At Protective Services Action Needed: Contact Your Senator Today!
Forwarded by Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania Great news! SB 699, our adult protective services bill for people between ages 18 and 59, has been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Now is the time to contact members of the Appropriations Committee and ask them to do what they can to consider the bill quickly and pass it back to the full Senate for final passage.
Click here for an updated version of talking points for your use. Our basic argument is that the bill as amended won't cost anything until the General Assembly makes funding available. Passing it now will give us the opportunity to:
- look for sources of funds for the point in time when we are ready to operationalize the system;
- develop regulations (which will take at least a year); and
- begin to provide protective services in the interim by empowering existing state staff.
We can begin to repair a major gap in our safety net without cost. Remind them that this is a chance to do something potentially life-saving without any immediate cost to our cash strapped Commonwealth.
Below is a list of Senate Appropriations Committee members. Those who are marked with an "S" are sponsors of SB 699. Thank them for sponsoring the bill and ask for their continued help in moving the bill quickly. Those who are not sponsors should be asked to show their support by doing everything they can to move the bill quickly. If you are representing a statewide organization, it's fine to contact all members of the Committee. If you're meeting, writing or calling as an individual or on behalf of a local organization, please contact only your own Senator(s) if they are on the Committee. Personal visits are most helpful followed by letters. Phone calls are the next best alternative followed by e-mails.
As you know, the General Assembly is trying to pass a budget in the face of a huge and growing deficit. It won't be easy, but if we all do our part and make contacts now, we can get the bill through the Senate and over to the House.
Senate APPROPRIATIONS Committee
OFFICERS
Corman, Jake, Chair
S Tomlinson, Robert M., Vice Chair
S Costa, Jay, Minority Chair
S Stack, Michael J., Minority Vice Chair
Pileggi, Dominic, ex-officio
S Mellow, Robert J., ex-officio
Scarnati, Joseph B., III, ex-officio
Majority:
Argall, David G.
S Baker, Lisa
S Browne, Patrick M.
Brubaker, Mike
Gordner, John R.
S Greenleaf, Stewart J.
S Pippy, John
S Rafferty, John C., Jr.
Smucker, Lloyd K.
S Vance, Patricia H.
S Waugh, Michael L.
White, Mary Jo
Minority:
S Boscola, Lisa M.
S Farnese, Jr., Lawrence M.
S Logan, Sean
S Musto, Raphael J.
Stout, J. Barry
S Tartaglione, Christine M.
Wozniak, John N.