STATE REPRESENTATIVE Fall 2018 Joseph A. Petrarca STATE REPRESENTATIVE 220 Irvis Office Building P.O. Box 202055 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2055 Joseph A. Website: www.pahouse.com/Petrarca Email: [email protected] PETRARCA 5 5 TH L EGIS L ATIVE D ISTRICT CAPITOL OFFICE DISTRICT OFFICES 220 Irvis Office Building 239 Longfellow St. 620 N. Chestnut St. Latrobe Municipal Building P.O. Box 202055 Vandergrift, PA 15690 Derry, PA 15627 901 Jefferson St. Harrisburg, PA 17120-2055 (724) 567-6982 (724) 694-5298 Latrobe, PA 15650 (717) 787-5142 (724) 539-7560 PROTECTING VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING lpo.kl.0818 As a strong advocate in the fight against child sex trafficking, I introduced legislation that would exempt child victims of sex trafficking from Out of the 199 cases of sexual prosecution for the crimes committed against them. exploitation reported in 2017 in Pennsylvania, 54 involved minors, A related Senate bill was moving forward, so I amended my bill into S.B. according to the National Human 554 when it arrived in the House. As amended, the bill would automatically Trafficking Hotline. refer children who are suspected victims of sex trafficking to Children and Students and staff from Seton Hill Youth Services agencies. Children forced to have sex are not criminals, University visited the Capitol. they are victims who have been failed by the system. Senate Bill 554 also would require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to develop and implement protocols to provide safe Stay up to date! and stable housing, education and counseling to these young victims. Connect with me on The bill is currently being considered by the House. social media! This legislation would give children the support and services they need You can stay updated on to leave sex trafficking behind – and it would also train law enforcement my legislative activities and officers on how to approach these children and get them the help state-related issues that affect your life. Just “Like” they need. Advocating for action on sex trafficking at a Capitol my legislative Facebook news conference. page or sign up for email alerts on my webpage. ON-TIME BUDGET FOCUSES ON MISTER ROGERS HONORED IN /RepJoePetrarca EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE www.pahouse.com/Petrarca RESOLUTION, TRAIL DEVELOPMENT Earlier this year I introduced a resolution For the first time in several years, the 2018-19 (H.R. 724) that was adopted unanimously state budget passed in a timely and bipartisan in the House of Representatives. I paid manner without raising any taxes. The $32.7 tribute to Fred Rogers, the loveable and Investing in school safety billion budget allocates additional money for entertaining host of the television show Ensuring the safety of our community’s children and the security of our schools remain basic education funding, special and early Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, who appeared ever-important issues for me because of senseless school violence. education, and career and technical education, in many homes every weekday afternoon along with establishing more money for for decades. The resolution commemorated A new law establishes the School Security and Safety Program, a $60 million grant funding apprenticeship training. The sweater of Fred the 50th anniversary of the founding and program to provide assistance to school districts across the commonwealth as they assess Rogers. creation of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. safety procedures and work on areas of improvement in their schools. With a $100 million increase in basic education funding, an additional $15 million for special A movie about Rogers, starring Tom Hanks, is set to start filming this As schools across the commonwealth construct effective safety strategies, this grant education and $25 million for early education, we fall in Pittsburgh. In conjunction with this milestone anniversary, the program provides flexibility for how schools will use their allotted grant money. The are investing in our children and their learning. Mister Rogers Trail was created by the Pennsylvania Department options are wide-ranging, including metal detectors, school counselors, entranceway of Community and Economic Development, Visit Pittsburgh and the security improvements, school resource officers and much more. Any school that applies Furthermore, $40 million will be used for PA Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, along with input from Fred Rogers for this grant program is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $25,000 for safety efforts. SMART, which incorporates computer science, Productions and the McFeely-Rogers Foundation. I am committed to working with district officials in our area to assure our schools receive Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or appropriate funding to keep our students, teachers and faculty members safe each and STEM, and workforce development. The three-day trail includes locations in Latrobe, Ligonier and every day. Pittsburgh. In between there are stops at Rogers’ resting place The investments we are making today will pay and WQED Studios in Pittsburgh, where the show was filmed and dividends in the future, as our young people produced. CAPITOL OFFICE DISTRICT OFFICES will be prepared to go to college or enter the 220 Irvis Office Building 239 Longfellow St. 620 N. Chestnut St. Latrobe Municipal Building workforce as educated, skilled and capable The trail has visits at museums, memorials, and Rogers’ home and P.O. Box 202055 Vandergrift, PA 15690 Derry, PA 15627 901 Jefferson St. church. It’s a wonderful way to keep Mister Rogers’ achievements Latrobe, PA 15650 workers ready to support families while living Harrisburg, PA 17120-2055 (724) 567-6982 (724) 694-5298 and memory alive. (717) 787-5142 (724) 539-7560 and working in Pennsylvania. Bill honoring 1st Sgt. Alexander Kelly Medical Real ID Update marijuana As PennDOT prepares to begin offering federally compliant Real ID cards one step closer to becoming reality beginning in March, some state residents can apply for pre-verification to allow them to expedite the approval process. A bill I introduced that designates the naming of a bridge Kelly was born update after an African-American Civil War soldier awarded the on April 7, 1840 Pennsylvania’s To be eligible for pre-approval, you must have applied for a Pennsylvania driver’s Congressional Medal of Honor unanimously passed the in Saltsburg Medical Marijuana license or photo identification for the first time after 2003. To verify that your House in June. and serves as Program is up documentation is available, visit www.dmv.pa.gov and click on “Real ID” and then, an important and running. Dispensaries and “Pre-Verification.” House Bill 2420, which was requested by American historical figure grower/processors who were Legion Post 57 and Saltsburg Borough officials, would Otherwise, once the Real ID rollout begins next year you will need to visit a within the 55th approved in the first round of honor Alexander Kelly, an American hero who enlisted Speaking in the House chamber in honor of PennDOT licensing center with the following if you chose to obtain a Real ID Legislative 1st Sgt. Alexander Kelly. permitting applications have and rose to the rank of first sergeant in the Sixth U.S. card: proof of your identity, proof of Social Security number, two proofs of current District, as well opened their doors and the Colored Troops. Pennsylvania residency and, if applicable, a proof of legal name change. Starting as throughout the commonwealth and country. state Department of Health in September, all PennDOT license centers will be equipped to verify these If voted into law, a portion of Pennsylvania Route will soon be issuing a second Kelly was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery documents for customers who plan to apply for a Real ID in 2019. 286 would be named the 1st Sgt. Alexander Kelly round of permits. More than in seizing the battle flag and rallying the troops during Memorial Bridge. It is located on what is also known as 52,000 patients have registered Please note that you do not have to get a Real ID; it’s up to the individual to a time of confusion. After the war, Kelly served as a Washington Street, over the Kiskiminetas River between to participate in the program. determine if he or she would like to get one. However, beginning in October 2020, watchman for the Pittsburgh Police. He died on June 19, Saltsburg Borough in Indiana County and in Loyalhanna the new cards (or a federal identification like a valid passport or military ID) will be 1907, and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in Pittsburgh. The Medical Marijuana Township in Westmoreland County. required to board commercial flights or to enter federal buildings. Advisory Board has added three conditions to the list of The new identification cards will cost around $60 upon first issuance, and can ailments which may be treated be renewed every four years for the standard renewal fee of $30.50. For more Investing in the 55th Organizations receive by medical marijuana. If you information, visit www.penndot.gov/REALID or contact my office with questions or believe your condition may be for assistance. Legislative District environmental awards treated with medical marijuana, Bringing money back home to our communities is important to I want to congratulate the Loyalhanna Watershed the Department of Health I was proud me. It’s vital to see local taxpayer dollars being returned to the Association and the Southwestern Pennsylvania website contains lots of useful to welcome region. Funding goes to a variety of projects, including education Commission Water Resource Center on receiving information including how to city of and repairing roadways. the 2018 Governor’s Award for Environmental apply for a patient card. Latrobe Excellence. officials to Here are some of the awards provided in our area this year: Additionally, on Aug.