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Routine traffic stop yields drug find

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Northwest and May romp past Holy Redeemer, 43-7

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; As students go back to school and maintain employment during the school year, Department of Labor &amp; Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak is reminding Pennsylvanians that the state&#8217;s Child Labor Law limits working hours and the types of work that may be performed by employees under age 18 while in school.</p><p>&#8220;Students who work during the school year can get valuable work experience and earn a paycheck year-round,&#8221; Oleksiak said. &#8220;But businesses that hire young people must follow the laws in place to protect younger workers, prioritize their education, and ensure they have a safe, positive experience.&#8221;</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s Child Labor Law protects the health, safety and welfare of minors employed in the commonwealth by restricting employment in certain establishments, the hours of work, work conditions and occupations involved.</p><p>The law covers three age groups: less than 14 years of age, 14- and 15-year-olds, and 16- and 17-year-olds. All minors under 16 must have a written statement by the minor&#8217;s parent or guardian acknowledging the duties and hours of employment and granting permission to work. All minors under 18 must obtain a work permit before starting work.</p><p><strong>Under-14 work restrictions</strong></p><p>Children under age 14 may not be employed in any occupation; however, they are permitted to work on a family farm or in domestic service, such as lawn or house chores.</p><p>Other exceptions are made for caddies, newspaper carriers and &#8211; with special permits &#8211; juvenile entertainment performers.</p><p><strong>14-15-year-olds work restrictions</strong></p><p>During the school year, 14- and 15-year-olds may work a maximum of three hours on school days, and 18 hours per school week (Monday&#8212;Friday), plus eight additional hours on Saturdays and Sundays.</p><p>Students age 14-15 may only work during times that do not interfere with school attendance. For some occupations, such as newspaper delivery, caddies and some farm work, different standards may apply.</p><p><strong>16-17-year-olds work restrictions</strong></p><p>During the school year, 16- and 17-year-olds may only work a maximum of eight hours a day and 28 hours per school week, plus eight additional hours on Saturdays and Sundays.</p><p>All minors may not work more than six consecutive days, and must be allowed a 30-minute meal period on or before five consecutive hours of work. Full- or part-time minors must be paid at least minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour. </p><p>In addition, all employers that employ minors must verify that the work permit and the parental statement of permission has been received. Employers must also notify the issuing officer in writing that they are employing the minor, detailing the normal duties and hours of employment within five days after the minor begins working.</p><p>Workers who are 18 years and older are not subject to child labor laws. The federal child labor law also applies in Pennsylvania. Where they overlap, the more stringent of the two laws takes precedence in favor of the young worker.</p><p><strong>Special Education Funding</strong></p><p><strong>Commission reconstituted</strong></p><p>The Special Education Funding Commission, which was originally established in Act 3 of 2012 to review and make recommendations regarding special education funding, is being reconstituted to review the current formula that determines special education payments to school districts in Pennsylvania, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, House Education Committee Chairman Curtis Sonney, R-Erie, and Education Secretary Pedro Rivera.</p><p>The reconstituted Special Education Funding Commission, established under Act 16 of 2019, held its organizational meeting this week during which it elected Browne,	Sonney and Rivera to co-chair the commission.</p><p>&#8220;We expect to take a comprehensive look at the current formula used to distribute state funding to school districts for special education and determine if the formula and the factors used are meeting their intended goals,&#8221; Browne said.</p><p>The current special education funding formula, one of the original commission&#8217;s recommendations in 2013, was enacted and took effect for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The formula directs dollars to school districts that have the greatest need for additional resources based upon the cost of each special education student.</p><p>&#8220;The special education funding formula is a critical component in helping school districts address the specific needs of this student population,&#8221; said Matt Stem, Department of Education Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. &#8220;It&#8217;s important to review the current formula to ensure that funding is being allocated to schools in such a way that they may provide their students with the resources and education they deserve.&#8221;</p><p>The commission expects to meet throughout the fall to hear testimony and develop a report. The commission is required to issue its report to the General Assembly no later than Nov. 30.</p><p><strong>Opportunities announced for</strong></p><p><strong>Pennsylvania&#8217;s hemp industry</strong></p><p>Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Fred Strathmeyer last week announced new upcoming opportunities for hemp growers, processors, and investors to plan for a bright future for Pennsylvania&#8217;s new, old crop.</p><p>&#8220;Hemp is back in Pennsylvania in a really strong way,&#8221; Strathmeyer said, &#8220;We want to give this industry every opportunity to capitalize on the booming global market for hemp.&#8221;</p><p>With assistance from Team Pennsylvania, the department will hold Pennsylvania&#8217;s inaugural Hemp Summit in October. The summit will serve as a bridge to connect hemp farmers, processors, investors, and supporting industries with hemp industry experts from across the country and internationally, and provide an opportunity to learn, network, and grow to benefit the future in Pennsylvania hemp.</p><p>&#8220;Between this summit and Gov. Tom Wolf&#8217;s Pennsylvania Farm Bill, 2020 will be a turning point for hemp in our state,&#8221; Strathmeyer added. &#8220;These are very intentional investments in a crop with big possibilities for Pennsylvania agriculture.&#8221;</p><p>This summer, Wolf signed the PA Farm Bill, a comprehensive package of legislation that will create a state-level Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to invest in and encourage farming of high-priority crops like hemp. Eligible projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by improving distribution, efficiency, or research to boost consumption of goods.</p><p>In addition to being eligible for these specialty crop grants, hemp growers will be able to take advantage of the new Agricultural Business Development Center including services for business planning, marketing, and diversification.</p><p>Hemp was grown in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States until after World War II, but became regulated alongside marijuana and its cultivation was prohibited. Hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species of plant. Unlike marijuana, hemp is grown mainly for fiber and seed and must maintain a much lower concentration of the psychoactive chemical tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, below the 0.3 percent legal threshold.</p><p><strong>State: Learn how to</strong></p><p><strong>prepare for emergencies</strong></p><p>The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is encouraging citizens to take steps to prepare for emergencies by participating in September&#8217;s 30 Days/30 Ways preparedness event.</p><p>&#8220;We tend to think about emergencies as large-scale, catastrophic events that affect a large number of people,&#8221; said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. &#8220;But you are much more likely to be affected by smaller incidents that can disrupt your daily routine for a shorter period of time, so those are the types of things you need to be thinking about too.&#8221;</p><p>Anyone who wants to participate can register to get weekly updates with helpful hints and tips to get them started on their journey to preparedness. The information in the weekly updates can easily be shared with family, neighbors, and loved ones. At the end of the month, participants who fill out a brief survey about their experience will be entered to win a random drawing of a wind-up radio, flashlight or phone charger.</p><p>This year&#8217;s theme for National Preparedness Month is &#8220;Prepared. Not Scared.&#8221; Much like a fire drill, knowing what to do in an emergency makes the situation a little less frightening for everyone. The goal of NPM is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, businesses, school, and places of worship.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Strathmayer </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_FRED-STRAHMAYER.jpg</photo0><caption0>Strathmayer </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_PEMA-DIRECTOR-DAVID-PADFIELD.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Padfield</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_PEMA-DIRECTOR-DAVID-PADFIELD.jpg</photo1><caption1>Padfield</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_Capitol-logo-4.jpg">
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<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>

L&I offers reminders about job rules for teens during the school year