G. David Sload: Helping keep Pennsylvanians employed with bi-partisan support
Contact: G. David Sload
President/CEO
dave@abckeystone.org | (717) 653-8106
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 22, 2024
HARRISBURG, PA, August 22—The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Keystone Chapter represents 30,000 skilled construction employees in nearly 700 companies throughout most of Pennsylvania. We fully recognize the workforce shortage is growing and that there are several Pennsylvanians that have hit barriers to employment due to legal issues. We started a journey years ago of being good corporate citizens, advocating to our membership the importance of helping people with criminal records get or maintain a job. This is simply smart business by compassionate humans.
We are thankful this is a non-partisan issue with both parties not only coming to the table, but actively supporting one another in leading the legislative process. Currently, we are collaborating with Senators Costa (D) and Stefano (R) on a commonsense bill they are sponsoring together that will be a win-win-win in our state, which is something we all welcome.
Pennsylvanians today can have their driver’s license suspended due to nonpayment of fines or fees, which brings obvious questions of how someone can get to work in most of the state. If a valid license is needed to operate equipment, they cannot even work in certain jobs. This is an outdated and extremely punitive means to get someone’s attention and as employers we see this as a huge barrier to work that can also create a debtor’s prison with significant limitations in how to get out of it.
We are glad to work with both senators in advancing SB 1118 out of the senate and are optimistic to see the same support in the House where it is under consideration. This bill creates a path for someone that has their license suspended for financial reasons – not DUI, reckless driving, etc. – to maintain their driver’s license. This restored license comes through doing community service to maintain the license and encouraging a payment plan to work off their debt. It also requires that the individual hold up their part for this second chance or can lose it, so it is not a “free pass.”
This is where the wins come in. Employers can see great employees have a predictable transportation option to come to work. Individuals have their life restored to normalcy along with the ability to pay their fines and fees through their earned paycheck. The biggest winner are the state and local governments getting fines paid off; collecting income tax from the worker, gas taxes, license fees, etc. We will have less administrative costs in the courts, PennDOT and law enforcement that is needed to oversee license suspensions.
We thank Costa/Stefano for their leadership and the senate for its overwhelming support of SB 1118 and hope the House can adopt it this fall. Gov. Shapiro supported similar efforts as Attorney General so we are optimistic that this win for everyone can happen in the coming weeks. Here is to a unified pressing the pedal to the metal on this bi-partisan bill.
G. David Sload is a construction industry and association professional with 42+ years of experience in all phases of design and construction on commercial and industrial projects. In addition to his work at ABC, Sload has served as Chair of the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board and has served as Chairman of the General Advisory Committee for the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center. Mr. Sload graduated from the Thompson Institute in Harrisburg, with an Associate Degree in Architectural Design and Drafting Technology. He currently lives in Conestoga.
As Seen In Broad + Liberty: https://broadandliberty.com/2024/08/19/helping-keep-pennsylvanians-employed-with-bi-partisan-support/
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The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing over 650 construction-related firms and nearly 30,000 employees. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 68 chapters nationwide help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.