CHILD PROTECTION BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW 

INDIGENT DEFENSE BILL REPORTED

EPA, ARMY CORPS RELEASE DRAFT REGULATION 

RESOLUTIONS AND PLATFORM REVISION   

RESOLUTION NO. 3 (Submitted by the CCAP Election Reform Committee) - The Association supports changes in election law and practice that would:

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d.      Include in the polling place school-use mandate all schools that receive state instructional funding, and designate the date of the primary and general election as school in-service days to support the closing of schools that are used as polling places.

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g.      Provide uniform standards for submission and placement of referendum questions, including a 90 day deadline for submission to the county board of elections.

h.      Make the requirement of newspaper advertising for the Election Proclamation discretionary, allowing counties instead to place the notice on the county website or other electronic publication.

i.       Clarify or correct the definition of "separate ballot" for judicial retentions, to allow printing the retention ballot on the face (as space permits) or back side of the regular ballot.

j.       Set an extended and uniform 90 day standard for the deadline for special elections for vacancies in municipal office.

k.      Allow the county board of elections to make appointments to vacancies on local election boards; and

l.       Make the overseer petition provision workable in Philadelphia by eliminating the requirement for concurrent assent by all law judges.

The changes include a number of recommendations for amendments to the Election Code and election practice offered in the report of the CCAP Election Reform Committee.

RESOLUTION NO. 4 (Submitted by the CCAP Election Reform Committee) - The Association supports an amendment to the Election Code to reduce or eliminate petition requirements for judge of election and inspector of elections.

The resolution calls for reduction or elimination of petition requirements for the listed minor offices, to facilitate access to the ballot for those offices.

RESOLUTION NO. 6 (Submitted by the CCAP Human Services Committee) - The Association supports ongoing allocation of Commonwealth resources to all counties at appropriations levels that continually assure that mental health, drug and alcohol, and intellectual disabilities base dollars are sufficient to meet structural and programmatic administrative needs, even as sources that pay the cost of services evolve.

Governor Corbett has proposed the use of federal dollars available to states under the Affordable Care Act to purchase insurance coverage for low income individuals as an alternative to expanding Medicaid program eligibility. Additionally, if in the alternative Medicaid is expanded, more individuals may be covered for services that counties sometimes provide through base funds. However, there is an ongoing and growing need for base funds to be assured to counties to provide administrative and structural support for county programs, and in some cases, to provide for services for those who do not qualify for either Medicaid or state funded insurance programs. The resolution supports an ongoing commitment to funding these base line items so that counties have the resources to perform the required duties, regardless of the evolution of service systems.

Counties across the state report increasing incidences of drug overdose deaths, including deaths from prescription overdoses. Financial resources to combat drug abuse have been dwindling, and without a rapid influx of dollars and a broad based approach developed with the involvement of all key stakeholders, this scourge will continue to destroy lives and families. The task force would be comprised of counties and their key partners, and would be charged with determining an appropriate level of funding to be requested to support the comprehensive strategy being advanced.