Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Photo: Shutterstock

Following is a listing of executive and legislative action for the week of Jan. 14. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time, with members of the Pennsylvania Senate and state House of Representatives scheduled to return to session Jan. 28.

Criminal Justice

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale on Jan. 17 announced his plan to produce a special report on the benefits to society and savings to taxpayers resulting from criminal justice reform. He said Pennsylvania government is facing rising prison costs—50 percent from 2006 to 2015, from $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion—and has the highest incarceration rate in the northeastern United States, with an imprisoned population of about 47,000. DePasquale said his office will examine whether sentencing non-violent offenders to prison is putting a strain on the correctional system and driving extra costs to taxpayers.

“Nearly 70 percent of prison sentences are handed out for misdemeanor crimes, which means more than 30,000 people who committed low-level, usually non-violent crimes are clogging our prisons,” DePasquale said. “Prison time should be reserved for more serious offenders and those who pose a threat to society.”

DePasquale said his office will also explore topics including plans to explore including the availability of legal counsel for all defendants; whether reforms are needed to the Board of Pardons or its processes, and the role that cash bail plays in keeping people incarcerated unnecessarily before trial. The auditor general's special report on criminal justice reform is expected to be completed by fall.

Higher Education

Daniel Greenstein, a former leader with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was formally sworn in Jan. 16 as the fifth chancellor of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which governs the 14 state-owned and -operated universities.

In his “State of the System” address after the ceremony, Greenstein called for greater use of public-private partnerships and more sharing among the campuses, with students on any campus being able to take any course offered across the system, according to media reports. Greenstein, has been on the job since Sept. 4, said his goal was “fundamental transformation and redesign” of the higher education system. He said sharing faculty, staff and students would be more cost-efficient and offer a broader range of choices to students.

Wolf, speaking at the ceremony, said Greenstein would deliver “a new vision of our public universities.”

Greenstein came to Pennsylvania after leading the postsecondary success strategy at the Gates Foundation, helping other higher education leaders to raise educational-attainment levels and to promote economic mobility. Before joining the foundation, he was vice provost for academic planning and programs for the University of California system.

The state university system serves nearly 100,000 students, 90 percent of whom are Pennsylvania residents. It has struggled over the past decade with decreasing enrollment and reductions in state funding.

Computer Learning

Gov. Tom Wolf on Jan. 17 announced $8.7 million in targeted grants to expand computer science classes and teacher training at 765 schools across Pennsylvania.

According to a Wolf administration statement, the grants represent the beginning of a new phase of Wolf's “PAsmart” initiative, which is aimed at providing $20 million to bring high-quality computer science and STEM education in elementary, middle, and high schools, and professional development for teachers. With this commitment, Pennsylvania now ranks second in the country for investments in K-12 STEM and computer science.

“Over the next decade, seven in ten new jobs in Pennsylvania will require workers to use computers and new technologies in a constantly changing economy,” Wolf said. “With these grants more students will get the skills they need for emerging high-demand jobs. “Through these investments, we are building a well-trained workforce that will meet the needs of employers, strengthen the middle class, and grow the economy for everyone.”

In addition to helping schools introduce and expand computer science programming, the targeted grants will provide greater opportunities for students of color, low-income students and girls to learn critical skills needed to succeed in today's workforce.

Puppy Mills

State Sens. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester and Tom Killion, R-Delaware, announced Jan. 17 that they have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the sale of commercially raised dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across Pennsylvania.

The bill, dubbed “Victoria's Law” in honor of a 10-year-old German Shepherd puppy mill survivor is designed to move the pet market toward more humane sources.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It's a humane issue,” Dinniman said. “And in Victoria's Law we're all standing together for a comprehensive solution. The bill protects both animals and consumers from problems related to puppy, kitten, and rabbit mills and their sales outlets. And it won't impact responsible, humane breeders who care for their animals and do not sell through pet stores.”

Under the legislation, stores will be allowed to source from shelters and rescues and offer homeless animals for adoption, enabling them to be part of the pet overpopulation solution. In addition, the bill requires those advertising dogs for sale to provide their license number, name and address in all advertisements to increase transparency.

In the House, state Reps. Jason Ortitay, R-Allegheny, and Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, are introducing a bipartisan companion bill that mirrors Victoria's Law.

Distracted Driving

State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, called attention to the issue of distracted driving by launching an initiative dubbed “Stash and Avoid a Crash,” and reintroduced distracted driving legislation.

“Stash and Avoid a Crash” encourages the public to store their cellphones in their glove compartments in the hope that it will curb drivers from using their cellphones while driving their vehicle and promote overall driving safety. While cellphones are safely stashed in the glove compartment, drivers will still have the ability to accept or deny phone calls via their car's Bluetooth technology. Additionally, should drivers need their cellphone to serve as their GPS it is suggested that they purchase a docking station that attaches to their dashboard, so their cellphone remains out of their hands.

“There are too many families who have been tragically affected by distracted driving accidents, simply because the driver was more interested in what was occurring on his or her phone rather than the vehicle's surroundings,” Brown said in a statement. “By putting away our phones and changing our behaviors while driving our vehicles, we will remain solely focused as much as possible on the road ahead of us. I am taking the pledge to “STASH my phone so I don't CRASH” and I encourage you to do the same.”

Brown has again introduced her hands-free driving legislation to prohibit calls on hand-held mobile telephones in Pennsylvania, except with the use of hands-free accessories, while operating a moving motor vehicle.