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In this Update:

• Rothman Bill to Recognize Diwali Passes Senate Unanimously
• Senate Passes Bill to Protect Newborns
• Increasing Accountability and Disaster Response Capability
• Senate Votes to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation
• Broadband Grant Program Opens May 10
• Free Tick Testing for All Pennsylvanians

Rothman Bill to Recognize Diwali Passes Senate Unanimously

My legislation to recognize Diwali as a holiday in Pennsylvania passed the state Senate unanimously yesterday. Senate Bill 402 does not require school, government or employer closings.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians celebrate Diwali each year, including many residents of the 34th Senatorial District. Recognizing Diwali upholds and celebrates our Commonwealth’s rich cultural diversity.

Diwali, the “festival of light,” is a time of reflection and gathering for Pennsylvania’s nearly 200,000 South Asian residents. This year, Diwali will be observed on Nov. 12. The measure heads to the House for consideration.

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Newborns

The Senate unanimously passed legislation to protect babies whose parents are unable to care for them. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Bill 267 would expand Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law to allow parents to surrender their unharmed baby at participating urgent care centers. The urgent care centers will ensure the newborn is transported to a hospital and placed in the care of a health care provider.

Currently, people may bring their newborn (up to 28 days old) to any Pennsylvania hospital, to a police officer at a police station or to an emergency services provider at an EMS station. The Department of Health estimates that 50 babies have been saved by Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law since 2003.

Increasing Accountability and Disaster Response Capability

Legislation requiring Senate confirmation of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director was approved by a bipartisan Senate vote. Senate Bill 433 would increase accountability and ensure the agency is prepared to deal with emergencies efficiently and effectively.

PEMA is the lead emergency coordination agency in the commonwealth tasked with guaranteeing the safety of 13 million residents. This includes oversight of 911 centers and the Emergency Alert System, as well as hazardous materials and incidents involving five nuclear power plants.

Five state agencies with fewer employees than PEMA require Senate confirmation. The bill is before the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Votes to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation

The Senate approved a bill to help protect Pennsylvania senior citizens from financial exploitation scams using information that is already available within state government.

Under Senate Bill 137, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General would notify the Department of Aging about any investigations or enforcement actions involving someone age 65 or older and related to the Pennsylvania Telemarketer Registration Act.

The improved information sharing would enable the Department of Aging to deliver warnings to local area agencies on aging in counties across the commonwealth while ensuring strict adherence to confidentiality rules.

Senate Bill 137 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Broadband Grant Program Opens May 10

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority recently approved the Pennsylvania Broadband Infrastructure Program which will provide $200 million in funding to businesses, nonprofits, local governments and economic development organizations.

This program will fund line extension and development projects, as well as large-scale regional infrastructure projects. Upon completion, projects must deliver service that meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 Megabits per second, with prioritization being given to fiber-optic deployment.

The application period will begin May 10 and will close July 10. View program guidelines here.

Free Tick Testing for All Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of Lyme disease cases. As we continue to fight Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in the commonwealth, East Stroudsburg University offers a valuable resource for all Pennsylvanians.

The university has a tick lab, which provides free testing on ticks for harmful diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and more. Send a tick sample to the lab and receive the test results that are often necessary evidence for doctors to treat you and increase your chance of staying healthy.

This week, the Senate passed a bill to require school officials to notify a student’s parents or guardian if a tick is removed from them at school and inform them of the symptoms of Lyme disease. The bill also calls for schools to provide the tick to parents or guardians if they would like to send it to the lab for testing.

To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and then pull upward with a steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

For more information about tick-borne diseases or how to submit a tick for testing here.

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