Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania State Senate
04/23/2024 08:58 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=38060
Share:
Home / Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 1, 2022 05:45 PM
From: Senator Christine M. Tartaglione
To: All Senate members
Subject: PA Opportunity Program
 
Soon I will be reintroducing legislation, formerly SB 1349 in the 2021-22 session, establishing the PA Opportunity Program with funding for the program coming from the General Fund. Members who co-sponsored this legislation previously include Senators Collett, Schwank, Fontana, A. Williams, Kane, Cappelletti, Muth, and Costa.

Families in our communities have shown incredible perseverance and unwavering determination when confronting the ever-changing environment created by COVID-19.  Whether it be navigating unemployment compensation, juggling work-from-home with childcare and online school, or identifying resources to make ends meet – Pennsylvanians have shown their toughness. 
 
Despite this resiliency, friends and neighbors are still struggling to stabilize budgets and rebuild savings.  The pandemic also led many workers to re-think career goals and consider new jobs that foster better work-life balance.  To support workers in any of these situations, my forthcoming legislation will establish the PA Opportunity Program to serve as a one-stop shop for direct financial assistance.
 
Under this program to be administered by the State Treasurer in consultation with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Community and Economic Development, individuals with a household income of $80,000 or less can apply for a one-time, state tax exempt payment up to $2,000 per household.  This initiative will help families seeking to recover economically and build upon the stimulus payments already issued by the federal government.
 
These much-needed opportunity payments will assist with pandemic-related expenses already incurred or anticipated down the road such as: 
 
  • Childcare and afterschool care; 
  • Education and workforce training;
  • Rental and mortgage assistance;
  • Housing repairs; 
  • Transportation and filling up the gas tank; 
  • Broadband and utilities; and
  • Medical bills and co-pays.
 
Please join me in this next phase of recovery which will get money into the hands of the people who need it now.  On behalf of Pennsylvania’s families, thank you for your consideration and support.
 


Introduced as SB34