| Mehaffie Message |
| The latest news from the State Capitol |
Health Expo
Friday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to noon
Hummelstown Chemical Fire Company No. 1
249 E. Main St., Hummelstown.
More than 50 representatives from state and local agencies and the health care industry will be on hand to speak with attendees about programs and services as well as answer questions or concerns. A variety of free health screenings will also be offered. Admission to the Health Expo is free and no advance registration is required. A full list of scheduled vendors is available at RepMehaffie.com.
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Active Shooter Safety Seminar
Thursday, May 31, from 6-8 p.m.
Lower Swatara Volunteer Fire Department
1350 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown.
The free event will feature a presentation by the Derry Township Police Department on survival methods and responses that can be employed during an active shooter scenario. Seating for the event is limited and registration is required. Residents can register by calling my office at 717-534-1323 by May 24.
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Capital Area Greenbelt Improvements Coming Soon
I recently joined the Dauphin County Commissioners, the Capital Area Greenbelt Association and other state, county and local officials at the groundbreaking event to celebrate the more than $7 million in improvements coming to the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile loop trail that runs through and around Harrisburg, including parts of the 106th District. Over the next year, safety improvements at seven intersections and a connecting trail to Fort Hunter Park will be constructed. Click here to learn more about the project plans. I know many in the 106th District are excited to hear about this project, as the Greenbelt is a heavily used trail. All of the improvements are expected to be completed by mid-2019.
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Workplace Harassment, Misconduct Focus of Press Conference
Working to ensure Pennsylvania has the most effective laws to address sexual and workplace-related harassment, the House Republican Caucus last week unveiled new legislation to further protect employees. Workplace harassment and misconduct are wrong and must be stopped because no one should ever be uncomfortable going to work. The two-piece legislative package would create a task force to investigate the laws, practices and procedures surrounding harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace. This comprehensive review would reveal any inadequacies in current laws, regulations and policies surrounding this subject and produce a report to the General Assembly with its findings and recommendations. A second measure would review anti-harassment and discrimination laws and policies affecting Commonwealth employees. To begin that review process, the House Labor and Industry Committee will hold a fact-finding hearing on April 24.
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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.
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Honoring the Free Masons
Last week, a resolution I introduced to honor the 200th anniversary of the Perseverance Royal Arch Chapter No. 21 garnered unanimous support in the House of Representatives. Perseverance Royal Arch Chapter No. 21 is one of the oldest chapters of the Free and Accepted Masons in the Commonwealth. The chapter’s first meeting was held in Harrisburg in April 1818. Congratulations!
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| I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Hershey Area Friends of Scouting breakfast and to have the opportunity to commend the Boy Scouts and their leaders on all on the important work they do in our communities. |
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| Music in Our Schools Month is an exciting time of year in the state Capitol! Performing ensembles from schools across the state bring their talents to Harrisburg. The halls are literally filled with music for the entire month of March. This year, I was so proud to welcome two schools from the 106th District. The Lower Dauphin High School Choir and the Middletown Area High School Jazz Band both wowed crowds of employees and visitors during their performances. |
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| Congratulations to the staff and educators at KinderCare Learning Center in Hershey! The center recently moved up to become a four-star facility under the Keystone STARS Program. The Keystone STARS program, operated by the state Office of Child Development and Early Learning, sets quality requirements for early childhood educators based on a four-star rating system. The standards address staff qualifications and professional development, early learning programs, partnerships with family and the community, and leadership and management. I currently have pending legislation in the House that would require KinderCare and other early learning facilities in our district to proudly display their star ratings in a prominent location. |
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| I had a great time celebrating Hilda Hoke’s 96th birthday at the Royalton Senior Center. I presented her with House of Representatives citation marking the milestone. Hilda’s secret to longevity is clearly her sense of humor. She had me laughing the whole time with her jokes. Happy Birthday, Hilda! |
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