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In this Update:

• PA Taxpayer-Funded Childcare Programs Face More Accountability
• New Law Helps Protect Children from Online Exploitation
• Home Heating Assistance Program Accepting Applications
• Cold Weather Life Jacket Law in Effect
• State Police Accepting Applications for Youth Camp
• Motorboat Fuel Consumption Survey Underway

PA Taxpayer-Funded Childcare Programs Face More Accountability

Taxpayers have seen childcare fraud and abuse uncovered in other states, and we’ve passed a new law to strengthen oversight of Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded childcare programs.

Act 113 of 2026 requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide annual reports detailing inspections, investigations, enforcement actions and financial oversight activities related to childcare facilities and programs receiving public funding.

The reports will cover facility inspections, violations, complaints, investigations and enforcement actions. It would also require reporting on taxpayer-funded childcare payments, improper payments identified and efforts to recover misspent funds.

More than a billion taxpayer dollars are spent annually on childcare in Pennsylvania, and this law will help ensure those funds are spent properly.

New Law Helps Protect Children from Online Exploitation

A new law I supported provides critical resources to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors working to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

Act 71 of 2026 expands the Investigation and Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children Program, providing grants to help pay for investigators, prosecutors, forensic specialists and education for professionals working on cases involving human trafficking, sexual offenses, child sexual abuse, unlawful contact with minors and the sexual exploitation of children using online platforms.

The bill is called “Alicia’s Law” in honor of Alicia Kozak (Kozakiewicz), a Pittsburgh-area resident who was abducted, sexually assaulted and tortured at age 13 by a man she met online in what is recognized as the nation’s first known internet-facilitated child abduction case. Read more about Alicia’s Law.

Home Heating Assistance Program Accepting Applications

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application period is now open.

Eligible applicants can receive a one-time cash grant to help pay a heating bill. Grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income and fuel type and are sent directly to the utility provider or fuel company.

Families experiencing an emergency related to household heat may be eligible to receive additional funds through a crisis grant. Learn more about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program here. 

Families eligible for LIHEAP are automatically eligible for weatherization assistance as well. Services available at no cost to applicants include energy audits, diagnostic air flow testing and energy usage evaluation. Based on audit findings, remediation may also be provided at no cost, including attic insulation, heater repair/replacement, weather stripping and caulking, and other air-sealing measures.

Interested Cumberland and Dauphin county residents should contact 610.521.8770. Perry County residents should contact 1.800.332.6701 for more information and to apply.

Cold Weather Life Jacket Requirement in Effect

Nearly 80% of Pennsylvania boating fatalities occurred because boaters were not wearing life jackets. With that in mind, please note the state’s cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect through April 30.

Boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet or on any kayak, canoe or paddleboard.

Even on warm days from late fall through early spring, water temperatures can remain frigid on rivers, lakes and streams. Wearing a life jacket helps you survive cold-water shock, which occurs when a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water resulting in an involuntary gasp where water is often inhaled and swimming is difficult. Learn more from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

State Police Accepting Applications for Youth Camp

Pennsylvania residents aged 15 to 17 interested in a career in law enforcement or the military can apply now to attend the State Police Youth Week camp taking place June 6-12, 2027, at Messiah University.

Held in collaboration with the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Pennsylvania American Legion, the camp provides cadets hands-on learning experiences and physical fitness training to build their understanding of law enforcement as well as their confidence, teamwork, self-esteem and leadership abilities.

Candidates should be physically fit with a strong academic record. Local American Legion posts sponsor cadets and cover the registration fees. For more information and an application, visit the State Police Youth Week webpage.

Motorboat Fuel Consumption Survey Underway

If you own a motorboat registered in Pennsylvania, you might have received an invitation from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to take part in its annual fuel consumption survey of motorboat registrants. Participation will help support PA boating.  

The results will be used to determine the Oil Company Franchise Tax refund that PFBC receives on behalf of registered boaters. The refund helps pay for boat access area maintenance, buoys, beacons, signs and other water markers, boating safety education, law enforcement and more.

The voluntary survey will be available into mid-November. A random sampling of about 20,000 motorboat registrants will be asked via postcard or email to report their boat fuel consumption from April through September of this year. Learn more at the commission’s website.