by Christin Brown | December 21, 2012 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, December 21, 2012 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today attended ceremonies honoring a class of “There is something incredibly inspiring about being in the presence of young men and women about to embark on a career of public service that requires such dedication and sacrifice,” she said. “It’s an honor to watch.”
While attrition had created hundreds of State Police vacancies, lean recessionary budget years provided little or no funding for new cadet classes, Tartaglione said. However, after more than three years of effort, Tartaglione’s bill to raise revenue training classes while creating a fairer fine-distribution system passed the legislature and was signed into law last summer.
Senate Bill 237 will 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.
“It’s clear from the recent events in Connecticut that investing in the future of our State Police is critical to public safety and the quality of life in Pennsylvania,” Tartaglione said. “We were not training enough new troopers to keep up with the need and at the same time some large municipalities were taking advantage of State Police. That hurt all of us.”
The cadet class was the 134th class to graduate from the State Police Academy in Hershey since it opened in 1960.
by Christin Brown | June 4, 2012 | News Releases
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.
Senate Bill 237 will 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.
“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.
by Christin Brown | March 1, 2011 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, March 1, 2011 – A bill designed to boost State Police training efforts while creating a fairer funding system passed a key Senate committee today, said state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione.
Senate Bill 237 will redirect millions of dollars collected in fines toward cadet training efforts, while municipalities that provide less than 40 hours of local police coverage would lose their share of fines collected through State Police traffic stops.
“Police coverage is increasingly complex and expensive,” Tartaglione said. “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 hundreds of cities foot the bill for most police services through local property taxes, while more than 1,500 municipalities pay nothing, and get money back,” Tartaglione said. “This puts strain on our most vulnerable communities and tough economic times make it worse.”
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. An amendment inserted today exempts municipalities with fewer than 3,000 residents. It passed the Senate Transportation Committee today unanimously. The bill is expected to affect about 1,200 municipalities across Pennsylvania and steer more than $4 million toward State Police cadet training.
