HARRISBURG, PA — To ensure that critical government services are not impacted if the state budget is not passed on time, PA State Sen. Pat Stefano will introduce legislation that would establish a special fund to maintain their operations.

“When Governor Wolf vetoed the state budget in June and vetoed a stop-gap budget we sent him in September, schools, social services agencies and other organizations were forced to take out loans and, in some cases, shut their doors,” Stefano said. “They should not be used as hostages because of an impasse, particularly since the state is still collecting tax dollars. Core government services must be guaranteed funding.”

Stefano’s bill would establish a Budget Impasse Critical Services Fund to ensure that certain line items in the budget will continue to receive state appropriations at their current level if the budget is not passed by the June 30 deadline. Funding would continue for programs under the Department of Human Services, appropriations for local school districts and higher education grants and various expenses of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Stefano’s bill would also impose a travel ban for state officials and legislators, and freeze all publicly funded websites and social media accounts with editorial content from elected officials.