Tartaglione asiste a la graduación de la Policía Estatal

HARRISBURG, 21 de diciembre de 2012 - La senadora estatal Christine M. Tartaglione asistió hoy a las ceremonias de homenaje a una promoción de "Hay algo increíblemente inspirador en estar en presencia de hombres y mujeres jóvenes a punto de embarcarse en una carrera de servicio público que requiere tanta dedicación y sacrificio", dijo. "Es un honor observar".

Mientras que el desgaste había creado cientos de vacantes de la Policía Estatal, los magros años presupuestarios de recesión proporcionaron poca o ninguna financiación para nuevas clases de cadetes, dijo Tartaglione. Sin embargo, después de más de tres años de esfuerzo, el proyecto de ley de Tartaglione para aumentar los ingresos de las clases de formación, mientras que la creación de un sistema más justo de distribución de multas aprobado por la legislatura y se convirtió en ley el verano pasado.

El proyecto de ley 237 del Senado recaudará hasta 4 millones de dólares para la formación de cadetes, mientras que los municipios que ofrezcan menos de 40 horas de cobertura policial local perderán la parte que les corresponde de las multas recaudadas en las identificaciones de tráfico de la Policía Estatal.

"Los recientes acontecimientos de Connecticut han dejado claro que invertir en el futuro de nuestra Policía Estatal es fundamental para la seguridad pública y la calidad de vida en Pensilvania", declaró Tartaglione. "No estábamos formando suficientes nuevos policías para cubrir las necesidades y, al mismo tiempo, algunos grandes municipios se estaban aprovechando de la Policía Estatal. Eso nos perjudicaba a todos".

Esta promoción de cadetes es la 134ª que se gradúa en la Academia de Policía Estatal de Hershey desde su inauguración en 1960.

Tartaglione Trooper Fines-for-Training Heads to the Governor

HARRISBURG, June 30, 2012 – More than three years after her first bill was introduced, Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today praised House passage of a measure that will raise revenue for State Police training classes while creating a fairer fine-distribution system.   Senate Bill 237 passed the House with an overwhelming majority  tonight and heads to the governor’s desk.

The bill is expected to raise as much as $4 million for cadet training, while municipalities that provide less than 40 hours of local police coverage will lose their share of fines collected through State Police traffic stops.

“More and more municipalities have ended local police coverage to depend on state police,” Tartaglione said.  “We have not been training enough new troopers to keep up. The House action tonight begins to reverse that trend.”

Under current law, half of the traffic-enforcement fines collected through state police patrols in a local municipality are returned to the municipality through a Motor License Fund formula – even if the municipality relies only on the state for police protection.

Senate Bill 237 will deny distribution of traffic-fine revenue from the Motor License Fund to any municipality that does not provide locally for at least 40 hours of coverage per week through its own force or a regional contract.  Municipalities with fewer than 3,000 residents are exempt.

 The bill, first introduced by Tartaglione in the 2009-10 session as SB 225, passed the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously more than a year ago.  It is expected to affect about 1,200 municipalities across Pennsylvania.

Tartaglione Trooper Training Bill Clears Senate Committee

HARRISBURG, June 4, 2012 – A bill that will raise revenue to fund State Police training classes while creating a fairer fine-distribution system cleared the Senate Appropriations committee today, according to state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione, the bill’s sponsor.

El proyecto de ley 237 del Senado recaudará hasta 4 millones de dólares para la formación de cadetes, mientras que los municipios que ofrezcan menos de 40 horas de cobertura policial local perderán la parte que les corresponde de las multas recaudadas en las identificaciones de tráfico de la Policía Estatal.

“Public safety is a significant expense for all levels of government,” Tartaglione said.  “Some large municipalities are taking advantage of state police, putting the cost on all state taxpayers and stretching State Police resources. This bill will help ease the coverage complications and financial pressure on the State Police while creating a fairer funding system for all Pennsylvania taxpayers.”

Under current law, half of the traffic-enforcement fines collected through state police patrols in a local municipality are returned to the municipality through a Motor License Fund formula – even if the municipality relies only on the state for police protection.

“Taxpayers in struggling cities pay the rising cost of police services through local property taxes, while more than 1,500 municipalities pay nothing, and get money back,” Tartaglione said. “This puts creates added strain on public safety during difficult economic times.”

Senate Bill 237 would deny distribution of traffic-fine revenue from the Motor License Fund to any municipality that does not provide locally for at least 40 hours of coverage per week through its own force or a regional contract.  Municipalities with fewer than 3,000 residents are exempt.

 The bill passed the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously more than a year ago.  It is expected to affect about 1,200 municipalities across Pennsylvania.