Rep. Buchsbaum Provides Mid-Session Update on Committee Work
Key Takeaways
- Rep. Buchsbaum urges relief for residents facing high electricity costs and public benefits charges.
- Energy and Technology advanced bills without addressing ratepayer cost relief, Buchsbaum criticized the process.
- Commerce Committee moved economic development and tourism bills ahead of next-week deadline.
- Public Safety advanced recruitment, retention, Buchsbaum supports adding EMS to coverage; and CRISIS expansion.
All three of the committees of which Representative Jason Buchsbaum is a member met this week to begin voting on bills that were heard at public hearings in recent weeks.
The Commerce Committee met to discuss a few bills concerning economic development and tourism. The deadline for this committee comes up next week.
"The Energy and Technology Committee held two meetings and completed its work for this session without raising a single bill that would address the high cost of electricity and exorbitant public benefits charges on ratepayer bills. I will continue to advocate for relief for our residents on this significant issue," said Rep. Buchsbaum. "Instead, it discussed proposals at its final meeting that would have the opposite effect. I took issue with that at the meeting, along with the process utilized to pass bills out of committee that were not finalized, that even the proponents acknowledged needed many changes before being presented to the full House. "
While Rep. Buchsbaum supports exploration of all energy sources, he believes there needs to be a balanced, thoughtful approach in adopting policies, and statutory language needs to be fully evaluated at the committee level.
The Public Safety & Security Committee also met to report bills through to the next step in the legislative process. There were dozens of bills that advanced, including a number aimed at assisting our first responders, including police, fire, and EMS, with respect to various benefits, recruitment, and retention.
The Committee listened to feedback on Tuesday on a firefighter and police officer recruitment and retention bill related to tuition at state schools. Rep. Buchsbaum noted, "there was testimony from EMS professionals and I have heard from EMS organizations throughout the 69th district about expanding the legislation to include EMS, which I fully support."
There were a number of other public safety initiatives on the agenda as well, including an expansion of the Connection to Recovery Through Intervention, Support & Initiating Services (CRISIS) Initiative pilot program, which helps police officers on de-escalation/intervention tactics with an aim to help connect people in overdose, substance abuse, and mental health calls to the services they need.
