SCHOOL SAFETY

Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale at Penn Wynne Elementary School in Wynnewood on March 15 to announce the creation of a school safety task force composed of government officials, statewide education organizations, law enforcement, community members, school officials, teachers, parents and students to evaluate and report on measures to improve school safety and security.

“Ensuring the safety of Pennsylvanians, especially our children, is my top priority as governor,” Wolf said in a statement. “I am creating a school safety task force to ensure we are doing everything we can to make sure that our schools are a safe place for our children to learn. By working together and listening to those on the front lines, we can find solutions that will improve school safety, security, and preparedness.”

Wolf and DePasquale will co-chair the task force, according to an administration statement.
“Combining the safety review experience of my team with the knowledge of the other members on the task force will help make our schools safer,” DePasquale said. “There is not a one-size-fits all solution to school safety.”

Wolf said the task force's top priorities would include listening to stakeholders to weigh their safety concerns and possible policy changes; and determine funding needs for safe-schools programs.

ETHICS REFORM

On March 12, Wolf unveiled a plan called “Citizens First,” which includes a gift ban for public officials, “no budget, no pay” legislation, public official expense reform, and steps to curb the influence of special interests in Harrisburg.

“Since day one of my administration, I have done things differently and worked to rebuild public trust in the executive branch,” Wolf said in an administration statement. “This proposal enforces strict standards for how Harrisburg operates and it will rebuild trust in government. My plan will make sure that our citizens are the ones calling the shots—not entrenched special interests.”

The Associated Press reported that Wolf stopped the practice of accepting gifts among people under his authority when he took office three years ago, but that does not apply to state legislators and other elected state officials. The governor wants limits on political campaign contributions and disclosure of donations made by people seeking government contracts.
Budget negotiations between Wolf and the Republican-controlled legislature have been agonizing for the past three years, with none being completed on time and two of the three years wrapping up months late, the AP reported. Wolf, a wealthy businessman, donates his salary to charity. His new proposal would freeze pay until a complete budget is passed. Wolf also wants public officials to make public the source and type of any outside income, and the total amount.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

On March 14, state Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a series of public hearings on a number of criminal justice reform measures now pending before the Pennsylvania Senate.
The first hearing was set for Monday and the second is scheduled for March 26.

Greenleaf, a longtime advocate for corrections reforms, said in a statement that he is pushing for action on bills that he feels are long overdue, such as providing judges an alternative to mandatory minimum sentences, expanding the use of post-conviction DNA testing for offenders who claim to be innocent, and diverting those with mental illness from the criminal justice system. The committee will also hear testimony on grand jury reform.

“We are going to examine several issues relating to corrections reforms,” Greenleaf said. “While we have made great progress in recent years reversing the unintended consequences of the past, there are still great injustices built into the system which must be rectified.”

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The state House of Representatives on March 12 unanimously approved a proposal aimed at helping district judges protect domestic violence victims, according to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington.

Senate Bill 449, also known as Tierne's Law, would clarify existing law that allows judges to use risk assessment tools when setting bail in domestic violence cases. These tools have proven to be effective in predicting an abuser's odds of re-offending and creating a dangerous circumstance for victims, Bartolotta said.

“Without the use of risk assessment tools, it can be extremely difficult for judges to know whether an offender still poses an imminent danger to his or her victim,” Bartolotta said.
“Expanding the use of these tools could give judges a clearer picture of the abusers who are most likely to continue to terrorize their victims if they are released on bail.”

The bill was sent to the Senate for consideration of House amendments. If
approved by the Senate in its current form, the bill would be sent to Wolf to be signed into law. •