Don’t Miss Out on Free Property Tax Rent Rebate Assistance

March 24, 2017

Legislative Report

The latest news from the State Capitol

Don’t Miss Out on Free Property Tax Rent Rebate Assistance

My district office staff will be available to provide FREE application assistance for the state’s 2016 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program at the following dates, times and locations:

Thursday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to noon, New Eagle Municipal Building, 157 Main St., New Eagle Borough.
Thursday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to noon, Smock Fire Hall, 125 Shaffer Ave., Smock.

Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2016. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities.

The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Applications are due by June 30.

Residents are reminded to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately.

Copies of the forms, as well as FREE assistance with filing them, are also available by contacting my Bentleyville district office at (724) 669-2242 and online at RepBudCook.com.

Is PA Ready for Self-Driving Cars?

With highly automated vehicle technology currently being tested in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania could be at the forefront of this type of transportation, even though state law never anticipated this type of advancement.

That’s why members of the House and Senate Transportation committees learned more about highly automated vehicles, known as driverless or self-driving cars, during a joint hearing on Tuesday. The goal involves striking the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring public safety.

The hearing featured testimony from National Conference of State Legislatures, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania State Police, Carnegie Mellon University, Uber, General Motors, the Global Automakers, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.

Experts in the field have said that driverless cars can lead to greater safety, mobility, innovation and economic development. Several of the cars were also on display after the hearing.

For the latest district events and legislative updates, visit RepBudCook.com and Facebook.com/RepBudCook.

Discount Vehicle Registration to Expand to More Retirees

More retirees on fixed incomes would be able to apply for discount vehicle registrations under legislation that passed the House on Tuesday.

Currently, PennDOT offers a vehicle registration at a discounted rate of $10 to retirees who receive Social Security or other pension income that does not exceed $19,200 annually. Only one vehicle per person may be registered at the discounted rate.

House Bill 188 would increase the income limit to $23,500, the same threshold set for the state’s PACENET prescription drug assistance program. The income limit for the program was last increased in 1998. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Additional information about the existing program is available at www.dmv.pa.gov.

Restitution Package Seeks to Help Crime Victims

To make it easier for crime victims to receive the restitution owed to them, the House passed four bills designed to make sure criminals pay their legal obligations.

The bills would make it easier for counties to collect restitution; authorize wage attachment; require that any bail money be applied to restitution; and require that correctional facilities make minimum deductions from the wages and personal accounts of inmates.

In addition to meeting restitution, the bills also contain provisions that would require criminals to also address any owed court costs, fines and other obligations.

The bills now head to the state Senate.

Sign Up to Receive Legislative Email Updates

Keep up-to-date on the latest legislative and community news. Your email address will be used strictly for legislative purposes.