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In this Update:

• License Plate Replacement Events Scheduled
• School Safety Grants Awarded
• Training PA’s Workforce for Available Positions
• Increasing the Number of Firefighters in Pennsylvania
• Spring Gobbler Season Begins April 27
• Around the Capitol

FREE License Plate Replacement Events

Pennsylvania license plates that have lost reflectivity, are peeling or blistering, are discolored, and/or are unreadable from 50 feet away are eligible for replacement at no cost through these upcoming events. Stop by to have your license plate checked. Police officers will be on hand to determine if the plate needs to be replaced and help with the necessary paperwork. After the event, PennDOT will mail replacement plates directly to applicants.

Saturday, May 4 from 1-3 p.m.
Shippensburg Police Department • 60 W Burd St., Shippensburg

Saturday, May 11, from1-3 p.m.
Silver Spring District Office • 4 Flowers Dr., Mechanicsburg

Saturday, June 1 from 1-3 p.m.
Family Life Center • 27 W Shortcut Rd., Newport

Registration for these events is encouraged but not required. Register Here

School Safety Grants Awarded

More than $150 million in School Safety Grants have been approved this week for students across the commonwealth. Pennsylvania’s School Safety & Security Grant Program was originally established in 2018, providing for school entities to be safer places for students, staff and visitors. Most recently through Act 33 of 2023, changes were made to strengthen and expand the program, which is overseen by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, School Safety and Security Committee.

Meritorious Grants ranging from $30,000 to $45,000 were awarded to each of the 497 applicants from all 67 counties that applied. The award amount is based on the school size. Funding can be used to address safety and security through security assessments, violence prevention and all-hazards plans.  Additionally, grants were approved through the Competitive School Safety and Security Grant Funding, and Targeted School Safety and Security Grant Programs.

Schools in the 34^th District will receive $1.64M:

• Cumberland Perry AVTS- $391,573
• Shippensburg Area SD – $450,000
• Upper Dauphin Area SD – $85,000
• West Perry SD – $393,409
• Al Huda School – $75,000
• Carlisle Christian Academy – $70,000
• Harrisburg Academy – $75,000
• Patrick School – $27,000
• West Shore Christian Academy – $75,000

Learn more HERE.

Training PA’s Workforce for Available Positions

Complementing Senate Republicans’ efforts to protect Pennsylvania jobs, support is available for community colleges, trade or tech schools, school districts and nonprofits through the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program.

The program is designed to help companies identify and train a skilled workforce for existing positions or ones that will be open soon. It is also designed to advance capacity for local and regional manufacturers and increase awareness of manufacturing career opportunities for youth or those with barriers.

Grants may be used for professional services/consultants, internships, equipment purchases, shop modifications, program development, marketing, domestic travel and salaries. Learn more and apply online.

Increasing the Number of Firefighters in Pennsylvania

The Senate approved a bill aimed at increasing the number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania by reforming the certification process without sacrificing quality or safety.

Current firefighter applicants must complete four training modules totaling 188 hours. They then must pass a cumulative test covering all four modules. Senate Bill 1101 would enable applicants to be tested following each of the four modules.

In the 1970s, the commonwealth had as many as 300,000 volunteer firefighters. There currently are fewer than 38,000 volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania.

Spring Gobbler Season Begins April 27

On Saturday, April 27, spring gobbler season opens with a half-day hunt for junior hunters and mentored hunters 16 and under. All participants must be accompanied by adults, and hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon.

The regular season runs from May 4-31. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon from May 4-18 and 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset from May 20-31.

Approximately 172,000 people hunt spring turkeys in Pennsylvania every year. Last season, hunters harvested about 39,500 gobblers – an increase from 35,700 in 2022 and 28,100 in 2021. Information about spring turkey hunting rules and regulations, for youth and regular hunts, is available here.

Around the Capitol

Hosting school groups at the Capitol is among my favorite things to do. This week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with students from Sporting Hill Elementary School as well as Saint Patrick School to discuss civics and government, show them the beautiful building that I’m blessed to work in, and maybe spark some interest in future legislative service.

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