28 de junio de 2023
HARRISBURG − Junio 28, 2023 − Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Representative Perry Warren (D-31) announced that Senate Bill 442 and House Bill 735, each of which would establish a task force to address rising flood insurance premiums, were voted unanimously out of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee yesterday.
“Eight years ago, I introduced what was then HB 1299 and today is SB 442, to help Pennsylvanians find relief from rising flood insurance premiums,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Then, as now, residents in neighborhoods along the Delaware River were facing skyrocketing flood insurance costs that threatened their ability to protect their homes and made it almost impossible for them to sell.”
Reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program that Congress passed in 2012, called the Briggert-Waters Act, phased out the federal subsidy for flood insurance costs and directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to revise its flood plain maps. Those new maps included many more homes in the flood zones and requiring flood insurance.
A finales de 2014 y principios de 2015, la senadora Santarsiero celebró asambleas municipales y reuniones vecinales, así como debates con las partes interesadas y los cargos electos locales. En esas reuniones quedó claro que la mejor opción a nivel estatal era crear un grupo de trabajo para examinar el problema e identificar soluciones estatales.
SB 442 would establish the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force to explore ways to lower flood insurance premiums and incentivize communities to invest in flood prevention measures. The task force would consist of one appointee each from the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Insurance Commissioner, Secretary of Banking and Securities, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Majority Leader, and House Minority Leader.
El grupo de trabajo estaría facultado para revisar y analizar la legislación, los procedimientos, las prácticas, los procesos y las normas existentes en relación con la administración de los seguros contra inundaciones. Además, el grupo de trabajo celebraría audiencias públicas y aceptaría comentarios por escrito del público.
El grupo de trabajo tendría seis meses para emitir un informe final que incluyera recomendaciones sobre:
- posibles programas para ofrecer descuentos en las primas de seguros contra inundaciones;
- programas potenciales, ya sea mediante el mecanismo de descuentos en las primas u otras desgravaciones, que creen incentivos para que los gobiernos locales emprendan o continúen los esfuerzos de mitigación;
- la aplicación de los cambios necesarios en los estatutos y prácticas, políticas y procedimientos estatales relativos a la administración del seguro contra inundaciones;
- formas de educar al público sobre los riesgos de inundación y las técnicas de mitigación;
- cómo informar a los ciudadanos de Pensilvania sobre las opciones de seguro contra inundaciones en el momento de la compra;
- recomendaciones para aumentar el número de pólizas de seguro contra inundaciones adquiridas por los ciudadanos de Pensilvania.
“When I was a township supervisor in Lower Makefield Township after three catastrophic floods in 2004, 2005 and 2006, we took local action implementing new engineering controls, like back flow preventers, and adopted a nationally-recognized Low Impact Development Ordinance to reduce stormwater runoff,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Those are the types of things that the state could potentially incentivize local governments to do to reduce costs for residents.”
Senator Santarsiero continued, “This is an issue that impacts Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. Communities along Pennsylvania’s rivers, creeks and streams have been devastated by plummeting property values due to unaffordable flood insurance premiums.”
Members on both sides of the aisle echoed support for the bill noting that their constituents are also experiencing increasing premiums, devastating flooding, and the difficult financial decision of whether to buy insurance they may not be able to afford or risk financial ruin from a significant flooding event.
Representative Perry Warren, who succeeded Senator Santarsiero in the House, has continued his predecessor’s work on this issue, authoring House Bill 735. HB 735 passed the House in Mayo and was also voted favorably out of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee.
“Our respective districts have among the most waterfront property in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Warren. “We need to create a more equitable way to tabulate flood insurance premiums, and our current system is becoming unsustainable for our neighbors who live on or near the flood plain. These bills will help create solutions.”
Either or both bills need to be passed by the Senate and sent to the House for passage before being presented to the Governor for his signature.
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Mayo 28, 2020
BUCKS COUNTY – Mayo 28, 2020 – Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) were joined by State Representatives Perry Warren (D-31), Tina Davis (D-141), John Galloway (D-140) and Wendy Ullman (D-143) in asking Governor Wolf to issue an executive order permitting personal services businesses, such as barbers and salons, located in counties in the yellow or green phase to reopen with enhanced safety measures.
The letter references a plan for reopening of the personal service industry used in neighboring Ohio, developed by a personal services workgroup at the request of Ohio’s Governor. The Ohio plan includes a list of requirements and best practices for businesses to implement, such as maintaining six feet of social distancing (except between the client and employee when appropriate), requiring employees to wear facial coverings (with some exceptions), requiring businesses to clean high-touch items after each use, and requiring employees to wear gloves and dispose of gloves in between tasks.
“During a productive call with 45 barbers and hair stylists from across the Commonwealth, they shared the process for reopening their industry that is being implemented in Ohio,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Based on the precautions they recommend, paired with the hundreds of hours of training that licensed professionals in the industry receive in sanitation, sterilization and hygiene, I believe it is time to safely reopen this sector of Pennsylvania’s economy.”
“I have heard from many hair, nail, and tanning salon owners in my district, the majority of these salons being women- and minority-owned, who are ready and able to implement these expanded safety guidelines and return to serving our communities,” said Sen. Collett. “It is important that we continue to generate and propose creative solutions and compromises so that businesses in yellow phase counties can begin to resume operations and rebuild while we continue to protect the public health.”
The full text of the letter to Governor Wolf can be found here.
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4 de octubre de 2019
NEWTOWN - 4 de octubre de 2019 - El senador estatal Steve Santarsiero (D-10), los representantes estatales Tina Davis (D-141) y Perry Warren (D-31), y miembros de la familia del fallecido Kayden Mancuso, celebraron una conferencia de prensa esta tarde para discutir el SB 868, y el proyecto de ley de la Cámara de Representantes que lo acompaña, también conocido como "Ley de Kayden".
Kayden Mancuso, una niña de siete años de Lower Makefield Township, fue asesinada en agosto de 2018 por su padre biológico durante una visita no supervisada ordenada por el tribunal otorgada después de una disputa de custodia de un año. El proyecto de ley lleva el nombre de Kayden en su honor, ya que los legisladores del condado de Bucks han estado trabajando estrechamente con miembros de su familia en la creación de esta legislación para evitar que otras familias experimenten la misma pérdida horrible.
La Ley de Kayden proporcionará a los niños en el sistema de tribunales de familia con una mayor protección legal mediante la adición a las pruebas que los jueces deben tener en cuenta en la toma de decisiones de custodia y visitas, el establecimiento de una audiencia de pruebas para investigar a fondo las denuncias de abuso, e instando a la Oficina Administrativa de los Tribunales de Pensilvania para poner en práctica un programa de formación continua, basada en la evidencia para los jueces y otro personal de los tribunales pertinentes en relación con el abuso infantil y la violencia doméstica, que es crucial para aquellos cuya toma de decisiones afecta potencialmente escenarios de vida o muerte todos los días.
"Es nuestra mayor responsabilidad como legisladores para proteger la salud y el bienestar de nuestros hijos", dijo el senador Santarsiero. "En este momento, Pensilvania no está haciendo lo suficiente para garantizar que los niños que pasan por procedimientos de custodia en nuestros tribunales de familia estén protegidos. Los derechos de los padres no deben prevalecer sobre la seguridad de los niños involucrados, especialmente en los casos en que las pruebas de abuso o comportamiento inestable son tan frecuentes."
"Como legislador, estoy profundamente preocupado por cómo los tribunales están fallando a nuestros hijos al ignorar las señales de advertencia y, como resultado, ponerlos en peligro", dijo el representante Davis. "Hace tiempo que necesitamos reformas serias en el sistema actual y esta legislación da un gran paso para abordar estas cuestiones y, con suerte, salvará vidas".
"La notable valentía, persistencia... y amor de la familia de Kayden ha llevado a la introducción de la Ley de Kayden, que garantizará que la salud y la seguridad del niño sean la primera prioridad en los procedimientos de custodia", dijo el representante Warren.
Los legisladores estuvieron acompañados en la convocatoria de prensa por miembros de la familia de Kayden, que han sido firmes defensores de una mayor protección de los niños implicados en disputas domésticas por la custodia. Tras la muerte de Kayden, la familia lanzó Kayden's Korner en su memoria, con la misión de "influir en la reforma judicial del sistema de tribunales de familia a través de la educación del gobierno sobre los signos de abuso doméstico, arrojar luz sobre el impacto de las enfermedades mentales y presionar al gobierno para que la salud y la seguridad de los niños sea la preocupación singular del sistema judicial."
"Es muy alentador contar con este apoyo. Creo que todos somos conscientes de que queda mucho, mucho por hacer", afirma Thomas Giglio, abuelo materno de Kayden.
"Quiero dar las gracias al senador Santarsiero, al representante Warren y al representante Davis. No estaríamos aquí sin ustedes", dijo Brian Sherlock, padrastro de Kayden. "Todo lo que hacemos aquí es agridulce. Ojalá no tuviéramos que estar aquí. No pararemos hasta que esto se convierta en ley aquí en Pensilvania y en todo el país. Creo que si esta ley hubiera estado en vigor el pasado agosto, Kayden aún estaría aquí".
Para seguir abordando la cuestión de la custodia de los hijos en Pennsylvania, el Comité de Política Demócrata del Senado, co-presidido por el senador Santarsiero, celebrará una audiencia de política el jueves17 de octubre. La audiencia se centrará en SB 868, con una agenda en breve.
La reunión comenzará a las 11.00 horas y concluirá a las 13.00 horas en el Lower Makefield Township Community Center, 1550 Oxford Valley Road, en Yardley, Pensilvania. Esta reunión está abierta al público y a la prensa.
Aquí encontrará un enlace a la legislación del senador Santarsiero, SB 868. Vea el análisis completo del proyecto de ley aquí.
Aquí encontrará un enlace a la nota de copatrocinio de los representantes Davis y Warren.
Aquí encontrará un enlace al Korner de Kayden.
El senador Santarsiero tiene oficinas de distrito en Doylestown y Newtown y puede ser contactado por correo electrónico en SenatorSantarsiero@pasenate.com. Visite su sitio web en www.senatorstevesantarsiero.com.
La diputada Davis tiene una oficina de distrito en Levittown. Visite su sitio web en http://www.pahouse.com/Davis.
Rep. Warren tiene una oficina de distrito en Yardley. Visite su sitio web en https://www.pahouse.com/Warren.
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Junio 14, 2019
HARRISBURG − Junio 14, 2019 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), and state Representatives Wendy Ullman (D-143) and Perry Warren (D-31), announced the award of over two million dollars in state grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to various Bucks County-based organizations.
“From providing technological upgrades for local police departments to expanding services to organizations protecting victims of domestic violence, these grants will go so far in better protecting the residents of Bucks County,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the State House, Representatives Ullman and Warren, in delivering more resources to the critically important criminal justice programs that serve our communities.”
“I’m thrilled that these programs have received these grants because they serve some of the most vulnerable populations in our community,” Rep. Ullman said. “It’s critical that these programs have sufficient funds to perform the vital work they do. I will continue to look for more opportunities to support Bucks County.”
“This grant will help Lower Makefield upgrade its record management system, reduce costs and improve efficiency,” Rep. Warren said. “I will continue to look for opportunities to support municipal services in our communities.”
The following grants were awarded in the 10th senatorial district:
Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC)-Byrne Justice Assistance Grant: $10,000 for the Central Bucks Regional Police Department for a technology upgrade.
CJAC-2019 County Jail-Based Vivitrol Program: $500,000 to the Bucks County Commissioners for the Bucks County Jail-Based Recovery Programs.
CJAC-Residential Substance Abuse & Treatment (RSAT) Funds: $125,000 to Bucks County Commissioners for the Bucks County Corrections HEART Program.
Victims Services Advisory Committee (VSAC)-2019-2021 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funding (Competitive): $541,940 to A Woman’s Place to expand critical domestic violence services
VSAC – 2019-2020 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funding – Noncompetitive Extension: $510,506 to A Woman’s Place for the VOCA 19-20 Non-Competitive FA Extension. $850,846 was awarded to Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) for the NOVA VOCA Project Extension.
CJAC – Byrne Justice Assistance Grant: $48,719 to Lower Makefield Township Lower Makefield to upgrade its record management system.
You can view all the grants awarded by the PCCD here.
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Junio 10, 2019
BUCKS COUNTY − Junio 10, 2019 − In front of the former office of Liberation Way in Yardley, an addiction treatment center accused of defrauding patients and health insurance companies, state Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), and state Representatives Tina Davis (D141) and Perry Warren (D-31) introduced SB 713 and HB 1018, legislation that would charge fraudulent addiction treatment facilities in Pennsylvania with a felony at the state level.
“Patient brokering, a practice relied upon by Liberation Way, essentially trades patient referrals for kickbacks,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “This facility was unregulated and ill-equipped to be of any help to the patients seeking treatment. This legislation would create three different felonies relating to the number of patients affected. It is my hope that by putting a stop to patient brokering, people in need of treatment will have access to real resources and programs that will help them into recovery.”
In the House, Rep. Davis introduced HB 1018, which mirrors SB 713.
“I strongly believe we need to pass this legislation immediately,” Rep. Davis said. “People’s lives are at stake and we cannot allow profiteers to take advantage of families when their loved ones are in this vulnerable state. They demand our support and protection.”
“The addiction crisis is tremendous and it effects all of our communities,” Rep. Warren said. “Every dime that is allocated to preventing opioid addiction and encouraging recovery should be spent on recovery and prevention, not on bribes, kickbacks, and brokering. Regulations like this benefit the centers and organizations that do it the right way.”
Senator Santarsiero and Representatives Davis and Warren were joined by Bryan Kennedy, CEO of Independence Lodge, and Michele Butler, a New Britain resident who has witnessed what happens when addiction treatment facilities are left unregulated and unsupervised.
“Patient brokering is an unethical and inappropriate practice,” Kennedy said. “It hurts our field, it hurts our programs, and most importantly, it hurts our patients.”
“My neighbors and I believe this bill is an important step in building regulated, transparent, effective, and affordable systems of treatment for people struggling with addiction,” Butler said. “What we have witnessed and continue to witness is the devastation businesses built on brokering and fraud create. We are here today to put an end to these practices.”
“This industry, like so many others, is rife with people who are trying to take advantage through unscrupulous business practices like patient brokering,” Santarsiero said as he ended the press conference. “By passing Senate Bill 713 and House Bill 1018, we can make a difference on the state level.”
Video of the press conference can be found here.
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