PENNSYLVANIA — Governor Josh Shapiro last night signed significant bipartisan school and fiscal code bills into law. These laws support the bipartisan budget for fiscal year 2023-24 and further deliver on Governor Shapiro’s top priorities: a stronger economy, safer and healthier communities, and better schools.
The governor collaborated with legislative leaders from both parties to ensure the bipartisan passage of major legislation. The laws will fund student mental health, environmental repairs in schools, 9-1-1 emergency dispatch, and an expansion of the Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program.
The newly signed laws include provisions to allocate $175 million for environmental repairs and upgrades in Pennsylvania schools, which is $75 million more than the governor requested in his proposed budget. The laws also provide $100 million for student mental health, $10 million for student teacher stipends, and $7.5 million for indigent defense.
Governor Shapiro expressed his satisfaction with the bipartisan agreement. “I ran for Governor to deliver real, tangible solutions to the most pressing issues folks are facing every day,” he said. “The bipartisan bills I am signing tonight include more big wins for Pennsylvania.”
In less than a year in office, Governor Shapiro and his administration have accomplished a majority of the goals he outlined in his first budget address. These include expanding the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, delivering universal free breakfast for all K-12 students, providing mental health resources for students, investing in vocational-technical and apprenticeship programs, allocating state funding for indigent defense, and more.
These new laws signify a major step forward in delivering on the governor’s promises to Pennsylvania residents. They demonstrate the power of bipartisan work in achieving major legislative victories that directly benefit the lives of Pennsylvanians.
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