Latest news with #MartyFlynn
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
PA Senator Unveils ‘Keystone Cannabis Act' Weed Legalization Bill
A Pennsylvania Democratic senator has unveiled the Keystone Cannabis Act, a bill to legalize ... More marijuana for adults and regulate sales of recreational weed. A Pennsylvania senator last week unveiled the highlights of a new plan to legalize cannabis for adults and regulate sales of recreational marijuana in the state. Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn sent out a memo seeking co-sponsors for the upcoming weed legalization bill, known as the Keystone Cannabis Act, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Monday. Flynn distributed the sponsorship memo on Wednesday, just a week after a Senate committee derailed a separate weed legalization bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. If passed by the legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, the bill would legalize the possession, purchase and use of cannabis for adults aged 21 and older. The bill will also contain provisions designed to prevent youth access to marijuana and discourage impaired driving by cannabis consumers. 'This legislation represents a commonsense opportunity to modernize our cannabis laws by delivering lasting economic benefits to communities across the Commonwealth while balancing individual liberty with public safety,' Flynn wrote in the May 21 memo about the upcoming bill. Under Flynn's plan, the state would establish an independent commission to oversee the cultivation, processing, testing and sales of cannabis to adults. The commission would be 'comprised of members of the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police,' according to the sponsorship memo. The legislation also includes cannabis tax provisions that are estimated to generate approximately $500 million per year. Revenue would be directed to a Community Reinvestment and Infrastructure Fund, which would be used to revitalize rural communities and expand the City Revitalization and Investment Zone Program. The fund would also distribute grants to local governments 'to support law enforcement, public health, and educational programs focused on substance use prevention and mental health.' Additionally, the cannabis tax revenue would fund local infrastructure improvements, such as roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband expansion. The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. Flynn's cannabis legalization plan for Pennsylvania also includes provisions to protect public health and safety, such as strict testing, packaging and labeling rules for cannabis products. The upcoming bill will include dedicated funding for a public education campaigns and substance abuse treatment programs. 'Adults should be free to make their own decisions about cannabis use—just as they do with alcohol and tobacco—without unnecessary government interference,' said Flynn. 'A regulated market also helps eliminate the black market and improves consumer safety. In fact, cannabis is a botanical cousin of hops, a primary ingredient in beer. 'In short, legalization is no longer a question of if, but when—and Pennsylvania should not be left behind as our neighbors to the north, south, east, and west in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio all move forward,' he continued. 'It is high time to create a cannabis economy that reinvests tax dollars into our communities thereby creating even more revenue, promotes freedom while ensuring safety and security, stimulates economic growth, and invests in the communities that need it most.' Flynn sent the memo to his colleagues in the Senate, seeking co-sponsors for his upcoming cannabis legalization bill. If Pennsylvania legalizes recreational marijuana, it will join the 24 states that have legalized cannabis for adults.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes new cannabis bill with changes to regulations
(WHTM)– A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he will soon introduce new legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania with different regulations than previously proposed bills. The Keystone Cannabis Act, circulated by State Senator Marty Flynn (D-22), would establish a new framework for producing, distributing, and selling cannabis to adults age 21 and over in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1200, which would have given the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board control over cannabis regulation in Pennsylvania, was shot down by the state Senate Law and Justice Committee earlier this May in a 7-3 vote. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the memo, the Keystone Cannabis Act would have an independent commission regulate the market. The commission would consist of members of the Department of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police. The memo says this commission would oversee the cannabis cultivation, processing, testing, and retail operations in Pennsylvania. Additionally, revenue generated from the cannabis industry would be deposited into a Community Reinvestment Fund, which would direct funds to revitalizing rural communities, local infrastructure improvements, and grants to municipalities. Flynn's bill would also allows for license applicants from communities heavily impacted by cannabis prohibition to receive priority. The bill would also require strict testing for cannabis products by independent, certified laboratories to ensure products are safe for consumption. 'In short, legalization is no longer a question of if, but when—and Pennsylvania should not be left behind as our neighbors to the north, south, east, and west in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio all move forward. It is high time to create a cannabis economy that reinvests tax dollars into our communities thereby creating even more revenue, promotes freedom while ensuring safety and security, stimulates economic growth, and invests in the communities that need it most,' Flynn's memo says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Old Forge School District receives $400,000 solar grant
Old Forge School District officials will look into solar power for the district thanks to funding from a state grant. The district received $400,000 through the Solar for Schools program, state Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore, announced this week. The money will be used to support the installation of solar energy infrastructure at the district, his office said in a news release. Flynn added it will help reduce long-term energy costs and promote sustainability in school operations. Superintendent Christopher Gatto said the idea of putting solar panels in the district came about prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when he, then-Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D., and Business Manager Brian Rinaldi met with a solar company representative that reached out to them. He said they were interested at the time, but when the pandemic occurred, the project got put on the back burner. Gatto decided to apply for the grant after speaking with state Rep. Jim Haddock, D-118, Pittston Twp., in the fall. He said securing the funding for a project like installing solar panels makes it easier to pursue and he's grateful to receive the funds. 'For a district our size, any dollar that we can get goes a long way,' Gatto said. The board approved his request to apply for the grant in January. He plans to issue a request for proposals for companies to install the panels, assess the district property and figure out what array works for the district from a financial and land-use perspective. The district had an assessment done of its buildings and property to determine the feasibility for solar energy and as part of the application process. Officials have not determined how many panels will be installed or where they would be installed. They are figuring out their cost, what the district can afford, what the grant will cover and what money will be set aside for them. Gatto said the decision where the panels will be installed would need to be made in consultation with the company that is awarded the bid. 'We need to assess what works best for us from the standpoint of offsetting our electricity costs and also the property and how we utilize the property and what spots we could use,' he said. Gatto said there is potential for the district to save $2.7 million over 30 years and the project would pay for itself in approximately three years. He hopes power generated by the panels will offset as much of what the district spends on electricity as possible, allowing officials to use money normally spent for electricity on other things. The panels can also be used from an educational standpoint. Gatto said he envisions science classes using them. Established in July of last year, the Solar for Schools program provides grants to school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, career and technical schools, chartered schools for the education of the deaf or blind, community colleges and technology colleges to cover solar project costs, including aiding in the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage and utility interconnection. The program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development and funded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Hanover Area School District in Luzerne County was also awarded $400,000 to install solar panels on the roof of the high school. Local Share Account grants In addition to the Solar for Schools program, the Commonwealth Financing Authority also funded Local Share Account grants for multiple projects in Lackawanna County. Those projects and the amounts awarded to them are: • Archbald American Legion Post 328, HVAC system and window replacement, $38,000. • Ballet Theater of Scranton, new theater equipment, $42,393. • Blakely, new vehicle for the Police Department, $65,000. • Carbondale, new trailer-mounted sewer jet machine, $75,000 • Carbondale Little League, purchase and installation of new field lights at Russell Park, $59,375. • Clarks Green, Municipal Building emergency generator project, $49,140. • Clarks Summit, new patrol vehicle, $66,211. • Connell Park, Scranton, equipment, backstop and driveway reconstruction, $30,791. • Dickson City, commercial enforcement vehicle, $80,000. • Dunmore School District, paving and security upgrades, $100,000. • Eynon Sturges Volunteer Hose Company No. 3, paving and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility improvements, $30,000. • Glenburn Twp., compact wheel loader purchase, $106,000. • Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, South Abington Twp., purchase and installation of a new HVAC system, $105,000. • Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore, equipment, flooring replacement and building repairs, $50,000. • Indo American Community of Scranton, equipment project, $51,143. • Jessup VFW Post 5544, building renovations, $50,000. • Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour, site improvements, $125,000. • Lackawanna County, trail maintenance equipment project, $81,000. • La Festa Italiana of Lackawanna County, equipment and storage project, $80,895. • Lakeland School District, playground renovation at Mayfield Elementary School, $50,000. • Mayfield Police Department, new vehicle, $50,000. • Minooka Athletic Association, field updates, $19,789. • Moosic, new Police Department vehicle, $85,781. • Moosic Little League, lighting and field project, $121,052. • North Scranton Little League, batting cage project, $100,000. • Old Forge, two new police vehicles, $102,130. • Olyphant, updates and renovations to the downtown area, $67,684. • Scranton Cultural Center, restoration project, $74,535. • Scranton Preparatory School, lighting project, $113,260. • Scranton Tennis Club, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility project, $110,000. • South Abington Twp., police vehicle purchase, $67,000. • Taylor Memorial Cemetery, improvements, $104,450. • Waverly Twp. Police Department, equipment upgrades, $39,849.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators, advocates make case to keep Penn State Scranton open
DUNMORE — Closing Penn State Scranton would limit local educational opportunities for students, hamstring workforce and economic development efforts and tear a hole in the fabric of the community of which the institution is a pillar, lawmakers, business leaders and other advocates said Thursday. They gathered at Penn State Scranton to make that case to keep the campus, located in Dunmore, open. The session followed Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi's late February announcement that 12 of the university's 19 satellite campuses — including Scranton and three others in Northeast Pennsylvania named Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Schuylkill, respectively — are under review for possible closure at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. A group co-led by university administrators will make a final recommendation on campus closures to Bendapudi by the end of the spring semester, and Bendapudi will make the final decision. Against that backdrop, a panel of officials that included Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn, Democratic state Reps. Jim Haddock, Kyle Donahue and Kyle Mullins, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President Bob Durkin, Scranton School District Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D., and Dunmore Superintendent John Marichak spoke Thursday to the myriad ways the Scranton campus benefits the region and its students. For many of those students, including nontraditional students and those without access to transportation or a wealth of financial resources, a closure 'would mean the end of their education,' Flynn said. 'They also spoke about how much they value being part of a campus that reflects their own community, going to class with people they know, people from their hometowns, that sense of belonging,' he continued. 'A connection is something that can't be replaced or replicated miles away.' State Rep. Jim Haddock speaks with a panel of legislators, including state Rep. Kyle Donahue, Sen. Marty Flynn, and state Rep. Kyle Mullins during a public forum concerning the possible closure of Penn State Scranton in Dunmore Thursday, May 1, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Many who spoke echoed those or similar sentiments, touting Penn State Scranton as an indispensable resource. Durkin and other chamber officials described the school as a vital partner providing educations that prepare students to fill high-priority jobs in the region, bolstering a talent pipeline critical to economic growth and development. Penn State Scranton leaders, faculty and staff also actively participate in regional economic development efforts, support the chamber's entrepreneurship program, open doors for internships at member businesses and expand professional development opportunities, the chamber stressed in a recent letter to Bendepudi. Keating and Marichak said losing the institution would negatively impact students in both districts directly, including by reducing dual enrollment opportunities allowing high school students to earn college credits and educational opportunities more broadly. 'I represent a low-income school district,' Keating said, noting nearly 80% of the Scranton School District's roughly 9,300 students are economically disadvantaged. 'They don't have the means or the opportunity to leave the area to receive a post-secondary degree that's recognized for global excellence, and Penn State is. It gives my kids an opportunity to be able to have that access.' 'Those low-income children, those children who come from economically disadvantaged homes, deserve that opportunity,' she continued. 'Closing this campus takes an opportunity like that away.' Penn State's Regional Chancellor Elizabeth J. Wright speaks during a community meeting held at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore Thursday. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Elizabeth Wright, Ph.D., regional chancellor for Penn State's Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton campuses, said 41% of students at the Scranton branch are 'Pell eligible,' meaning they're among those the federal government classifies as having the highest financial needs, and about 45% are the firsts in their families to attend college. 'And within that context we think daily about how we support students and their families as they seek to attain their educational goal,' she said. 'And indeed our goal is to help families that may be thinking that college is out of reach to transition to a moment when they say to themselves that college is within reach.' Several students and alumni who attended Thursday's event also shared personal anecdotes about how Penn State Scranton helped them academically, professionally and personally. President of the student government at Penn State Scranton Gavan Quimby voices concerns during a community meeting held at the campus Study Learning Center in Dunmore Thursday, May 1, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) But their testimonies come as Penn State and other colleges and universities face a number of headwinds, including declining enrollment. Bendepudi has attributed the 'difficult choices' the university now faces regarding the future of its satellite campuses to declining enrollments, demographic shifts and financial pressures. At the 12 campuses unprotected from closing, enrollment has dropped 39% in a decade, officials said earlier this year. Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed budget includes $242.1 million in general support funding for Penn State, the same allocation the university received for the past several years and $30 million less than it requested. But while that general support funding remains flat, Shapiro also proposes $60 million in new performance-based funding for Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University, money that would be distributed to those institutions based on the recommendations of a Performance-based Funding Council established last year. Haddock referenced the performance-based funding proposed for those state-related universities, noting Penn State officials he spoke with were 'thrilled' by the proposal. But he also took aim at Republican state lawmakers who've opposed and blocked past efforts to increase funding for Penn State, increases Haddock said local Democratic lawmakers reliably supported. 'We have all voted, this Lackawanna County delegation, we have voted for the funding of Penn State and we all voted for increased funding of Penn State, but unfortunately the votes didn't come from the other side of the aisle,' Haddock said in calling for the Scranton campus to remain open. 'So my message to Penn State is this: support the politicians that supported you. … It's ironic when I see my cohorts in the House of Representatives having roundtables like this, public forums, say 'don't cut Penn State in my district. It's jobs, it's this, it's that.' But they won't vote to fund Penn State and they forget about our students and they forget about the jobs until they're at risk. Sometimes the truth has to be spoken.' Haddock, Flynn, Mullins and Donahue all said either during or after Thursday's session that they'd reconsider their support for future state funding increases should Penn State close the Scranton campus. Their collective focus now is on making a strong case to keep it open. 'We're not here today to attack anyone,' Flynn said. 'We're here to advocate, to unite, to make it clear Penn State Scranton matters. It matters to that student who's trying to balance a part-time job and classes. It matters to the parent hoping that their child can get a degree without going into extreme, massive debt. It matters to the families who can't afford out-of-town tuition or the burden of a long-distance travel. It matters to the local businesses who rely on campuses to train their workforce.' 'So let me say this clearly,' he continued. 'Closing this campus would be devastating, not just in Dunmore or Lackawanna County, but to all of Northeastern Pennsylvania.'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation introduced to repeal cap on state police hires in Pa.
Whether you're interested in working in law enforcement, with animals or as a musician, the Pennsylvania State Police may offer the right role — and they need more officers, says the state. State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore believes his newly introduced legislation to remove a cap on the number of state police is an answer to Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget address. S.B. 641 will 'repeal the statutory limit on the number of police,' allowing the Pennsylvania State Police to 'hire the number of troopers that they see fit,' Flynn said. * Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police. * Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Dunmore. Show Caption 1 of 2 Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police. Expand 'The complement in 2002 was like 4,700, and then in 2023 it went to 4,800, but they're still running close to the complement where we need more troopers,' Flynn said in a phone interview with The Times-Tribune. According to a memo presented by Flynn, 'the last major increase in trooper complement occurred in 2002, and was capped at 4,741.' 'The population growth of Pennsylvania has increased by about 5% between 2002 and 2025,' Flynn explained in the public document. 'Simply based on population, the complement of PSP troopers should have increased by approximately 237. Instead, the General Assembly has only allowed for one increase since then, in 2023, by 100 additional troopers.' In that time, Flynn said, state police responsibilities 'have only increased,' with the addition of 65 municipalities being included to their coverage area, along with 55 new legislatively mandated duties. According to a legislative informational document issued in 2019 by the House Appropriations Committee, two-thirds of local full- or part-time police coverage in the state is primarily managed by the state, not by municipalities. Per the map provided in the report, about one-third to half of Lackawanna County at the time was depicted as being covered by state police, with about a third or so of Luzerne County under state police jurisdiction. Flynn said a similar bill, H.B. 1280, passed unanimously in the 2023-2024 House Judiciary Committee, full House of Representatives, and Senate Law and Justice Committee, would allow for hiring 'probably over 100 or 200 more, possibly.' Even with passage of the updated, bipartisan legislation — co-sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Twp., among others — the difficulty will lie in the hiring, Flynn said. 'The challenge is filing the spots, though, it's hard to get people,' he said. 'Our law enforcement has taken hits over the past couple years. When you do that to law enforcement, it makes it where people don't want to go into that field.' He called a career in law enforcement 'a noble profession.' 'We really want to see people go into that profession. It's a great job, it's a great career,' he said. 'Though dangerous, some people find it very rewarding.' Flynn recalled his own history working in law enforcement, having served as a prison guard in Lackawanna County from 2002 to 2012. Myles Snyder, the communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police, agreed the profession is noble. 'Police officers and troopers face more public scrutiny than they have probably ever,' Snyder said. 'For the men and women who sign up to do it now, it's even more noble to have to stand in the face of public scrutiny at all times … and still remain professional, courteous to the people they serve, to the people they're sworn to protect, is incredibly noble.' While Snyder noted it's department policy to not comment on pending legislation, he spoke at length about the benefits of becoming a state police officer, including excellent pay and benefits, and learning opportunities. He described the wealth of avenues available to those who choose to pursue a career working with the sate police. 'It can be crime, tactical, helicopter pilot, canine handling, forensics, office of community engagement,' he said, explaining the department works to 'build bridges, relationships between our communities and state police.' 'Media relations and community service officers who handle school programs' are among state police options, he said, plus 'run-hide-fight, prom safety, stranger danger, and the RVAT team,' who assess churches, schools and other organizations to determine how to mitigate security risks. He further added there are careers working with bomb squads, special emergency response teams and administration, and even music — for example, in a ceremonial unit playing bagpipes, drums or bugle. Regarding more state police covering municipalities, Snyder said 'it fluctuates.' 'A small municipality township may have a one- or two-person police force — someone retires or maybe injured — can't cover all shifts, so we would come in and assist part time, no charge,' Snyder said. 'If their department closed, and they didn't have anyone to cover them immediately, say, through a merger of police departments … they may hire six months, a year or so after, and then that would return to municipal police coverage.' Snyder encouraged those interested in the cadet selection process — including information on pay, duties, benefits and requirements — to visit
