Pennsylvania State Capitol. Pennsylvania State Capitol. Photo credit: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com
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Child Sex Abuse

As a result of the findings contained in the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury Report, released Aug. 14, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh, announced a plan to introduce legislation based on two recommendations by the grand jury. According to Boscola's Aug. 15 memorandum, one bill would amend the law requiring the reporting of abuse of a minor “to include language clarifying an obligation to report on an individual whom exhibits a pattern of abuse and/or is likely to commit additional acts of child abuse.” The other bill, Boscola said, would require “language that would allow parties to a non-disclosure agreement to cooperate with law enforcement or prosecutors if any or all so decide.”

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Artificial Intelligence

Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks, said in an Aug. 16 memorandum that he plans to introduce legislation aimed at ensuring transparency in law enforcement's use of risk assessment algorithms and artificial intelligence.

“My legislation will require all risk algorithms or artificial intelligence programs to meet certain requirements,” Greenleaf said in his memorandum. “They must be shown to be free of bias toward any race, gender, or protected class. They must be periodically re-validated and revised in accordance with national best practices. The report of these revisions must be publicly available, along with information about the programs or algorithms and the risk factors they analyze.”

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Infrastructure

State Rep. Aaron D. Kaufer, R-Luzerne, announced a plan to introduce legislation that would call for a “Proportional Fair-Share” to avoid situations where developers are forced to spend millions to upgrade state-owned infrastructure around new developments and facilities. The legislation, according to Kaufer's Aug. 16 memorandum, would make the builder, or puller of the building permit, responsible for 20 percent of the infrastructure improvement, while the remaining 80 percent would be paid by the state Department of Transportation.

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Agriculture

Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a six-point plan to strengthen the state's agricultural industry at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences' annual Ag Progress Days event.

The plan, which builds off of recommendations contained in a report he previously unveiled at the 2018 Farm Show, involves:

• Rebuilding and expanding the state's infrastructure, including roads, bridges, ports and broadband.

• Strengthening Pennsylvania's workforce to ensure the next generation is prepared to lead.

• Removing unnecessary regulatory burdens and strengthening the state's business climate.

• Establishing business ownership succession plans on the farm and throughout the food system.

• Creating more processing capabilities to accommodate a growing animal agriculture and protein sector.

• Encouraging more organic production by Pennsylvania farms. •