State/County - Bensalem Township

Bipartisan Measure to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors by Providing Unemployment Benefits Moves to Senate

Published

12 months ago

March 23, 2025

A bipartisan measure seeking to protect domestic violence survivors by providing Unemployment Benefits passed the House, last week and now moves on to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 274 , Sponsored by state Rep Jason Dawkins (D -Philadelphia), now moves on to the Senate after the House passed the measure 198 to four last week.

The legislation seeks to amend the Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law to make it easier for domestic violence survivors to receive benefits if they are forced to quit working in situations where continued employment would jeopardize their safety. This is former HB 1446 from the 2023-2024 Legislative Session.

Under the current UC Law, an individual who quits employment has the burden to prove eligibility under a two-point test: 1) the reasons for quitting must be “necessitous and compelling,” and 2) the claimant must have made reasonable efforts to maintain the employment relationship, the measure says.

Under case law and current UC practice, an individual who must leave work as the result of a domestic violence situation can be eligible for benefits but must wait until the separation from employment is adjudicated. This adjudication process can take weeks or months during a critical and sensitive time in someone’s life.

This bill will create an ‘express lane’ for claimants impacted by domestic violence and allow a domestic violence survivor to confidentially submit reasonable evidence of recent domestic violence. A survivor would not be required to submit a copy of a protective order or police report, although they could choose to do so. When the documentation is received, the UC claim determination will be expedited to significantly reduce the burden on survivors of domestic violence who may be in danger if they continue their employment.

Since claimants in this unfortunate situation are generally eligible currently, House and Senate fiscal notes on HB 1446 from the prior session both indicated no fiscal impact to the UC Trust Fund – so this is not an expansion of eligibility, according to state officials.

Finally, it is important to note that the bill includes automatic relief from charges for employers – so that an employer’s tax rate will not be impacted by a UC claim resulting from a domestic violence situation, according to the measure.

Bucks County state Rep. Kristin Marcell (R) and Rep. Perry Warren (D) co-sponsored the bill

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Police Seek Info on Missing Teen Believed to be in Lower Bucks Area

Published

1 hour ago

March 5, 2026

Jeff Bohen

Police from Plumstead Township Police Department with an assist from Tullytown Borough Police are asking for help from the community in attempting to locate a missing 17 year-old .

Ryan Jaatar Age 17 is 5ft 8in Brown eyes and has not been seen since January 3, 2026, police say.

Jaatar was last seen by his father at their residence in Plumstead Township.

Jaatar’s, according to investigators, is believed to be in the Levittown/Bristol/Croydon area.

Anyone with information, please contact Detective Stacie Arnosky at sarnosky@plumstead.gov or 215-766-8741, ext. 120 or Contact the Tullytown Borough Police Department at 215-945-0999. You can also submit a confidential tip at through this link.

State/County - Bensalem Township

Burlington Bristol Bridge to Close Overnight Beginning Friday for Maintenance Work

Published

5 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

The Burlington County Bridge Commission announced that the Burlington Bristol Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight beginning tomorrow (Friday March 6,) to Tuesday, March 10, weather permitting, for maintenance and repair work.

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Floral Design Program Wins Again at Philadelphia Flower Show

Published

7 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

Dr. Patrick M. Jones (left), President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, and Carol Tyler admire the College’s floral design program’s exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show featuring “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler. The sculpture, donated to the College by the Tyler family, is the centerpiece of the College’s award-winning “Rooted in Art” exhibit. The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. Credit: BCCC

In only its second year, Bucks County Community College (BCCC) picked up another medal at the prestigious horticultural expo for its ‘Rooted in Art’ tribute to Stella Elkins Tyler.

BCCC’s floral design program has once again taken home a prize in only its second year participating in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Students, alumni, and instructors earned a bronze medal for “Rooted in Art,” reflecting the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features Tyler’s sculpture “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” donated to the College by Carol Tyler, who visited the show with College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones (Feature Pic). The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.

Credit: BCCC

A team of 20 students, alumni, and instructors from BCCC’s floral design program helped install “Rooted in Art” at the Philadelphia Flower Show, which reflects the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features one of Tyler’s original bronze sculptures, “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” pictured in the background.

Credit: BCCC

Melanie Poff (left) and her mother Els Poff, both Certified Floral Designers from Doylestown and students in BCCC’s floral design program, helped surround “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler with botanical beauty at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The sculpture is part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit, reflecting the deep connection between art, education, and nature that Stella Elkins Tyler championed throughout her life.

Credit: BCCC

Amparito Arriaga, a Certified Floral Designer from Exton and a student in BCCC’s floral design program, installs part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.