“K-12 sports should be about teaching values and competitiveness, giving children a second option that keeps them in school, and allowing opportunities for a brighter future," Conklin said. Read more
“Free and fair elections are at the very heart of our democracy, but ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently requires vigilance – and sometimes action – on our part when changing circumstances demand it,” Conklin said. “Five years ago, Pennsylvania expanded the use of mail and absentee ballots, resulting in a dramatic increase in these ballots. It was a great move that increased voter participation, but it also created some unwanted administrative issues.“As mail ballots have increased, county election board workers from all over the state have been telling us that the current system is unworkable and that they simply don’t have enough time to process these ballots. The resulting delays in tabulating returns can prevent a timely and efficient vote count and – even worse – foment voter mistrust and unfounded conspiracies.“This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s a logistical issue that is within our power to fix. Today, by passing my bill to extend time for pre-canvassing, we took a major step toward fixing those issues and making the system work as it was intended.” Read more
“By leaving public schools no option but to compete against larger, more powerful teams recruited by private schools, the PIAA’s current system is putting student athletes from public schools at a huge disadvantage before they even set foot on the field,” Conklin said. “It’s a system that sets kids up for failure, sends the wrong message and – worst of all – exposes them to the risk of serious injury. “We need to reform the playoff rules by allowing the PIAA to set up alternate playoff systems and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools. Having separate playoffs would not hurt the element of competition – it would merely ensure those contests are waged on a level playing field.” Read more
“Learning is never a one-size-fits-all proposition, but one thing is universally true – all students need a safe and supportive environment to learn and thrive,” Conklin said. “This new funding will ensure our schools have the resources they need to provide that environment, so students and staff are free to focus on academic success.” Read more
STATE COLLEGE, April 19 – Faster, more reliable broadband is coming to underserved areas of Centre County thanks to new funding of nearly $17.6 million from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, announced today. Conklin, who is majority chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said the funding – which includes $16.1 million to Verizon Pennsylvania LLC and $1.5 million to Windstream Pennsylvania LLC – will bring residents and small business owners in underserved areas the connections they need. “Internet provides essential connections to the world, but for too long, residents lacking speedy, reliable access have faced a disadvantage when it comes to key online resources for job opportunities, training and education, shopping, telemedicine and more,” Conklin said. “Small businesses in underserved areas also lose a major competitive edge. “We have worked hard to get the necessary broadband infrastructure in place, and with this new infusion of funding, we can finally make those critical high-speed connections a reality for the residents and businesses who need them.” Conklin said that matching funding will bring the total project to nearly $40 million. The funding – which is part of a statewide package awarded under the Broadband Infrastructure Program – will also benefit underserved communities in Blair, Read more
“As chair of the House Commerce Committee, I believe we must fund minority businesses to ensure marginalized Pennsylvanians have the ability to start their business in our commonwealth,” Conklin said. “With more than 1.15% of businesses owned by minorities in 2020, we need to make the economy more equitable for Pennsylvania’s entrepreneurs by allowing minority businesses to prosper in our economy and remain competitive in our marketplace. By advancing this legislation to the House, we will invest in Pennsylvania’s businesses, ensuring that we keep Pennsylvania open for business.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Who May Apply: Agricultural producers or processors and nonprofits, for-profits, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities or hospitals that operate middle of the food chain activities or invest in equipment that will benefit middle of the supply chain activities. Use: Activities that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural products Funds: Grants will be awarded to the extent that funds are available. Grant requests shall be between $10,000 and $100,000. Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 More information: PDA Website Department of Health: WalkWorks Grant Program Who May Apply: Municipalities located in either a PA Department of Health State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) priority county or in communities with an overall percentile rating above 60 in the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s PennEnviroScreen Tool. The 10 current SPAN counties include Clearfield, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Northumberland, and Philadelphia. Use: Funds and structured pre-planning assistance will be available to a limited number of municipal and/or multi-municipal applicants to complete the steps necessary to prepare to apply in the future for funds Read more
“With subscriptions contributing $650 billion to the economy and businesses monetizing relationships with customers through recurring subscriptions, we must regulate automatic contract renewals to ensure that they do not deceive consumers,” Conklin, who chairs the PA House Commerce Committee said. “That’s why we introduced this legislation so that businesses notify consumers that their contract is approaching its automatic renewal, as well as to offer time to shop for other subscriptions and consider canceling the subscription. By doing so, we ensure transparency, which is in the best interest of Pennsylvania’s consumers, businesses, and economy.” Read more
“With subscriptions contributing $650 billion to the economy and businesses monetizing relationships with customers through recurring subscriptions, we must regulate automatic contract renewals to ensure that they do not deceive consumers,” said Conklin, who chairs the PA House Commerce Committee. “That’s why we introduced this legislation, so that businesses notify consumers that their contract is approaching its automatic renewal, as well as to offer time to shop for other subscriptions and consider cancelling the subscription. By doing so, we ensure transparency, which is in the best interest of Pennsylvania’s consumers, businesses, and economy.” Read more
Conklin, along with Rep. Benjamin V. Sanchez (D-Montgomery), Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Robert E. Merski (D-Erie), introduced House Bill No. 2164 March 27. If passed, the legislation would add wineries to the list of eligible organizations to conduct small games of chance including raffles, drawings and pull-tab games. Read more
"It’s House Bill 1983 and what people have to understand is that all the bill says is at the end of the year, boundary schools and non-boundary schools have their own separate tournament." Read more
“With nearly 300 wineries and Pennsylvania producing 2 million gallons of wine each year, we must support our commonwealth’s economy by allowing small games of chance, such as pull-tabs and raffles, at our wineries, just as we allow at breweries,” Conklin said. “Pennsylvania’s wineries date back to the 17th century when William Penn himself planted a vineyard in Philadelphia. By allowing wineries to offer small games of chance, we can also increase funding to programs for Pennsylvania’s seniors and other charitable purposes or public interest funds.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE Program) Who May Apply: Local governments, planning organizations, or Commonwealth agencies. Use: Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, roadway safety, mobility, and capacity upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, local technical assistance program projects, and traffic signal improvements. Funds: PennDOT anticipates $32 million available with the intent of funding worthwhile projects that can be completed at a relatively low cost. Application Deadline: A pre-application scoping form is required to be submitted by April 30, 2024. Feedback will be provided by May 31, 2024. The application period will be open from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. More information: PennDOT Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Read more
“As technology advances and cryptocurrency continues to emerge, we must protect consumers from financial collapses,” said Conklin, who serves as the majority chair of the House Commerce Committee. “With the global cryptocurrency market valued at $4.67 million in 2022 and expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% from 2023 to 2030, consumers’ finances are at risk if the market goes under. House Bill 2081 would provide protections for consumers by requiring cryptocurrency lenders to reserve collateral. By doing so, we boost consumer confidence.” Read more
Currently, wineries are excluded from offering tavern games which are pull-tabs, tavern daily drawings, and tavern raffles. Read more
“With the right to repair laws, we would ensure manufacturers provide consumers with the necessary tools to repair their devices, support businesses that will repair devices at a lower cost than the manufacturers, and prevent electronic waste which comprised 53.6 million tonnes of waste produced in 2019 by ensuring the sustainability of our electronic devices. By doing so, we prevent monopolies from taking over the economy, allowing small businesses to thrive in our commonwealth.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement agencies, campus or university police, railroad or street railway police, airport authority police, and county park police. Use: Funding is explicitly to support Act 120 training and recruitment activities for law enforcement officers that will take place between Oct. 19, 2023 and June 30, 2025. Funds: $14 million in Read more
“With right-to-repair laws, we would ensure manufacturers provide consumers with the necessary tools to repair their devices, support businesses that will repair devices at a lower cost than the manufacturers, and prevent electronic waste – which comprised 53.6 million tons of waste produced in 2019 – by ensuring the sustainability of our electronic devices. By doing so, we prevent monopolies from taking over the economy, allowing small businesses to thrive in our commonwealth.” Read more
“As we invest $613,989 to rehabilitate South Mountain Road and enhance Medical Center Drive, we build a foundation for safer journeys for drivers, as well as bridge connections throughout Centre County,” Conklin said. “This funding will allow us to build our infrastructure in Centre County back better, ensuring drivers may get where they need to go.” Read more
He explained, “As counties get more and more populated, the state has not put the resources into these types of facilities, such as humane districts, more officers to go out.” Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Scott Conklin.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
State College Service Center301 S. Allen St. Suite 102State College, PA 16801
P*: (814) 238-5477
F*: (814) 863-3898
Hours of Operation - Hours: M-F, 9:00am - 4:30pm
213 N. Front St.Philipsburg, PA 16866
P*: (814) 342-4872
F*: (814) 342-4874
314 Irvis Office BuildingPO Box 202077Harrisburg, PA 17120-2077
P*: (717) 787-9473
F*: (717) 780-4764