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State briefs

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Help offered State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, wants area senior citizens to know they can receive help with state forms and applications from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. today at the Republic Senior Center. Fran Tarquinio, a member of Daley’s staff will be there to provide assistance.

No appointment is necessary. Constituents can receive help filling out forms for PACE or PACENET, the state’s prescription drug assistance programs for seniors; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which is available to income-qualified seniors, widows and widowers, and residents with permanent disabilities; and other state forms and applications.

“Our goal is to help out as many senior citizens as possible by supplying them with the information and assistance they need to receive these rebates,” Daley said. “I encourage anyone who might be eligible or who has questions about these programs to attend one of these sessions.”

More information is available by contacting Tarquinio at Daley’s office. The number is 724-785-1201.

Legislation introduced

State Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, on Tuesday announced that for the fifth consecutive session, he introduced legislation to exempt certain accounts and property from the state’s inheritance tax.

Currently, if a husband and wife have a joint checking account and one passes away, and a child signs onto the account for security purposes and subsequently dies, the initial account holder becomes responsible for payment of an inheritance tax on their own money.

“As a state legislature, we need to step to the plate and stop requiring individuals that already own this property or finances responsible for payment of an inheritance tax,” Kasunic said. “Under current law, individuals are forced to pay inheritance tax on what is essentially their own money or property.”

Kasunic’s bill, Senate Bill 561, would amend the joint tenancy section within the Tax Reform Code to fix this problem. Joint tenancy is any property held or proceeds deposited in a financial institution in the names of two or more persons. Upon the death of one person on the account, the survivor has an immediate right to the ownership and possession of that property.

Kasunic said that if enacted, the bill would exempt the property or proceeds that are jointly held as long as the individual surviving funded the entire account.

“When the Fayette County register of wills, Donald Redman, brought this to my attention, I knew something had to be done,” Kasunic said. “This is a ludicrous practice and it needs to be promptly ended.”

Obesity programs set

Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering a series of workshops to fight childhood obesity, which will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church, 20 Dunbar St., Uniontown.

“Fighting Childhood Obesity Through Active Play’ will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22. “Obese Kids: They Are What They Eat’ will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19. The April 19 workshop will be a half-hour longer to introduce participants to important child-care resources and new lending library.

“Your Number One Priority: Keeping Children Healthy Safe’ will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24.

Any child-care provider (relative/neighbor caregivers, family home, family group homes, child care centers, parents, grandparents, school teachers) can participate.

Each workshop is $5. The cost of the workshops is partially funded by Catholic Charities.

Two state Department of Public Welfare training credits are earned for a two-hour workshop. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 724-438-0111.

Election slated

The Brownsville Sons of Italy, Frank Ricco Lodge 731, will conduct its biannual officers election on Wednesday, March 21, at the lodge hall on Water Street in Brownsville. There will be refreshments at 6:30 with the meeting and the election taking place at 7:30. All lodge members are encouraged and welcomed to attend.

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