Funding Law Enforcement
• After years of calls to defund the police and progressive prosecutors refusing to enforce Pennsylvania’s tough-on-crime laws, Pennsylvania’s major cities and rural communities have both experienced dramatic increases in crime.
• House Republicans have been leaders in, and remain committed to, ensuring our laws are fully enforced and reversing the trend of limiting law enforcement resources.
• To help combat Philadelphia’s out-of-control gun violence, $7.6 million will be used for a joint local-state task force to focus on prosecuting previously convicted felons in possession of firearms and the illegal transfer of firearms (straw purchases who buy guns for prior felons). This task force will be headquartered in the PA Office of Attorney General.
• Over the past several years, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) have taken on additional responsibilities due to Philadelphia relying on them for more assistance, and municipalities across Pennsylvania reducing or eliminating their local police force. To continue supporting our state police, PSP will receive a 17% increase to:
» hire 200 additional troopers for the protection of Pennsylvania’s communities.
» provide for technology for increased public and law enforcement safety, including mobile video recorders and body-worn cameras.
» create 32 new positions to improve firearm purchase instant background checks.
• To reduce the trend of increasing crime and diminished local law enforcement capacity, local police and law enforcement will also benefit from $140 million in one-time federal relief funds for local law enforcement support grants.
• To help communities throughout the Commonwealth:
» $30 million in state funding will be devoted to violence intervention and prevention, along with an additional supplement of $75 million in one-time federal relief funds. This investment will help provide resources for effective, community-led programs to help lessen gun violence and group violence.
» With gun violence on the rise, this budget allocates $50 million in federal relief funds for gun violence investigation and prosecution grants.
» $1.7 million will be allocated for municipal police training.
Getting to the Root Causes of Crime and Violence
• House Republicans remain committed to providing the necessary resources to stop crime before it begins. That means providing resources to increase mental health access and reducing the stigma associated with receiving treatment.
• To improve mental health care access in Pennsylvania, this state budget allocates $135 million in one-time federal relief funds for a collaborative care mental health initiative.
» This is expected to pave the way for more timely delivery of psychiatric care in the primary care setting.
» The use of these funds will be directed in consultation with experts in the field over the summer. We expect to enact legislation as a result of this work.
Keeping Violence Out of Our Schools
• To prevent or reduce community or school violence occurring in the state, particularly gun violence and/or gang violence in identified high-crime areas, this state budget includes $100 million in School Safety and Security funding through the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee.
• Funding continues for the Office of Safe School Advocate to help students who have been threatened or already harmed, in any way, by another person or group.
• The Safe School Initiative continues with $11 million in funding to help local school districts with security planning and purchase of security items based on safety needs identified by the school district.