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Happy birthday Alyssa Ryan Pajalich!

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Luzerne County issues refunds to two companies due to property assessment reductions

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright this week re-introduced the bipartisan Military Spouse Job Continuity Act of 2017 with the support of 56 co-sponsors.</p><p>The legislation offers a tax credit to any military spouse who has to renew or transfer a professional license due to a Permanent Change of Station order that requires them to move across state lines.</p><p>&#8220;We must not overlook the sacrifices that the families of our service members make,&#8221; Cartwright, D-Moosic, said in a news release. &#8220;When our men and women relocate to meet the needs of the military, their spouses are often required to put their careers on hold. This bill will ease the stress of relocating and assist military spouses in quickly re-entering the workforce.&#8221;</p><p>The tax credit would only apply to administrative fees paid to licensing boards or certificate-granting institutions, expenses that are not covered by existing programs. These expenses include those associated with licenses and official certifications for lawyers, nurses, cosmetologists, speech pathologists and veterinary technicians, among others.</p><p>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, introduced similar legislation in the Senate.</p><p>&#8220;This tax credit is a small step in making the transition more seamless and lightening the financial burden military families face to move,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;This bill would not only assist in retaining the best and brightest in our military, but also bolster our economy.&#8221;</p><p>The bill is endorsed by the National Military Family Association, the Association of the United States Navy, the Military Officers Association of America and the National Guard Association of the United States.</p><p><strong>Casey introduces </strong><strong>his first </strong><strong>two bills </strong><strong>of new Congress</strong></p><p>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey&#8217;s first pieces of legislation he introduced this year &#8212; the Community Economic Assistance Act and the Promise Zone Job Creation Act &#8212; aim to help Pennsylvania communities with economic challenge.</p><p>&#8226; The Community Economic Assistance Act would direct economic development funds to communities experiencing a major job loss event. In addition to a major job loss, communities would qualify for designation as a Community Economic Assistance Zone if they have been significantly impacted by trade, are transitioning away from an energy-based economy or are experiencing local recession.</p><p>The legislation would provide an employment credit of up to $3,000 per employee within the designated region. Federal Economic Support Teams and established economic development plans will ensure communities stay on the path to revitalization.</p><p>&#8226; The Promise Zone program aims to revitalize high poverty communities through job creation, improved educational opportunities and reduction in violent crime.</p><p>Upon selection through a competitive process, the federal government will partner with zones to stimulate growth. The bill lays out requirements for eligibility, establishes a 10-year period of eligibility after designation and would create an employment credit for businesses that employ zone residents.</p><p><strong>Exemptions </strong><strong>for reservists, </strong><strong>vets available</strong></p><p>Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Pedro A. Cort&#233;s this week advised military veterans and reservists that they are now exempt from certain fees for business start-ups and professional licensure.</p><p>&#8220;Eliminating these fees for our military veterans and reservists is another way to foster the best possible business climate in Pennsylvania,&#8221; Wolf said in a news release. &#8220;At the same time, we are showing veterans the gratitude they deserve for their service and sacrifices.&#8221;</p><p>The business-fee exemption, which became effective Jan. 2, is a result of Act 135 of 2016. The Act eliminates the requirement for fees to start or open a new small business if the business is veteran- or reservist-owned.</p><p>&#8220;The Department of State is proud to play a part in repaying the commonwealth&#8217;s debt to our veterans and reservists,&#8221; Cort&#233;s said. &#8220;By easing the costs of starting a new business, we can help ensure that entrepreneur veterans have every opportunity for a successful future.&#8221;</p><p>Filing fees to register a new business will be waived by the Department&#8217;s Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations when the registration documents are signed by the veteran or reservist and submitted with proof of the veteran&#8217;s or reservist&#8217;s status.</p><p>In addition, Act 135 allows the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to waive initial application fees for certain license types for businesses regulated by various boards and commissions.</p><p>For purposes of exemption, a veteran is an individual who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National Guard, and who was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. A reservist is a member of a U.S. Armed Forces reserve component or National Guard.</p><p><strong>State urges feds </strong><strong>to accept private </strong><strong>flood insurance</strong></p><p>Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller is urging federal regulators to amend their proposed regulations governing federally-backed loans for homes in Special Flood Hazard Areas to direct mortgage lenders to also accept residential flood policies written by what are called surplus lines insurers.</p><p>Miller said this would help homeowners have more options and potentially reap substantial savings, while protecting their homes.</p><p>Miller sent a letter to federal financial regulators who have proposed regulations governing which private market flood insurance policies lenders making federally-backed mortgage loans must accept. Homes in SFHAs with federally backed mortgages are required to have flood coverage, which is not included in standard homeowner insurance policies.</p><p>Miller said in her letter to federal financial regulators the main problem with the proposed regulations is they do not specifically say that personal lines residential flood policies offered by surplus lines insurers can be accepted by lenders for purposes of satisfying the mandatory purchase requirement for homes in SFHAs. She notes this could seriously harm consumers&#8217; opportunities to get flood insurance at the best prices, as nearly all residential flood policies sold by the private market in Pennsylvania now are through surplus lines carriers.</p><p>Surplus lines insurance companies are licensed outside of Pennsylvania, in other states or countries, and typically provide types of insurance that licensed companies have found too risky or too new to offer. Surplus lines coverage is sold by producers who must be licensed in Pennsylvania and adhere to Pennsylvania laws. Miller also noted the Insurance Department&#8217;s Consumer Services Bureau has no consumer complaints regarding surplus lines insurers.</p><p>Miller also specifically asks federal regulators to amend their proposed regulations to require private flood coverage only be as broad as an NFIP policy for the specific property securing the loan. This is important to allow private insurers to tailor coverage to a homeowner&#8217;s specific needs, and provide more options at better prices. For example, the NFIP provides coverage for certain property, such as a furnace or water heater, in a basement, but if a home does not have a basement, private flood coverage should be able to reflect this, and potentially offer the policy at a lower price.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_CARTWRIGHT-TAB-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cartwright</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_CARTWRIGHT-TAB-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cartwright</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Wolf_March2016CMYK-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wolf </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Wolf_March2016CMYK-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wolf </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Cortes-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cortes </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Cortes-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cortes </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Insurance-Commissioner-Teresa-Miller-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Miller </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Insurance-Commissioner-Teresa-Miller-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Miller </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Capitol-Harrisburg-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Pennsylvania state capitol building in Harrisburg. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Capitol-Harrisburg-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>The Pennsylvania state capitol building in Harrisburg. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)</caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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Capitol Roundup: Cartwright introduces bill to alleviate burdens of military families