HARRISBURG – The state Senate Monday approved a bill introduced by Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) that would enable volunteer firefighters to obtain discounted hunting licenses and fishing licenses in Pennsylvania.

Resident adult hunting licenses cost $20.97 and fishing licenses cost $27.97. The legislation would reduce the cost of each to $1 for volunteer firefighters who served at least the previous 12 months in the commonwealth.

“This is a small, but meaningful, way to show our appreciation to these brave men and women who volunteer their time and risk their lives to make our communities a safer place,” Brooks said. “This is not a complete answer to help address the dwindling amount of volunteer firefighters, but it’s my hope that this small benefit is one more way we can help fire companies recruit and retain members.”

Brooks introduced numerous pieces of legislation, in both previous legislative sessions and the current one, to help alleviate burdens for the commonwealth’s volunteer firefighters. This includes Brooks’ Senate Bill 146 that was signed into law as Act 106 of 2019 and allows for online training for volunteer firefighters so they do not have to use vacation time and travel away from their families in order to complete their training.

In the current legislative session, Brooks also introduced Senate Bill 148, which would provide a $500 state tax credit for an active volunteer firefighter who has at least two years of service and has responded to at least 20% of the volunteer fire company’s emergency calls during the last two-year period. This legislation was unanimously reported from the Senate Finance Committee in March.

Brooks’ Senate Bill 522, providing for discounted hunting and fishing licenses for volunteer firefighters, now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Pennsylvania in the 1970s had as many as 300,000 volunteer firefighters. There currently are approximately 38,000 volunteer firefighters in the commonwealth.

CONTACT: Adam Gingrich, 717-787-1322

HARRISBURG – The state Senate today approved a bill introduced by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements.

Pennsylvania law allows registered nurses (RNs), medical doctors, physician assistants and coroners to make death pronouncements.

“LPNs in hospice settings provide end-of-life care to patients in the weeks and months before they pass away,” Culver said. “LPNs provide care up until the moment of death, but when the patient dies, the LPN lacks the authority to make a death pronouncement. My bill would enable LPNs to make death pronouncements.”

Culver introduced Senate Bill 1080 after learning many hospice facilities across Pennsylvania face workforce shortages. Giving LPNs the authority to make death pronouncements can help hospice facilities address their staffing issues.

“LPNs provide quality and essential care during a highly emotional time for patients and their families,” Culver said. “Requiring a doctor, RN, physician assistant or coroner to make a death pronouncement when an LPN easily could fulfill that function can be costly.”

Senate Bill 1080 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

More information about Culver is available online at SenatorCulver.com. Residents can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenCulver and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SenatorCulver for updates about legislative action in Harrisburg and news in the 27th District.

Media Contact: Betsy Reichenbach
717-787-8928

HARRISBURG – Sen. Devlin Robinson’s (R-37) language in House Bill 2301 has been approved by the Senate today to allow recipients of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) to apply for a specialty license plate. The plate would honor Pennsylvania veterans who have earned the distinguished medal through their service overseas in the War on Terror.

“This legislation honors Pennsylvania veterans who bravely served overseas during the War on Terror, recognizing their unwavering dedication and sacrifice,” said Robinson. “The GWOT-EM license plate stands as a visible symbol of our community’s deep gratitude and respect, ensuring these heroes receive the acknowledgment they deserve for their invaluable contributions to our nation’s defense.”

The GWOT-EM was established by President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003, to recognize members of the Armed Forces who were deployed in direct service to the War on Terror following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The award symbolizes the bravery and dedication of those who have served in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives.

CONTACT:
Allison Dutrey

HARRISBURG – Sen. Greg Rothman’s (R-34) historic and comprehensive legislation to modernize the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) has been signed into law by the governor.  Act 41 of 2024, which received unanimous support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, extensively revises the UCC to accommodate emerging technologies utilized in commercial transactions.  The updates provided by Act 41 are “necessary to ensure security, consistency and confidence,” Rothman said.

The UCC has been providing consistency for commercial law and interstate commerce since 1954, when Pennsylvania led the initiative to adopt it. It has since been adopted by all states and gives Americans legal confidence when transacting business across state lines. The last major revisions to the UCC took effect in 2001. In the two decades since, electronic property, or digital assets, have become much more prevalent in commercial transactions.

Act 41 brings the law into the 21st century by establishing guidelines to cover digital asset transactions involving virtual currencies, non-fungible tokens, electronic accounts, and other forms of electronic commerce. The legislation would also make other needed technical updates to the UCC.

“The UCC provides security and consistency to our nation’s commerce,” Rothman said. “I’m pleased that digital asset transactions are now properly addressed in law so that all parties are protected and can operate with confidence.”

Visit senatorrothman.com for more information.

HARRISBURG – Legislation to improve cancer treatment access was signed into law this week, according to Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37).

Act 39 of 2024 – the companion bill to Robinson’s Senate Bill 954 – will provide Pennsylvanians better access to personalized treatments following a diagnosis of cancer and other specific diseases through biomarker testing and precision medicine. Biomarker testing looks for biological changes at a molecular level, helping to detect cancer and other conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease to ensure patients get the right treatment option, and predicts the growth and spread of disease.

“It was an honor to work with Rep. Mullins to write legislation with the shared goal of improving cancer treatment access,” said Robinson. “Act 39 of 2024 is a significant step forward in ensuring that patients receive the most effective, personalized treatment options available. By expanding access to biomarker testing and precision medicine, we can detect diseases and tailor treatments to the individual needs of each patient. It addresses critical disparities in care, ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have access to these life-saving advancements.”

The law takes effect in 60 days.

CONTACT:
Allison Dutrey