Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContactCapitol Update Friday, July 14, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account. You are welcome to contact me through this link. Happy Anniversary Coudersport!  Congratulations to the Borough of Coudersport on its 175th anniversary! I am so honored to represent this community and was happy to present a House citation to borough officials Thursday in honor of this special occasion. Pictured with me, from left: Borough Council Member Marty Fry, Borough Manager Beverly Morris, Borough Council President Wayne Hathaway and Mayor Andy Dubots. Mark Your Calendar: Senior Citizens Expos  We will once again host a series of Senior Citizens Expos to provide area seniors and their family members and caregivers convenient access to a wide range of information in one convenient location. The events will be held as follows: • Bradford: Friday, Aug. 4, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Sports and Fitness Gymnasium, Campus Drive, Bradford. • Kane: Friday, Sept. 8, at the Kane Community Center, 46 Fraley St., Kane. • Roulette: Friday, Oct. 13, at the Roulette Fire Hall, 12 River St., Roulette. Each event is free to attend and will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided and door prize drawings will be held at 12:30 p.m. at each event. Businesses, agencies and organizations that offer services to senior citizens are invited and encouraged to take part in the expo to connect with potential clients. Exhibitors share information about health care, insurance, nutrition and exercise, fire safety, financial planning, fraud protection, government services, hunting/fishing, personal safety and more. Health screenings will also be offered. For more information about the senior expos, or to register as an exhibitor, contact my office at 814-362-4400 or visit RepCauser.com. Community Meeting on Broadband Next Week  The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) is hosting a community meeting Thursday, July 20, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Port Allegany. The authority is developing plans to minimize the digital divide, supplying broadband service to unserved and underserved areas, and supporting digital skills enhancement. For details and registration, click here. The authority is also encouraging everyone to take part in the Pennsylvania Statewide Broadband Connectivity and Digital Access Survey. The private, confidential survey is available here and will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The authority was established by the Legislature to create a cohesive, coordinated effort to bring high-speed internet service to unserved and underserved areas of the Commonwealth, and to facilitate the distribution of federal infrastructure funds. More information about PBDA is available here. Expanding Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program  Legislation that would make more Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities eligible for property tax or rent relief was recently approved by the House.House Bill 1100 would increase income limits for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for homeowners and renters to $45,000. The bill would also raise the maximum amount each homeowner or renter can receive from $650 to $1,000. This bill will help expand the reach of property tax and rent relief to more than 150,000 additional individuals and help make Pennsylvania a more affordable place to live. The measure is pending the governor’s signature to become law. The expansion would be based on property tax and rent paid in 2023, with claims paid in 2024. The rebate program benefits eligible residents 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older. Currently, the income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Contact my office for additional information or assistance with filing an application. Information is also available online here. House Passes Bill to Relieve Teacher Shortages  By a unanimous vote, the House recently advanced legislation to address teacher shortages in Pennsylvania. House Bill 27 would extend a law passed during the COVID-19 pandemic that gave Pennsylvania schools flexibility in the hiring of substitute teachers. The bill would make permanent the ability for retired educators and staff to work as substitutes in our public schools for more than 20 days without any impact on their pension, as well as the use of locally issued temporary certification for substitutes for people who have completed the educator preparation program but have not yet graduated. The measure would also extend the portions of the law that allow for classroom monitor permits and prospective teachers who are in the process of completing their educator preparation program to also serve as substitutes until the end of the 2025-26 school year. The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration. Low-Income Water Assistance Program Now Available  The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is now accepting applications to help qualified Pennsylvanians maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services. Funded by the federal government, LIHWAP provides eligible households one crisis grant for drinking water service and one crisis grant for wastewater service of up to $2,500 each. Crisis situations can include past-due water bills, termination of utility service, and having received notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days. Receiving utility assistance through another program like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) does not prevent a household from receiving assistance through LIHWAP if the applicant meets LIHWAP eligibility criteria. If a household has previously received LIHWAP for one water type, they cannot receive another LIHWAP grant for the same water type but could receive it for the other. More information is available here.  Fun for All Ages Awaits at PA Fairs Summer is in full swing, and so is Pennsylvania fair season! Communities across the Commonwealth are hosting dozens of fairs featuring food, fun and entertainment, as well as competitive exhibits highlighting animals, produce, crops, crafts, baking and more. Be sure to mark your calendar for these local fairs: • Potter County Fair: July 30 to Aug. 5. • Cameron County Fair: Aug. 6-12. • McKean County Fair: Aug. 13-19. For information about other fairs across the state, check out the 2023 PA Fair Guide here. |