PA General Assembly Passes 2022-2023 Budget

The state House approved the spending plan in a 180-20 vote Thursday afternoon. The state Senate followed, in a 47-3 vote, on Friday after a debate on adding language to the state constitution declaring it does not grant any right relating to abortion and requiring voter ID to vote in all instances. Overall, the deal represents a 2.9% increase in state spending compared to last year’s budget. Education saw a major investment, with $525 million more appropriated for K-12 schools, $225 million for some of the state’s poorest districts, and $100 million each for special education, school safety, and school mental health services. The child welfare budget shows a 12% increase with an additional $160.4 million in state investments. PCCYFS is disappointed that the state budget does not include any recruitment and retention funding for private providers, who contract with county child welfare and juvenile justice offices at a time when turnover and vacancies rates with private providers is at an all time high, waiting lists for children and families to receive services continues to grow, and more children with complex behavioral health needs are being sent out of state to receive services.