Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a $36 billion spending plan, which represents a spending increase of more than $2 billion over the current year’s enacted budget. Nearly $1 billion of that increase is to cover the administration’s overspending in the current year’s budget.

As I have for the past several years, I will be working through the budget document with other members of the Commonsense Caucus to determine where costs savings may be achieved. I believe the proposed budget over spends substantially, but you can be the judge. To stay up to date on the state budget process, check the "resources" page on my website www.RepMoul.com.

Locally, the Adams County Office for Aging is conducting a survey to identify community needs and priorities and to help ensure that the office is using its resources effectively. Residents are asked to complete the survey and return it to the Adams County Office for Aging by March 15. Respondents remain anonymous. To obtain a copy of the survey, contact the Adams County Office for Aging at 717-334-9296 or visit www.acofa.org

Two measures that were part of the House’s Healthier PA Initiative are now law. Act 6 of 2020 will improve cancer treatment options for patients with Stage IV metastatic cancer by requiring insurance companies to cover the medication and treatments prescribed by the patient’s doctor, regardless of what their insurance plan typically covers. The law recognizes time is of the essence for patients fighting cancer, and they should not have to get sicker before being allowed to try a doctor recommended treatments that could extend the length and quality of their lives.

Act 7 of 2020 will help protect infants who receive donated breast milk through milk banks – entities that gather, process and distribute breast milk for medically fragile newborns. Banked donor milk is used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and by outpatients with medical issues. When a mother’s own milk is unavailable in the NICU, the use of banked donor milk has been shown to decrease mortality rates and serious complications. The new law requires the state Department of Health to regulate milk banks, medically screen donors and contact the health care provider of the donor’s baby to verify adequate growth. The donor milk must be processed to inactivate pathogens (pasteurized), and post-processing bacterial cultures must be performed. The law does not regulate breast milk donors or affect informal milk sharing that may occur.

In another health-related matter, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is now accepting applications for grants to fund programs that discourage and reduce underage and dangerous drinking and promote a message of responsible alcohol consumption by those of legal drinking age. Eligible grant applicants include Pennsylvania school districts and institutions of higher education (including technical, trade and post-secondary establishments), community organizations, municipal police departments, municipal officials/representatives, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

The grant cycle is for two years, from July through June 2022. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis with a maximum award of $20,000 per year and cumulative award of no more than $40,000 per two-year grant cycle, per eligible applicant. Applications will be evaluated by the PLCB’s Bureau of Alcohol Education, with awards subject to availability of funds. The deadline to apply is noon Friday, March 20. For the grant application link and guidelines for submission, visit www.lcb.pa.gov. The PLCB has awarded nearly $15 million in alcohol education grants since inception of the grants program in 1999.

Finally, one of several human trafficking bills championed in the House last month has been signed into law. Act 1 of 2020 is designed to better protect victims of human trafficking, regarded as modern slavery, and ensure justice is served by imposing stricter penalties on the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

The new law raises the grading of the offense to a first-degree felony and increases the fines and jail time. Specifically, the law will raise the additional fine amount to at least $1,000 for a first offense and as high as $50,000 for a third or subsequent offense or where the victim of sexual servitude was a minor at the time of the offense. Jail time could be as much as 20-40 years.

To learn more about additional legislation approved by the House to combat human trafficking, visit www.pahousegop.com/humantrafficking.