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In this Update:

• Requiring Human Traffickers to Register under Megan’s Law
• Bill Introduced to Re-name Portion of Rt. 30 after Late Greensburg Fire Chief
• PennDOT Multi-Modal Grants to Benefit Youngwood Borough and the City of Latrobe

Requiring Human Traffickers to Register under Megan’s Law

The purpose of Megan’s Law is to enhance public safety by making information about registered sexual offenders available to the public through the internet, yet we now only require individuals convicted of trafficking minors into sexual servitude to register. Senator Ward introduced SB136 that expands mandatory registration under Megan’s Law to all human trafficking-related offenses. Time served on the registry will be in line with the grading of the offense – the more serious the offense, the longer the time on the registry.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery with sex trafficking accounting for more than 70% of reports.  Pennsylvania ranks in the top 10 among states for human trafficking.   Most defendants in the FBI’s human trafficking cases have prior records and were prone to recidivism.

SB136 will also aide anti-human trafficking efforts nationally and internationally.  Ward’s bill will ensure anyone convicted of human trafficking-related crime in Pennsylvania will end up on national and international registries.

“Our current law allows too many human traffickers to hide in plain sight, this legislation will end that,” stated Senator Kim Ward.

Bill Introduced to Re-name Portion of Rt. 30 after Late Greensburg Fire Chief

Senator Kim Ward recently re-introduced a bill that would rename a portion of State Route 30 the J. Edward “Hutch” Hutchinson Memorial Bypass.  The proposed renaming honors the lifetime volunteer contributions of the late Greensburg Fire Chief J. Edward Hutchinson, who was widely known as just “Hutch”.  “I can’t think of another person like him,” Ward said. “He organized to protect our community, and he put his own blood, sweat and tears into it, all while still helping the people when they needed it.”  The current section of Rt. 30 is a limited access bypass that begins at the intersection of North Greengate Road in Hempfield Township and ends near Westmoreland Mall.  It traverses through Hempfield Township, The City of Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and South Greensburg.

PennDOT Multi-Modal Grants to Benefit Youngwood Borough and the City of Latrobe

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced this month the award of two grants under the Multi-Modal Grant Program to Youngwood Borough and the City of Latrobe.  $400,000 was awarded to Youngwood for matching funds to incorporate sidewalk replacement during the reconstruction of 2nd and 3rd streets.  The City of Latrobe will utilize their $100,000 award for pedestrian enhancement for three railroad underpasses.  “The public officials in each of these communities are to be commended for being proactive with their respective projects,” stated Senator Kim Ward.  “We continue to look for more opportunities in other communities for utilization of this grant program,” she ended.

Out and About in the 39th District

Senator Ward spent lunchtime with 59 fourth graders at Mendon Elementary School as their Career Cafe speaker, and they asked a lot of good questions!

Senator Ward attended the Latrobe Business and Professional Women event and became the 100th woman to join the organization.

Senator Ward attended the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission legislative meet and greet. SPC is a 10 county regional transportation commission in SWPA. Roads, bridges and mass transit are vital to our region’s growth and economy.

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