The PLS Reporter joined Rep. Patty Kim (R-Dauphin) to talk about legislation that she plans to introduce that requires correctional facilities to provide a family-centered housing unit where mothers who give birth while incarcerated are able to stay with their babies for up to 18-months.  

These mothers would need to get approved by a board to have their babies with them, which would depend a lot on the crime that they committed and the severity. 

After a series of closed-door negotiations, House lawmakers have unveiled a $33.997 billion spending plan for the 2019-2020 fiscal year that would impose no new taxes and send over $250 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

 

The proposed budget — amended into House Bill 790 — was revealed in a House Appropriations Committee meeting on Monday and includes funding increases for public education, agriculture and school safety.

Andrew was off in Carbon County so Justin must lead the way in the latest episode of Right 2 Know. He performs marvelously, talking with Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) about the latest on talks to raise the minimum wage, the struggling Harrisburg School District and why technology is ruining us all. Like what you hear? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.

State lawmakers have found common ground in the past year, tackling issues such as ethics reform, drug addiction and workforce development. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed an interest in even more collaborative efforts, including those that continue to address the ongoing opioid crisis, as well as occupational licensure reform. 

In the past week, a variety of proposals have been introduced in the General Assembly, touching on everything from occupational licensure to criminal justice reform. In this week’s feature, we look at some of the newest proposals introduced in Harrisburg and what they could mean for Pennsylvania citizens.

The state’s minimum wage would rise to $15 by 2025 under a plan unveiled by Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday, despite the fact that past proposals have garnered little to no traction in the General Assembly.

Surrounded by a dozen Democratic lawmakers and a handful of hourly employees who would benefit from the changes, Wolf said it was time Pennsylvania joined neighboring states including Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey in boosting the minimum wage.