization of 9-1-1 funding, support for mental health services, broadband expansion, workforce challenges, emergency services and more. Watch Out for Common Tax Season Scam  With the tax filing season underway, the Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for scams that are designed to trick people into turning over sensitive data and personal information. One recurring scam is “Final Demand for Payment” letters that threaten wage garnishment and seizure of property or assets unless the recipient calls a phone number to satisfy a lien. Some signs to watch out for include: the phony letter comes from an entity that doesn’t exist, doesn’t include a return address, refers to taxes owed to the “state” of Pennsylvania rather than “Commonwealth,” and it fails to include any specific information about your account. For a list of steps to help avoid this scam, as well as what to do if you believe you have been victimized by a scam, click here. Policy Committee Holds Hearing to Highlight Needs of First Responders Click here to view video. With police, fire and emergency medical services agencies (EMS) across the state struggling with financial and personnel challenges, I participated in a House Republican Policy Committee hearing Wednesday at the Capitol to gather feedback on solutions to these problems. According to the law enforcement panel, recruitment of law enforcement officers is dropping to crisis or even catastrophic levels, while retention rates are also decreasing. That leaves state and local law enforcement agencies with fewer officers to meet the increased responsibilities for protecting our communities. Strong support for police officers and financial incentives are vital to reversing this decline. For fire and EMS agencies, the personnel issues are equally challenging, as are finances. Ambulance companies need insurance reimbursements that better cover actual costs for service, as well as dedicated funding. Fire companies need help removing barriers to workers compensation insurance coverage and financial help with the rising cost of equipment. And both firefighter and EMS representatives said incentives are needed to recruit and retain personnel. Video of the full hearing will be available at www.PAGOPPolicy.com. Property Tax and Rent Rebate Clinics Continue Next Week  My office is hosting five clinics next week to assist with filing for the 2022 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. There is no cost for assistance, and no appointments are needed. Just bring the necessary documentation. Next week’s schedule is as follows: Tuesday, Feb. 21 • Mt. Jewett Senior Center, 8 E. Main St., Mt. Jewett – 12:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 • Oswayo Valley Senior Center, 128 Lyons St., Shinglehouse – 9 a.m. to noon. • Emporium Senior Center, 105 E. Fourth St., Emporium – 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Appointments preferred. Call 814-486-3707.) • Port Allegany Senior Center, 216 N. Main St., Port Allegany – noon to 1:30 p.m. • Coudersport Senior Center, 165 Route 6 West, Coudersport – 1-3 p.m. Additional clinics are scheduled in Bradford on Feb. 27 and Austin on March 1. Help is also available at my offices in Bradford, Coudersport and Kane. Details about the program and schedule are available at www.RepCauser.com. House Finally Returns to Session Tuesday  After being locked out of the House Chamber by Democrat Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi for the last six weeks, we are finally being called back into voting session next week. Session is scheduled Feb. 21-23 and the first order of business must be the adoption of operating rules for the chamber. Typically, these rules are adopted the same day we take the oath of office – in this case, Jan. 3 – but the speaker recessed the chamber before taking up the rules and hasn’t called us back. As a result, we have been unable to vote on or even introduce any legislation to address the issues facing our Commonwealth. New Debit Cards Being Sent to UC, SWIF Claimants  The Pennsylvania Treasury has announced that beginning on or about March 6, new prepaid debit cards will be mailed to Unemployment Compensation (UC) and State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) recipients.Money Network prepaid debit cards, issued by My Banking Direct, will replace U.S. Bank ReliaCards® currently in use. New prepaid debit cards will be mailed to UC and SWIF recipients who receive benefit payments via prepaid debit card beginning next month. The new card will arrive in a plain white envelope with an Omaha, Nebraska, return address. Recipients should be sure to remove the card before discarding the envelope. It is strongly encouraged claimants verify they have their correct mailing address on file with the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) to ensure all mailings reach them in a timely manner. Claimants can also change their payment method to direct deposit by visiting L&I’s website. Claimants should note any remaining balances on U.S. Bank ReliaCards® will not transfer to the new Money Network prepaid debit cards. Those with remaining funds on U.S. Bank ReliaCards® should continue to use the card until it reaches a zero ($0.00) balance. Remaining funds can also be transferred to a personal savings or checking account. Click here for more information and links to Frequently Asked Questions. Attention Medical Assistance and CHIP Enrollees  Effective April 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will return to normal renewal processing procedures for Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medical Assistance and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).That means all Medical Assistance and CHIP recipients will need to complete an annual renewal to see if they are still eligible for coverage. Renewals will be completed over 12 months. Renewals due in March 2023 will be the first affected by this change. To ensure you receive timely information about your coverage, it is important to ensure DHS has accurate information on hand. Updates about your contact information and the number of people living in your household can be made via www.dhs.pa.gov/compass. Click here for more information. Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2023 Class  The Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is accepting applications for its third class of cadets, which begins in July 2023. The KSCA is designed to give academically challenged teens a second chance at obtaining their basic education and learning leadership, self-discipline and responsibility to build a better life. The program is open to 16- to 18-year-old male and female Pennsylvania residents who are failing to progress in high school or may not be on a clear path to graduating. Applicants must be willing to be drug free, free of felony convictions and voluntarily commit to the program. The program lasts for 17 months, with the first five months consisting of residential training at Fort Indiantown Gap followed by one year of mentorship back in the community. For detailed eligibility requirements and to begin the application process, click here. You may also request a mailed application or ask questions by contacting the academy via email at RA-MVPACHALLENGE@pa.gov or by calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831. The KSCA is a joint effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the National Guard Bureau in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. |