Rep. Jerry Stern (R-80) today announced the Commonwealth will continue funding Blair County’s Intermediate Punishment Program.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) approved a $233,000 grant for the county program, which treats adolescent drug and alcohol offenders.
“It was absolutely critical that we secured the funding for this program because drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents is a serious challenge in Blair County, especially in the city of Altoona,” Stern said.
Stern is a ranking majority member of the House Appropriations Committee and a designee to the PCCD, roles that ensured the program received the funding.
The Intermediate Punishment Program allows corrections officials and treatment managers numerous opportunities to intervene with the offender. The progress of the offender is closely monitored throughout the sentence by the adult parole office, an IP specialist, DUI/IP coordinator, the administrative care manager, the intensive case manager and treatment providers.
“The collaboration of these treatment and correction officials allows young offenders the opportunity to get back on the right track and aids in decreasing the number of repeat drug and alcohol offenders,” Stern said.
Stern is facing a busy session in the General Assembly.
He has been appointed by Speaker of the House Matthew Ryan to serve on four committees” Appropriations, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Children and Youth and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.
“We have a lot of obstacles to overcome, most of them financial in nature,” said Stern. “We have to fix the defecit while hammering out a solution to education funding and the medical malpractice insurance crisis, not to mention our standard priorities like transportation, crime and the economy.”
A seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee — which overseas how every cent of taxpayers’ money is spent — is daunting enough. Stern has also been asked to chair the newly created House Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Facilities, a hefty assignment with America being embattled against terrorism. There are 98 National Guard armories across Pennsylvania, 30 of which are going to be replaced in the next five years due to a federal and state cost-share program. Pennsylvania has the largest of al National Guard units in the United States.
There are six state veterans homes that will fall under the purview of Stern’s subcommittee.
Stern has also added to the Children and Youth Committee, which he said has a full plate of legislative priorities, including those dealing with child abuse prevention, child daycare, adoption, foster parenting issues and juvenile justice.
“I am ready to roll up my sleaves and get done what we have to do this session,” Stern added.
Stern was first elected to represent the 80th Legislative District in 1992 and is serving his sixth term.
