HARRISBURG, March 6 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, is introducing legislation to help remedy Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage and encourage students to pursue education degrees. Rozzi’s bill would establish the PA Teach Scholarship Program. This program would provide a scholarship of up to $8,000 per year, $32,000 in total, to eligible students studying at one of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education schools. To be eligible, students would have to be enrolled in a primary or secondary education program or in a student teaching role. “The demand for teachers continues to grow, but the supply of educators has not kept up. One reason for this is the astronomical price tag that comes with earning a degree here in Pennsylvania,” Rozzi said. “My bill would help ease the financial burden of earning an education degree, therefore incentivizing students to enter the field.” In addition to encouraging students to pursue teaching, Rozzi’s bill would ensure that their talents stay in the state and benefit Pennsylvania children. After graduating, scholarship recipients would have two requirements to meet, or they would have to reimburse the commonwealth all amounts received. One is to commence employment in Pennsylvania within one year of graduating. The second is to work within the commonwealth for a period of one year for each academic year that the student received a PA Teach scholarship. “Less and Read more
“These funds are sitting in the rainy day fund,” Rozzi said, referring to the state’s emergency savings account. “Well, for our teachers, it’s pouring and our educators are drowning.” Read more
Elevating Educators contains a Rep. Rozzi bill that would create a Teacher Scholarship Program. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Mark Rozzi discusses the rules he drafted while holding the position of House Speaker. The "Rozzi Rules" were adopted March 1. Rozzi says his set of rules will put an end to partisan games by giving the minority party a larger presence on committees, change the constitutional amendment process and create a safer work environment. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 1 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, today introduced two additional pieces of legislation that would reform Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse victims. His legislation would open a two-year window during which victims could file civil lawsuits against their abusers, regardless of when the abuse occurred. Rozzi’s bills, introduced today during regular session, H.B. 1 and H.B. 2, have the same goals as their special-session companion bills passed last week. H.B. 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would reform the state’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors. If adopted, the amendment would open a retroactive two-year window for victims to pursue legal action against abusers and those who aided in covering up their abuse. Through its constitutional amendment route, H.B. 1 would ultimately require approval of Pennsylvania voters. If the Senate passes this bill, it could be on the ballot for the November 2023 election. Rozzi initially introduced this amendment nearly two years ago with Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair/Huntingdon. H.B. 2 aims to achieve the same goal, but instead go through the typical legislative process. For the two-year window to open, it would need to pass the Senate and then be signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. “We just passed Special Session House Bills 1 and 2 that aim to open a two-year window where childhood sexual abuse victims could Read more
HARRISBURG, March 1 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, reformed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ operating rules under his “Rozzi Rules,” which the House adopted today. Rozzi’s platform for speakership was a promise to operate the House independently, ensuring that both sides are heard and have a fair chance to run their bills. He accomplished this in the rules he drafted by changing how committees operate and their composition as well as streamlining the constitutional amendment process. Committee changes include the process to discharge a bill and committees’ bipartisan makeup. Under these rules, no committee chair will have the sole ability to stop a good bill with bipartisan support from being considered or allow a bill to bounce between different committees indefinitely. The minority party will also have a larger presence on all standing committees with a 12-9 split. The House Appropriations Committee will have a 22-15 split. Furthermore, any minority committee chair is entitled to invite at least one testifier to hearings. “House committees play a major role in what pieces of legislation receive a full House vote. By re-evaluating how they operate, who serves on them and the powers they have, it can drastically change what bills make it into the House chamber, and ultimately to the governor,” Rozzi said. “These new rules are a significant improvement from decades prior, ensuring that both sides Read more
“Better rules means better lawmaking,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), the former speaker who stepped down this week. Read more
Rozzi announced his resignation four days after he oversaw the state House’s passage of two measures that would allow childhood victims of sexual abuse to sue their perpetrator and the institutions that shielded them for damages. Read more
“I was used as a child. It has tormented me my entire life. I will never allow myself to be used again,” Rozzi said. Read more
“There’s going to have to be compromises on all legislation because of how tight the numbers are,” Rozzi said. “So I think that [McClinton is] the right person to lead this House right now.” Read more
READING, Feb. 27 – House Speaker Mark Rozzi today announced that J-Van Body Inc., a minority-owned business in Reading, was awarded a $195,000 loan for an initiative benefiting people living with disabilities. J-Van Body was approved for the loan through the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority. Funding will go toward financing equipment to produce a Mobile Personal Care Vehicle, as well as working capital. The MPCV is a specialty van that provides critical services to people with disabilities. Through this project, the company will create three new jobs within three years and retain two full-time employees. “Supporting minority-owned businesses is a great way to stimulate economic growth here in Reading. By empowering these businesses, we not only create economic opportunities, but we also promote diversity and inclusivity,” Rozzi said. “I look forward to seeing how J-Van Body uses this funding to accomplish their mission of serving Pennsylvanians with disabilities.” Established in 1974, the PMBDA administers low-interest loan financing to businesses owned and operated by ethnic minorities to promote job creation and entrepreneurial development. J-Van Body is a Reading-based van body and truck equipment manufacturer established in 2016. Read more
“I think the rules that we’re introducing are going to be revolutionary,” Rozzi said. Read more
House Speaker Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, vowed to prioritize the two-year window while leading the chamber and urged the Senate to act on the House bills after last week’s votes. Read more
Speaker Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, a victim of clergy sex abuse as an adolescent, said, “I want to say to all the victims and survivors out there that we have your backs. We will support you.” Read more
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House Mark Rozzi comments on the passage of legislation to deliver justice for survivors of childhood sexual assault and calls on the Senate to quickly send the constitutional amendment to the voters and the statutory fix to Gov. Josh Shapiro. Read more
Pa. Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi took to the House Floor to remind every member of the House that victims have waited long enough for the justice that they deserve. Rozzi also urged the #PaSenate to do their jobs and pass these bills. More at http://www.pahouse.com Read more
Friday’s passage was particularly meaningful for House Speaker Mark Rozzi (D., Berks), who is a victim of childhood sex abuse and has made the bills his top priority since his surprise election as speaker last month. Read more
It took a special session, but Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) got what he wanted. Read more
It was a major accomplishment for House Speaker Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat elected to preside over the chamber early last month. Read more
A joint resolution containing a single proposed constitutional amendment to open a two-year window was introduced, and House Speaker Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, introduced the traditional statute to amend existing law and authorize the two-year temporary window. Read more
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