Sep. 19, 2024

 
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#Listrak\DateStampLong# The latest news from the State Capitol

In this Edition:
  •   Questions Plentiful at Title Protection Seminar
  •   New Law to Boost Reporting of Data Breaches
  •   Treasury’s Transparency Portal Reveals County-Level Data
  •   Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
  •   September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
  •   Sign Up for Veterans Breakfast
  •   Busy Fall Underway in PA
 
 
Questions Plentiful at Title Protection Seminar

Home title theft is a scary type of fraud in which someone steals the title to your home. On Thursday, I hosted a seminar in partnership with Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay to discuss a fraud alert service. More than 150 people attended, and many asked thought-provoking questions.

Title theft can lead to equity loans or lines of credit issued in your name without your knowledge. The only silver lining is that deed theft is not as common as other types of identity theft and internet-enabled crimes.

My thanks to the Recorder of Deeds personnel who helped to bring this presentation together. Learn more about their notification service here.
   
 
New Law to Boost Reporting of Data Breaches


The Office of Attorney General has launched an online portal to streamline the process for companies and other entities required to report data breaches under a new state law adopted earlier this year.  

Act 33 of 2024, which takes effect later this month, requires reporting of data breaches impacting more than 500 Pennsylvanians. The companies must also provide impacted individuals with 12 months of free credit monitoring and access to a free credit report, if the breach involves the person’s name and Social Security number, bank account number, or driver’s license or state ID number.

The portal is available here.
 
 
Treasury’s Transparency Portal Reveals County-Level Data
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s award-winning Transparency Portal now includes details about how residents of every county across the state are taking advantage of the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program, the PA ABLE Savings Program for people with disabilities, and Keystone Scholars, which provides a $100 jumpstart for education savings for every baby born in Pennsylvania.

The county-level data feature also shows how much of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property in Treasury’s care is available to claim in each county.

Pennsylvanians can explore all the portal’s features to dive deep into the state budget, state contracts and more.
 
 
Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2022, on average, three children under age 13 were killed and 429 were injured in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also in 2022, 39% of children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.

As Child Passenger Safety Week draws to a close on Saturday, parents and caregivers are reminded of the importance of properly restraining children in vehicles.

The Commonwealth’s primary seat belt law requires all vehicle occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children up to the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Parents are also reminded that due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.

Selecting the appropriate car seat for your child’s age and size is vital to its effectiveness. For tips on selecting a car seat, click here.
 
 
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Suicide claims the lives of over 2,000 Pennsylvanians each year. That’s an average of five lives lost EACH DAY.

Nationwide, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with one suicide occurring every 11.1 minutes. There are more than 1 million suicide attempts each year. This tragedy affects ALL ages, races, genders, sexuality, denominations, incomes and educational levels. It can affect anyone and everyone.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remember and honor those lost to suicide, as well as support suicide attempt survivors and all who experience suicidal ideation, mental health challenges and crisis every day.

It is important to remember help is available. Just dial 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

To learn more about suicide risks and how to help someone in crisis, visit www.preventsuicidepa.org.
 
 
Sign Up for Veterans Breakfast

Join me at my annual Veterans’ Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 8, from 8-10 a.m. at the Lower Swatara Fire Department, 1350 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown. This event is open to active-duty military personnel and veterans.

Accommodations can be made for disabled attendees requiring assistance. Bring flags that either need to be properly retired or interment flags to be donated to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Registration is required. Call 717-534-1323 to register.                                                 
 
 
Busy Fall Underway in PA
The Hummelstown Arts Festival on Saturday had nearly perfect weather, which contributed to the sizable crowds shopping products from local artisans.
A much-needed drainage project will soon be starting at the intersection of Ridge Road and Town Square Drive in Derry Township. These improvements will help motorists navigate the area more easily following major storms.
Lower Dauphin Communities That Care’s Books on Board gave me a tour of its East Hanover Township route Tuesday. Stay tuned for more information and a video from this visit.
On Tuesday, I joined Gov. Josh Shapiro at a convenience store to watch some of the early sales of canned cocktails like High Noon and Surfside. Legislative changes now allow for sales of these products in locations beyond state-run liquor stores.
Volunteers, including myself, packed 450 boxes of food Wednesday for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which is marking Hunger Action Month by restocking food pantries’ shelves.                                                 
 
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