THE BARD BULLETIN
FALL 1999
menuGreeting from Representative Bard
Bard Drafts Bill to Protect Life Insurance Consumers
General Assembly Doubles the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Bard’s ‘Parental Responsibility’ Bill Backed By Attorney General
D.A.R.E. License Plates
Bard Means Business
Rep. Bard Hosts Legislative Update
There Ought to be a Law contest at Willow Hill School
Winners - There Ought to be a Law Contest
Eagle Scout Honored
Bard Proposal Continues Push for Targeted Tax Relief
24 Hour Relay Challenge
Results of the Spring 1999 Survey
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THE BARD
BULLETIN
FALL 1999
It is my pleasure to report news on key economic and social indicators. More Pennsylvanians are working than ever before, and unemployment remains near historic lows. Crime is down, and urban sprawl and providing our children with a world-class
This fall, in the House we will focus our attention on combating unemployment
remains near historic lows. Crime is down, and thousands of Pennsylvanians are moving from the welfare rolls to
the dignityand independence of the workforce.
Earlier this year, we enacted a $470 million tax relief
package- the largest ever - for working families, natural gas
customers, job relief for lower income older residents. creators, and those
older Pennsylvanians overburdened by property taxes. General Fund spending grew
by a modest 3 percent, but with significant new investments in priority areas
such as education technology, children's health care and support for
Pennsylvanians moving from welfare to work.
During this session, several of my own
legislative initiatives passes the House and are now awaiting action in the
Senate, including: HB 181 and HB 182, providing taxpayer protection through
training and examination programs for elected tax collectors and auditors; HB
555 (called the Eberle Bill after Roslyn Fire Company's longtime member, Al
Eberle), allowing fallen volunteer firefighters to be honored by draping the
casket with a Pennsylvania flag; and House Bill 552, offering civil immunity to
town watch and drug watch volunteers.
This fall, in the House we will focus our attention on
combating urban sprawl and providing our children with a world-class education
in an environment free from violence and the distraction of disruptive
students. I also look forward to continuing my work to promote
accountability and efficiency in our public institutions and to provide
additional property tax relief for lower income older residents.
I appreciate the privilege of serving you as your State
Representative. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of
assistance regarding a state government matter.
Sincerely,
Rep. Ellen M. Bard
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Bard Drafts Bill to Protect Life Insurance Consumers
Rep. Bard authored and introduced legislation—House Bill 550—that will protect life insurance consumers by requiring beneficiaries to be paid interest on death benefits. Consumers purchase life insurance for many reasons, one being to provide loved ones with the money to pay for funeral and burial costs. Others purchase life insurance to assist in the financial loss and suffering that can occur after the death of a loved one, which may include a need to pay the mortgage or save money for a child’s college education. Although consumers purchase life insurance for different reasons, it’s important to note that all consumers purchase life insurance with the reasonable expectation that beneficiaries will be paid death benefits in a timely manner. Pennsylvania is currently one of only six states which has no legislation on this issue. While some insurance companies doing business in Pennsylvania voluntarily provide for interest on death proceeds, many offer no such compensation for delayed payment. At a recent hearing of the House Insurance Committee, expert witnesses testified that there will always be some companies who will elect not to pay interest to consumers unless required by state law to do so. House Bill 550 ensures that beneficiaries are fairly compensated for delayed payment. Paying interest on death benefits is the right thing for companies to do and for consumers to expect.
During a hearing of the House Insurance Committee, Rep, Bard explains the merits of her legislation— House Bill 550— requiring insurance companies to pay beneficiaries interest on death benefits.
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General Assembly Doubles the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
$90 million Funding Boost will make 181,000 additional older
Pennsylvanians eligible!
Because local property taxes are draining the limited, fixed incomes of our older residents, the General Assembly expanded the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program by allowing eligible participants to exempt 50 percent of their Social Security benefits from the definition of income in order to fall under the program’s $15,000 income threshold. An additional 181,000 Pennsylvanians will now be eligible for a rebate on their property tax or rent (480,000 total), and the average rebate will increase from $267 to $367. Also, a majority of claimant&will now be eligible for the maximum rebate of $500.
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Bard’s ‘Parental Responsibility’ Bill Backed By Attorney General
Lawmaker’s School Violence Measure Passes Committee
Attorney General Mike Fisher supports legislation introduced by Rep. Bard—House
Bill 236—that would ensure that victims are compensated for injuries caused by
youths with unrestricted access to guns. Forty-five percent of all minors who
commit murder with firearms do so with a parent’s gun. House Bill 236 would
remove the current statutory limits on a parent’s liability for damages caused
by willful acts committed by their children with a parent’s firearm.
The law
currently caps liability at $1,000 for injuries suffered by one person, and at
$2,500 for multiple victims. Bard’s measure would provide for unlimited civil
liability under the following two conditions: 1) the child had been previously
convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or expelled or suspended from school for an
actual or attempted act of violence toward another; and 2) the firearm was
stored in the parent’s home and the parent failed to take reasonable steps to
prevent the child from gaining access to the firearm.
Rep. Bard’s bill has
passed committee and is likely to go to the floor of the House for a vote this
fall. Attorney General Fisher has called the legislation a “top priority”.
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The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) plate was first issued in
Sept. 1996. Proceeds from the plate benefit the PA Commission on Crime and
Delinquency’s drug prevention program presented in public and non-public
elementary and secondary schools by police officers. With every purchase, $15.00
is donated to drug prevention education. So far, 12,000 D.A.R.E. license plates
have been purchased, bringing total sales to $420,000. The profit to D.A.R.E. is
approximately $150,000. The best benefit is that every time a youngster sees a
DARE plate, the child is reminded of the lessons of the DARE program and the
importance of the fight against drugs, alcohol and violence. To order a D.A.R.E.
plate, call 215-881-BARD or visit Rep. Bard’s district office at 1175 Old York
Road.
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Bard Means Business
Improving the business environment and keeping and creating new jobs in PA has
been a top priority for Rep. Bard. Here she explains her legislation to make PA
business tw~es more competitive with other states to Maura Donley and Jim Welty
of the PA Chamber.. There Ought to Be A Law Contest . Bard explains the
lawmaking process to ‘low Hill Elementary School students particiing in the
“There Ought To Be A Law” ~test, which is designed to increase student ‘rest
in state government and public service iortunities. Every odd numbered year
since rig elected to office, Rep. Bard has invited 4raders at public and
non-public schools to participate in the contest.
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Rep. Bard Hosts Legislative Update
Rep. Bard recently hosted a town meeting to discuss legislative issues and
PennDOT projects. Here, Ellen explains her 3-bill legislative package to protect
taxpayers and professionalize the requirements for elected tax collectors and
auditors. Ellen is holding up an Inquirer article from 1986 showing Ruth and
Edwin Plato, whose home was one of 100 Abington homes liened inappropriately.
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Congratulations to the Winners!
The winners of the 1999 “There Ought to Be A Law” contest and their families
were invited to be Rep. Bard’s guests during a visit to the state Capitol.
Pictured, left to right, are: Will Ross, Abington; Jim Hnatko, Ardsley; Rep.
Bard; Kristen Grey, Roslyn; Lesley Brown, Willow Grove; and Christin Franz,
Abington. Not pictured are Dave Gever, Glenside; Peter Christian, Abington;
Katelyn Feldstein, Rydal; and Patrick Hanifin, Rydal.
Rep Bard explains the lawmaking process to Willow Hill Elementary School students participating in the "There Ought To Be A Law " contest, which is designed to increase student interest in state government an public service opportunities. Every odd numbered year since being elected to office, Rep. Bard has invited 4th-6th graders at public and non-public schools to participate in the contest.
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Boy Scout Christopher Staudt of Troop 437 received an Abington Township citation for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. From left to right are: Rep. Ellen Bard; Helen Orme, Abington Commissioner; Christopher Staudt; Bob Wachter, Abington Commissioner; and Rona Staudt, Staudt's mother.
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Bard Proposal Continues Push for Targeted Tax Relief
Those 80 and Older with Limited Income Would Pay No Local Taxes
Rep.Bard recently introduced legislation to further provide tax relief for
older Pennsylvanians with certain income limits. Cited as the “Older
Pennsylvanians Local Tax Exemption Act,” House Bill 1794 would exempt
individuals 80 and older who have a total income of $15,000 or less from local
taxes. Under the measure, older residents would be allowed to deduct 50 percent
of their Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits from the
definition of income in order to fall under the $15,000 threshold and take
advantage of the local tax exemption.
The legislation builds upon the recent doubling of the
Property Tax/Rent Program by providing total tax relief to Pennsylvanians who
want to stay in their homes but are struggling to afford local tax
bills.
Some residents locally are paying as much as 20 percent of
their limited income in municipal and school taxes. These residents fear that
taxes will take their homes from them. Rep. Bard has been fighting for tax
relief for overburdened older citizens since first elected in 1994. Ellen feels
that property taxes should not threaten the security and well-being of those who
have invested their entire lives in our community.
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24 Hour Relay Challenge - The Bard Brigade
Citizens And Police Together (CAPT) has sponsored the 24-Hour Relay Challenge for each of the past five years. Each year, Rep. Ellen Bard supports the fund raiser for drug and violence-free community programs by sponsoring a team. Pictured is the 1999 "Bard’s Brigade". In the back row, left to right, are: Rob Stiratelli, Ed Wurster , Joe Dougherty, Liz Christian, Pete Morse, and Garrett Page. In the front row, left to right, are: Keith Darrow, Rep. Ellen Bard, Danielle Whiteside, and Karen Jackson.
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