Apr. 16, 2018

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Weekly Roundup
The latest news from the State Capitol
                          
Committee Approves Bill to Get Able-Bodied Medical Assistance Recipients to Work

Click here to view video.

The House Health Committee, on which I serve, approved House Bill 2138 this past week to establish work requirements for Medical Assistance (MA) recipients. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

Under the bill, able-bodied citizens enrolled in MA would either have to be employed or attending a job training program for 20 weeks or more, or complete 12 job training program-related activities in a month.

There would be exemptions under the bill. They are:
  • An enrollee who is attending high school full time.
  • Someone receiving temporary or long-term disability benefits.
  • A resident who is under 20 years of age or those who are 65 and older.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Residents who receive SSI.
  • An individual residing in a mental health or correctional institution.
  • A resident experiencing a crisis, serious medical condition or temporary condition which prohibits employment, such as domestic violence or a substance abuse disorder.
  • Those persons acting as a primary caregiver to a dependent under 6 years of age or who is permanently disabled.
                
         
State Parks, Forests Seek Volunteers

If you are seeking a way to volunteer and spend time outdoors, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Conservation Volunteer program encourages individuals to check out their local parks and forests for a wide range of opportunities.

The DCNR program is in addition to a volunteer initiative developed by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF). Under the PPFF umbrella, 41 chapters or “friends of” groups have formed in individual state parks and forests, focusing their energy on the local park or forest in their neighborhood, such as Gifford Pinchot State Park and Kings Gap Environmental Education Center.

Opportunities also exist in the “Stewards of Penn’s Woods” program. More information on that program, which allows volunteers to set their own schedule, is available here.

Pennsylvania has 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forest land. Volunteers are an integral part of maintaining these natural resources.
                  
         
Recognizing York Countians Who Honor Vietnam War Veterans

Click here to view video. 
 
On Wednesday, I was proud to speak in the House on the many efforts York Countians are taking to honor our Vietnam War Veterans. My resolution, House Resolution 774, was passed unanimously. Please watch the above video to learn more.
                  
         
Protecting Children from Abuse

To help raise awareness of child abuse and seek ways to prevent this crime, the House passed House Resolution 757, which designates April 2018 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pennsylvania.

In 2016, 4,416 children were victims of abuse or neglect in Pennsylvania, with 46 of those children dying as a result. Additionally, reports of child abuse or child neglect hit an all-time high that year with 44,359 cases. This illustrates that the public at large is becoming more vigilant and taking their responsibility to report seriously.

Over the last several years, the House has passed nearly two dozen laws to make abusers pay the price, improve child abuse reporting and investigations, expand due process protections for those wrongly accused, share information to increase protection and strengthen prevention efforts.

Many of those laws will continue to be re-examined and revisited to ensure that our laws are among the best in the nation to protect some of our most vulnerable members of society.
                  
         
Upcoming Bike Derby to Encourage Safe Cycling

I will team up with the American Trauma Society, PA Division, to help children learn about bicycle safety during the popular Dillsburg PickleFest on Mother’s Day weekend. The bike derby will be held in the parking lot of Jack Panas Insurance, located at 300 N. Baltimore St., on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. The parking lot is located just off Greenbriar Lane, where PickleFest will be held.

In 2015, there were almost 467,000 bicycle-related injuries in the United States. Children (those aged 5-14) and adolescents (15-19 years of age) accounted for one-third of the injured riders, the highest of all age groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ensuring a child has a helmet that fits properly is one of the easiest ways to reduce to the risk of brain and head injuries, as well as fatalities. Children who attend will also have the opportunity to ride through a bicycle safety course, receive information on bike safety laws and have their helmets fitted properly. All children must bring his or her own bike, helmet and proper shoes, such as sneakers.

For more information, call my office at (717) 432-0792.
                  
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repkeefer.com
Office Locations
12 North Baltimore Street,Dillsburg, PA 17019 | 717-432-0792
422 Irvis Office, PO Box 202092, Harrisburg PA 17120-2092 | (717) 783-8783 / 3-8783
Email Address: DKeefer@pahousegop.com
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