May. 13, 2019
WHAT: House Children and Youth Committee Chairman Karen Boback (R-Luzerne/Lackawanna/Wyoming) and Vice Chairman Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) will host a news conference to discuss legislation that would improve Pennsylvania’s foster care system. Boback’s measure,
House Bill 856, would reinstate the extension of permanent legal custodian and adoption assistance subsidies. Toohil’s proposal,
House Bill 1326, would create a program to help foster care youth with obtaining driver’s education, training and costs associated with maintaining an auto insurance policy.
House Bill 1276, sponsored by Rep. Dave Hickernell (R-Lancaster/Dauphin), would create a program to assist foster care youth with the challenges of accessing higher educational opportunities.
The news conference will follow a public hearing conducted by the committee regarding older foster youth permanency and the transitioning out of foster care. The House of Representatives is also expected to adopt a resolution sponsored by Toohil designating May as Foster Care Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.
WHO: Boback; Toohil; House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster); other legislators; Jenny Pokempner, Juvenile Law Center senior attorney; Rachael Miller, Pennsylvania Partnership for Children child welfare policy director; and young people in foster care.
WHEN AND WHERE: Tuesday, May 14, between 11:30 and noon, East Wing Rotunda, Main Capitol. The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 60, East Wing.
LIVE WEBSTREAMING: Barring any technical difficulties, the news conference will be carried live on
Facebook.com/RepToohil. The committee hearing will be carried live on
pahousegop.com,
RepBoback.com and
RepToohil.com.
Media contact: Rep. Toohil’s Office, 717.260.6136
Rep. Boback media contact: Scott Little, 717.260.6137,
slittle@pahousegop.com