00:00 - Good morning and welcome to the first day of the second week

00:04 - of our budget hearings.

00:06 - This morning we are honored to be joined.

00:08 - By pennsylvania's attorney general

00:10 - and the office

00:11 - of the attorney general.

00:14 - Before we begin.

00:16 - Chairman cruzi do you have any introductory comments js thank you chairman hero

00:20 - good morning everyone thank you for being here.

00:23 - Just to

00:24 - put it in

00:25 - context for those who are viewing and listening

00:27 - for the office of the attorney general the governor is proposing a one hundred and

00:31 - seventy one and a half million dollar

00:34 - general fund spend

00:36 - for the upcoming fiscal year representing an overall increase of roughly about twenty

00:40 - min alien or thirteen percent over the current physical year

00:43 - however I think it's important to note that the original request from the

00:46 - attorney general's office was

00:48 - roughly about one hundred and ninety million or.

00:51 - Considering the governor's proposal

00:53 - and

00:53 - about a ninety million dollar.

00:57 - Not a reduction but

00:58 - the governor's proposing ninety million dollars less than what the attorney general's

01:01 - office requested and we think it's important that as we go through the hearing today

01:04 - we understand

01:05 - what these numbers mean what the increases are for

01:09 - what they would have been used for because I think

01:10 - that it's very important that work that you all do

01:13 - to keep our communities and the public safe here in pencil v kenya so we look forward

01:17 - to the the testimony then the questions today thank you.

01:20 - Thank the chairman.

01:23 - Test fires would you please stand so we can swear everyone in and get started.

01:32 - Do you solemnly swear

01:35 - that the testimony you're about to give us the truth the whole truth so help you god.

01:39 - You may be seated.

01:43 - Or in the middle of the table there is a box.

01:47 - That is our timekeeper.

01:49 - When the box turns green

01:50 - our members will commence with their five minutes

01:53 - of questioning

01:54 - when the box turns yellow that means that there are thirty seconds left

01:58 - we ask that you would begin to wrap up your

02:01 - key comments and when it turns red that means that

02:04 - time is

02:05 - over and has

02:07 - expired we would ask our testifies please remember to speak clearly and directly

02:12 - into the microphones and.

02:16 - Folks are watching

02:17 - at home.

02:19 - Probably only my mother

02:21 - but I'm sure there are folks.

02:24 - In my markets that will text me.

02:26 - I'm like

02:27 - oh why didn't you ask this question why do you

02:29 - like

02:29 - first of all

02:30 - why are you watching and they shall say

02:33 - well because you're my son and I'll watch everything my son does I'm like okay mom

02:37 - so anyway.

02:39 - If your mother if you're watching good morning.

02:42 - I did text r good morning though we text every morning anyway and.

02:46 - Attorney general sunday thank you so much for joining us

02:49 - do you have any introductory comments or would you like to jump right to

02:52 - a very brief.

02:54 - Mister general please proceed

02:56 - to thank you chairman harris

02:57 - chairman suzie thank you all the members of the committee.

03:01 - It is an absolute honor to be here with you this morning

03:04 - and I'd liked to introduce those that are sitting

03:07 - with me at the table here today so to my left

03:09 - and your right is the first deputy attorney

03:12 - general cara bowser to her left is greg rowe

03:14 - greg is senior counsel to the attorney general

03:17 - and he

03:18 - leads a lot of different initiatives in the

03:19 - office and I'm sure we'll probably talk about

03:22 - to my right as my chief of staff kyle king

03:25 - and kyle's right is our deputy chief of staff

03:29 - ben ren.

03:30 - I would also like to note for the record that my mother is watching too.

03:36 - So it's not just yours

03:37 - and I will say very briefly because I know

03:40 - we'll probably kind of want to jump into this but.

03:42 - You know being one year in office has been just an absolute honor of my lifetime

03:48 - I want to let everyone here know that the greatest honor is to work with

03:53 - the staff of the agee's office

03:55 - we are very very blessed in pennsylvania

03:58 - have so many

03:59 - thoughtful bright

04:01 - smart

04:02 - talented.

04:03 - Employees and public servants

04:05 - working every day all throughout pennsylvania I

04:07 - mean that includes everything from the attorneys.

04:11 - Who are in court almost every day.

04:13 - Through

04:14 - the amazing administrative staff

04:18 - through all of our agents that put themselves in harm's way

04:21 - literally every single day

04:22 - and is an absolute honour and privilege to be representing them here

04:26 - and to work with them and to consider them our colleagues

04:30 - and so

04:31 - with that being said

04:32 - the work that we do in the agee's office and will

04:35 - sure touch on that this morning

04:37 - absolutely would not be possible without the

04:39 - support of this legislature for our mission

04:41 - and all the incredible people that make up the attorney general's office

04:44 - I will note that.

04:47 - The collaboration with regard to the budget is one part of this but in my first year

04:51 - I've been

04:52 - just

04:53 - very very

04:54 - amazed at the cle elaborative effort

04:56 - from all throughout

04:58 - the whole political spectrum

04:59 - in working with the agee's office

05:02 - and

05:02 - through education through

05:04 - different initiatives

05:06 - and just to really work together and communicate

05:08 - I think communication is the key to victory

05:10 - and I look forward to hearing today.

05:13 - The questions and I look forward to the hearing

05:15 - and I want to thank everyone for being here

05:17 - it's an honor to be with you.

05:20 - Thank you sir.

05:22 - We will start with representative con.

05:27 - Thank you mr chairman

05:28 - thank you

05:29 - mister

05:29 - general

05:30 - and.

05:31 - I appreciate the work of you and your staff.

05:34 - What are asked two questions the first one

05:37 - is about house bill fourteen sixty I want to thank you and your staff

05:41 - for supporting house bill fourteen sixty since you were here last time

05:45 - we saw the collapse of crozier

05:47 - this was a hospital that was bought by

05:50 - a for profit company

05:52 - private equity was involved and before we knew it

05:57 - we had an entire health system collapse

05:59 - an entire

06:00 - county.

06:01 - Stripped

06:02 - of a incredibly important hospital

06:05 - patients robbed of care

06:07 - in the name of profits

06:09 - over patient care.

06:11 - I'm proud to be a co prime sponsor along with represent her brow sky and

06:15 - pretty much the entire delaware county legis legislative

06:18 - body in

06:19 - in the house

06:20 - to support house bill fourteen sixty

06:22 - which will give your office powers to

06:24 - regulate these.

06:26 - Transitions these mergers acquisitions

06:29 - these

06:30 - buyouts that are bad for the community

06:33 - it also stops the sale leaseback program where

06:36 - one a hospital actually sells

06:39 - the institution sells a hospital

06:41 - and then leases it back to another part of it's parent

06:44 - company

06:45 - getting money from it.

06:47 - Mr charities are encouraged

06:48 - to talk to a little bit why this bill is important

06:51 - to protect patients and to protect our communities

06:54 - and our community hospitals.

06:55 - Absolutely I appreciate the question and I also

06:58 - appreciate your collaboration with our office

07:01 - and navigating this

07:02 - unbelievably complex

07:04 - and

07:05 - potential legislation in a very complex issue.

07:07 - I want to start out by saying you know when I was here before you a year ago.

07:12 - I was we were in the throes of

07:14 - have just a situation that I couldn't even imagine

07:17 - that that we would be dealing with and that was crozier

07:20 - and

07:21 - again and you will hear a theme of this today but I want to again

07:24 - shout out to the employees and the agee's office

07:27 - he worked twenty four seven to do everything in their power with the tools they had

07:31 - to keep that hospital open

07:33 - and every conversation that I heard.

07:36 - Amongst my staff and obviously in speaking with you and other legislators

07:40 - was the same thing which is we want to make sure that people have access to

07:43 - healthcare what do we gotta do to get there

07:45 - and so to that point very simply.

07:47 - I

07:48 - Said to my office right away hey let's collaborate let's find a way to get this done

07:53 - in a manner that

07:54 - can best protect citizens

07:56 - so they do have access to healthcare

07:59 - I mean what we saw a crozier

08:00 - was just

08:01 - unbelievably sad

08:03 - it was

08:04 - I mean you know those of us that happen to live right next to a hospital

08:08 - I don't understand what it's like to not have

08:10 - that experience and have to drive distances

08:13 - and also when you look at it through the lens of rural pennsylvania

08:17 - as well so we did two things this year the first thing was working on.

08:21 - Identifying ways that we can be supportive

08:24 - mean collaborating with everyone

08:26 - across the aisle on getting a bill passed that would give us more power

08:30 - and to be able to do everything we can so that this doesn't happen again

08:34 - and so very simply

08:35 - I mean I can't think of many things in the world that are more important

08:39 - than making sure that that you have access to healthcare

08:41 - that when someone needs a specialist they don't have to drive

08:45 - five hours to get there

08:46 - and also that you have an emergency room that's readily available

08:50 - so that people can go get the appropriate

08:53 - care

08:54 - when they have an emergency need

08:56 - and so you know I'm not sure.

08:58 - If you have any follow up questions

09:00 - but this is an important bill for our office

09:02 - and my

09:03 - deputy chief of staff ben ren

09:05 - has been working on this.

09:07 - Nonstop I have not seen a recent latin any recent language on it

09:11 - but I do look forward to seeing that and I

09:13 - look forward to continuing to work with you you

09:15 - and everyone else to get this done

09:16 - thank you thank you so much I appreciate that work and hopefully we can get this bill

09:20 - across the finish line this session

09:22 - wanted to ask

09:23 - very briefly about some of what we're seeing in places like minnesota

09:27 - and tell you a lot of my constituents are

09:29 - very concerned about the image they're seeing

09:31 - the cases of abuse that we're seeing the federal over the rates that we're seeing

09:36 - in places like minneapolis and people want to know

09:38 - are we going to be protected

09:40 - if that starts happening

09:41 - you're in pennsylvania

09:43 - and I wanted to ask you mr attorney general

09:45 - does your office have the tools it needs to protect

09:48 - citizens

09:49 - when federal actions overstep state law.

09:53 - So the short answer it will

09:54 - that there's that's a multi-pronged answer but to begin with.

09:58 - I want to say that

09:59 - any loss of life this is

10:02 - unbelievably important.

10:03 - Under any circumstances is absolutely horrific

10:06 - and

10:07 - you know

10:08 - coming to this job through being a district attorney

10:11 - I spent a lot of my career.

10:13 - Being on and dealing with

10:16 - incidents where someone may have been harmed

10:18 - or killed at the hands of law enforcement

10:20 - and so I come to this

10:22 - with an understanding of the critical nature of having

10:25 - appropriate

10:26 - intensive and transparent investigations

10:29 - on when that does happen.

10:33 - The red lights on way

10:34 - up.

10:35 - You can finish is okay and so

10:37 - so sorry I apologize

10:39 - the chairman scares me.

10:41 - Yeah.

10:44 - So with that being said

10:46 - very simply.

10:47 - We have

10:48 - the current tools.

10:50 - That would be needed

10:52 - if we were called upon to investigate

10:54 - criminal action on the part of anyone in pennsylvania

10:58 - we run we have three investigative grand juries that we run throughout the state

11:01 - we have the expertise in the office

11:03 - and that's some expertise that we actually use on a pretty regular basis

11:07 - so that's the the short answer to that question

11:10 - thank you thank you chairman.

11:12 - Thanks gentlemen.

11:14 - Representative rigby.

11:16 - Thank you chairman harris.

11:18 - Turned general sunday thank you and thank your staff

11:20 - for the work that you do.

11:22 - According to federal statistics seventy eight percent of police departments are

11:25 - struggling to recruit qualified candidates

11:28 - excuse me

11:29 - between two thousand and twenty and two thousand and twenty one police resignations

11:33 - rose eighteen percent and retirements increased by forty five percent on average

11:38 - seventy percent of law enforcement agencies support more difficulty hiring today

11:42 - than five years ago.

11:44 - Some contributing factors to the statistics include

11:46 - lack of support prioritizing work better environments

11:49 - smaller agency budgets were seen with a lot of our smaller municipals

11:54 - and the mandated overtimes.

11:56 - A your budget documentation references that due to the downturn in the economy over

12:00 - the past few years municipalities

12:02 - have forced to lay off police officers

12:05 - or even cut their forces

12:08 - to two part question can you share what discussions

12:10 - and feedback your officers had and received

12:13 - from local law enforcement

12:14 - and how your office is currently working to address these concerns and what are you

12:18 - going to or what are you doing to support

12:20 - our own law enforcement officers

12:22 - as well well as

12:23 - your office collaborates

12:25 - with them I do know that you are in our town just a week ago so

12:29 - we thank you for that

12:30 - on a big on a big drug bust thank you.

12:33 - Rep rigby.

12:35 - I cannot tell you how grateful I am you ask this question.

12:38 - We have an absolute crisis in pennsylvania

12:41 - with regard to public servants

12:43 - and

12:43 - yes it's law enforcement

12:45 - it is also.

12:46 - Prosecutors

12:48 - public defenders.

12:50 - Children youth and family workers people that work at area on aging.

12:54 - All of these different.

12:56 - Public servant positions

12:58 - that are the absolute foundation

13:00 - of all of the initiatives that we put in place

13:02 - and all of the work that we do.

13:05 - For whatever reason we're at this place now

13:07 - where those jobs people just don't want to do those jobs

13:10 - and it's really really scary because we come

13:12 - up with like I said so many amazing initiatives

13:15 - but if you don't have people to do that work.

13:18 - It's really really dangerous with regard to

13:20 - law enforcement offers officers in particular.

13:23 - Right now so the the senate created a task force

13:26 - on law enforcement recruitment and retention

13:29 - of which on the chair

13:30 - and looking into that task force

13:32 - are looking into the work that we've done

13:34 - there's a lot of things that jump out right away

13:36 - yes you you have to address.

13:39 - Funding with regards to salaries and things of that nature

13:41 - but there's a lot more to it in addition to that

13:44 - we have a mental health crisis in pennsylvania generally.

13:48 - Let alone

13:49 - when we look at our first responders

13:51 - and so when you look at our first responders and the type of work that they do

13:55 - and where you have first responders who literally go to maybe four or five traumatic

14:00 - events literally every single day it takes a toll on their lives and

14:05 - law enforcement suicide.

14:08 - Is at an all time high

14:10 - the pain on their families is is beyond overwhelming

14:14 - and

14:14 - we had absolute tragedies in the county that I live in in york county last year

14:19 - where we we lost four police officers as a result

14:22 - of violence

14:23 - and when we look at law enforcement and police officers if we can't square this away

14:28 - we're going to it's not going to be good it's already not good

14:31 - and and the reason why I say that is because we have

14:33 - put so many demands on police officers as a society

14:36 - so we asked police officers to be mental health

14:39 - risk ponders

14:40 - domestic violence counselor substance abuse counselors

14:43 - and we asked them to have an answer to literally every question

14:47 - submitted it's asked all oftentimes within

14:50 - an eight hour shift

14:51 - and another thing that's really important so

14:54 - you know my family they're from my my wife is from a different country and

14:58 - and I will tell you you

15:00 - that

15:00 - in america we have

15:02 - this

15:03 - ability to call nine one one

15:05 - and someone comes to your house

15:07 - although a lot of places that's not the case

15:09 - and they come to your house to help you

15:11 - and so very simply.

15:13 - I think that

15:15 - that we collectively

15:16 - just like we do with so many other things can work together

15:19 - on this issue

15:20 - we're going to put a report together

15:22 - and that report is going to be available for the legislature

15:25 - and once that reports done again I look forward to working with everyone here

15:29 - to identify ways that we all can collaboratively

15:31 - be part of the solution thinking outside of the box

15:35 - and again

15:36 - it's law enforcement

15:37 - firefighters but it's also see why f workers area on aging workers it's

15:42 - everybody.

15:43 - Thank you and

15:44 - I will mention that our

15:45 - our local police academy

15:47 - this year again we've seen an increase

15:49 - in the number of students we've almost doubled so

15:52 - we are starting to see that trend change a

15:53 - little bit we got a feeling we're coming back in

15:56 - to law enforcement

15:57 - thank you.

16:00 - Thank the gentleman representative young.

16:03 - Good morning and welcome to any

16:06 - general

16:07 - sunday in team.

16:10 - My question is around

16:11 - human trafficking

16:13 - prevention

16:14 - appropriation it was new for the fiscal year twenty twenty four twenty twenty five

16:19 - can you share with us some of your highlights

16:21 - from your department on the issue.

16:24 - Air in a kind of louth

16:26 - what are some of the takeaways from.

16:29 - This past year.

16:31 - So

16:31 - Representative thank you for that question and I also want to thank you and your

16:34 - advocacy for human trafficking victims

16:37 - and your collaborative work

16:38 - you've done

16:39 - in this space

16:41 - and so with that being said

16:42 - our human trafficking section here in pennsylvania

16:44 - handles the most significant human trafficking cases.

16:48 - Across the state

16:50 - and

16:50 - we've been a leader and investigating and prosecuting these cases

16:54 - and and

16:55 - and the cases have increased considerably after the establishment

16:59 - of the human trafficking section and that's really important

17:02 - to understand

17:03 - and this

17:04 - this occurred as a result of us being awarded a grant

17:08 - to create a multi disciplinary team to attack human trafficking and

17:11 - with a collaborative approach by partnering with

17:14 - victim services and now that's important because.

17:17 - You know we're at a place where the human

17:19 - trafficking legislation in pennsylvania changed

17:22 - was amended

17:23 - I think like eight years ago

17:25 - and prior to that

17:27 - a lot of the human trafficking victims we all advocate for

17:30 - and

17:31 - const tutored defendants

17:32 - and they were prosecuted

17:34 - as prostitutes

17:36 - there really wasn't further investigation into

17:38 - what really was going on and what's happening here

17:41 - and so a huge part of successful human trafficking

17:44 - prosecutions are training

17:46 - and I know you're familiar with

17:47 - current training is

17:48 - training.

17:50 - Police.

17:51 - Community members to understand what it even is in the first place

17:55 - now that we're out there and all this training is happening

17:58 - the cases are flowing in

18:00 - and numbers that we could not have even predicted

18:03 - I'm so last year for example the section made

18:06 - seventy eight arrests

18:08 - and we currently even with those arrests we

18:10 - currently have eighty one at active investigations.

18:13 - Throughout the entire state

18:15 - that's an increase of one hundred and twenty five percent

18:18 - since the formation of the unit

18:20 - in january of two thousand twenty four

18:23 - and so.

18:24 - I think that

18:25 - from my observations in doing this job for as long as I have

18:29 - I have a lot of victim oriented

18:31 - people will

18:32 - on my clothes staff here

18:34 - and that

18:35 - that dead victim work their entire lives

18:37 - and I can tell you that

18:39 - we are doing a lot we have a lot more to do

18:42 - and way more to go

18:43 - and in what I hope to see is a place where all

18:46 - of law enforcement understands how do you connect

18:48 - a victim to services and

18:51 - how do you get them the server ss.

18:53 - How do you do it in a manner that's efficient for them

18:56 - I mean because we all want

18:57 - these individuals be able to change your lives around

18:59 - and be healthy successful happy

19:01 - people

19:02 - and so very simply

19:04 - and.

19:05 - The unit has been very successful

19:08 - it's increased at levels that we couldn't have

19:10 - imagined and I want to also say very quickly

19:12 - when you look at other work in the agee's office like our drug work

19:16 - you look at organized retail theft.

19:18 - You look at the different child predator section

19:20 - oftentimes in doing those investigations

19:23 - because

19:24 - our

19:25 - agents are trained to understand this

19:27 - they will identify human trafficking victims in those other cases

19:32 - and then that will shift over

19:34 - to the human trafficking section as well.

19:37 - Thank you for that

19:38 - that was actually touching on my second part of the question

19:41 - because as I am also going around a camel while speaking with

19:45 - various survivors

19:47 - there's a lot of pieces that are still missing

19:50 - according to them and I'm trying to figure out

19:53 - a better way that we can streamline their resources

19:56 - from the common

19:57 - well

19:57 - that trickles down to.

20:00 - Them

20:00 - be unable to grasp

20:03 - so what we're doing on a system level doesn't always translate onda.

20:09 - On the survivors level and so I would like to know what

20:11 - would your department be able to do or is already doing

20:15 - that can help streamlines

20:17 - so

20:17 - Ablative resources and efforts

20:19 - so that we can work together and supporting not only the survivors

20:24 - but also those of us who are in this space

20:26 - so one that's a great question

20:28 - so

20:28 - The the starting point before one at a time very simply is

20:31 - we will continue to collaborate on this.

20:34 - Nonstop

20:35 - but the point I want to make is

20:37 - this issue of services is something that we see in other areas as well

20:41 - and one of the things we're trying to do

20:44 - in the office here in

20:45 - greg rove you don't know him he's

20:47 - make sure you talk to greg about some of these

20:50 - issues

20:51 - but what we're doing is we're trying to identify

20:53 - what are the best places for people to go

20:56 - because

20:56 - unfortunately you see p apple pop up and say hey

20:59 - you know I'm here to serve victims

21:02 - they may not have the proper training.

21:04 - Or the resources or whatever

21:06 - and then you have other places that might be nonprofits

21:09 - like in your county there's a place called sparrow's house sparrows house

21:13 - and there they do

21:14 - wonderful fantastic job

21:16 - so to your point

21:18 - this is the next step

21:19 - and we have to identify where those places are

21:22 - and a lot of this in my opinion does go back to training

21:25 - for

21:26 - police and prosecutors

21:27 - because when these cases start is when that contact has to begin

21:31 - like instantly

21:32 - instantly as soon as that connections made

21:34 - with it

21:35 - when we when we go after the trafficker.

21:38 - That very day our trafficking section coordinates.

21:42 - Immediately with the victims

21:44 - to to get them to where they need to go

21:46 - into your point teach your

21:48 - exact point if we don't have the right place

21:49 - to go than where we what are we going to do

21:52 - and look forward to continuing to work with you thank you.

21:58 - Thank the gentlelady

21:59 - representative group

22:00 - thank you mr chairman good morning and thank you for being here

22:04 - and for all that you do to protect the residents of the commonwealth

22:07 - as the commonwealth's chief law enforcement officer

22:11 - your core responsibility is public safety and I have

22:13 - faith that you're doing everything within your hp power

22:16 - perhaps limited by your budget

22:18 - to meet that responsibility

22:20 - my understanding is is that your office has two hundred and fifty eight legal counsel

22:25 - compared to the office of general counsel's

22:27 - nearly six hundred legal professionals

22:31 - your hearing documentation includes

22:33 - or acknowledges that compensation the disparities

22:36 - has led to the loss of experienced attorneys

22:39 - and difficulties recruiting new ones

22:42 - so I have to ask if we don't have the manpower or the budget to prosecute crimes and

22:47 - defend the laws that we've already passed

22:49 - how can we credibly fulfill

22:51 - that responsibility

22:53 - what good are these stronger statutes if we don't have the manpower to prosecute them

22:57 - so my initial question and I do have one follow up

23:00 - is our attorney vacancies affecting

23:04 - charging decisions investigations case timelines

23:08 - are victims seeing cases declined or delayed

23:11 - or not prosecuted because of staffing constraints

23:14 - what specific resource is do you need to ensure

23:17 - that justice is not essentially rationed.

23:21 - So

23:21 - Thank you for that question

23:23 - and starting point.

23:26 - Is.

23:27 - In any organization that exists you have to have

23:31 - the experience

23:33 - and

23:33 - you have to have the people to do the job

23:35 - and one thing that I have observed in all candor I

23:38 - didn't recognize this prior to come into the office.

23:43 - Was that there is a

23:44 - is a disparity

23:46 - between the office of attorney general

23:48 - and the governor's office for general counsel

23:50 - and other places too

23:52 - like the philadelphia law department

23:54 - other surrounding state attorneys general

23:57 - and it's not just

23:59 - a couple of hundred dollars it might be thousands of dollars for a new hire.

24:03 - It could be even more as someone progresses through seniority.

24:07 - What I have seen over the last year

24:10 - is and in particular with our civil cases

24:13 - okay

24:14 - the civil cases in the public protection or

24:16 - are

24:17 - consumer protection cases

24:19 - they have a very unique skill sets

24:21 - that

24:22 - do those cases

24:23 - and those individuals are just crushed

24:26 - crushed

24:27 - and

24:28 - when they see that they could walk across the street to the office to the o g c

24:34 - and get maybe a ten thousand dollar pay raise then it's

24:37 - hard for people I mean in today's world to not do that.

24:41 - We are constantly

24:43 - constantly

24:44 - constantly fighting

24:46 - to keep people in those positions

24:49 - and

24:49 - and that's something that

24:51 - if you were to ask me what one of the most important thing

24:54 - that we're here to talk about today

24:56 - it's about our people.

24:57 - It's about our people

24:59 - and and I think that.

25:02 - Properly funding the g g o account puts us in a position

25:06 - where we can start working on that to make sure that they know that they're valued

25:10 - and they know that they are cared about

25:13 - and we do everything

25:14 - your first part of the question we do everything we can

25:17 - to get the work done that we can with our finite resources we have created

25:23 - sections

25:24 - where we've moved people around from other places to get it done for example will

25:28 - the new elder exploitation section.

25:31 - We do that on a regular basis

25:34 - we've done it with a cold or cold case section

25:36 - to make sure that we get the work done

25:38 - but to your point

25:40 - everything we say yes to means we say no to something else

25:43 - and I can't I can't imagine the number of complaints that you have to filter through

25:48 - and make decisions about initial investigations

25:51 - and and and that and how

25:54 - time consuming just that initial evaluation must be

25:56 - shifting gears just just and slightly

25:59 - last year I formally requested that your office investigate serious allegations

26:03 - involving a nonprofit organization

26:06 - in fayette county that administers sub-state actual public funding

26:10 - publicly available I r s form nine ninety disclosures show

26:14 - repeated related party transactions over multiple years

26:17 - including loans to business businesses owned by directors and multi million dollar

26:22 - transactions involving board members

26:25 - now I understand that you can't comment

26:28 - on

26:29 - Any pending investigation so I'm going to ask generally

26:32 - when a nonprofit receives public funds

26:35 - and those

26:36 - those nonprofits show repeated insider financial transactions does that fall within

26:41 - your jurisdiction under nonprofit laws or breach of fiduciary duty standards

26:46 - and I asked for the people of fayette county who deserves

26:48 - some trance parents say with respect to how these

26:50 - taxpayer funds

26:52 - are seemingly being sent they're being

26:54 - used to line the pockets of board members.

26:57 - So to begin with the short answer is

27:00 - yes that's what we're here for

27:02 - and I obviously can't discuss.

27:05 - Ongoing investigations whether they exist or not

27:08 - but what I can say very simply as we take these allegations very very seriously

27:13 - and against your point earlier with the resources we have

27:16 - we we do everything we can with the resources we have

27:19 - and so I know my time is up.

27:21 - That being said I have with me today behind me

27:24 - the head of our public protection division.

27:27 - Sean kirkpatrick who would I I have no doubt will be more

27:30 - than happy to speak to you off the record or separately

27:33 - about any specific case you want to talk about

27:35 - thank you very much

27:36 - thank you

27:37 - thank you gentle lady representative anthony.

27:40 - Thank you mr chairman beckham

27:42 - turn in general and your staff for being here.

27:44 - Today want to talk on in a similar vein

27:47 - about staffing but not necessarily about filling vacancies but about

27:51 - requests for new staff additional staff.

27:54 - I know in the executive budget there was no

27:56 - new funding for you ought to bring on new staff but I believe in

28:00 - you was request

28:02 - you are requested about thirty new staff

28:05 - so could you help us understand if we were to put that into the budget

28:09 - what those thirty new staff would would do and

28:12 - if we aren't able to get it into the budget

28:14 - would is there cause for you all in terms of any limitations to your ability to

28:19 - carry out the duties of of your office.

28:22 - I appreciate that question and I will answer it as concisely.

28:26 - As

28:27 - Is.

28:28 - As concisely as I can.

28:31 - The two biggest sections

28:33 - that this impacts and I will say just just so you know

28:36 - in your duty you know for your roles on this committee

28:39 - that we have

28:40 - hate so one thing we've not been doing is leaving open position sit

28:44 - and so if we need a position we have been actually.

28:48 - Cancelling those positions and moving them over

28:50 - just so you know like we're not

28:52 - just letting these open positions sit

28:54 - to areas that are really important.

28:57 - The first one is the safe to say something

29:00 - program the safe to say something program.

29:03 - Is so

29:04 - unbelievably important

29:06 - for so many

29:07 - so many different reasons

29:09 - and as you know and I'm sure you're familiar with the safe to say something program.

29:14 - I just want.

29:18 - We've been given additional duties

29:20 - for the safe to say something program

29:22 - and those additional duties pertain to

29:25 - schools

29:26 - having to provide.

29:28 - Feedback to us within different time periods

29:31 - okay

29:32 - so you've

29:33 - thirty days if it's a non emergency if it's an emergency is like forty eight hours

29:38 - and

29:39 - the information we're getting is so unbelievably critical

29:41 - for us to be able to have

29:43 - to effectively

29:45 - achieve

29:45 - the goal of the legislature

29:47 - we've determined we need five additional positions

29:50 - for the safe to say something program

29:53 - and just

29:54 - so you know

29:55 - if I recall call and I'm sure someone

29:56 - here will correct me if I'm wrong.

29:58 - We didn't know that that amendment was coming

30:02 - when we submitted last year's budget

30:05 - because the budget process

30:06 - was

30:07 - late was expanded.

30:09 - That legislation.

30:11 - Was passed after we've went through our process so we

30:14 - didn't we just had no idea that that would be happening

30:17 - to get to that point.

30:19 - Another area would be with regard to our tobacco

30:22 - unit.

30:23 - So thank

30:25 - very thankful for the work that was done

30:27 - and total bipartisan effort.

30:30 - The vape registry

30:32 - and so the vape registry is you know

30:34 - that is so important to make sure the weren't a position

30:37 - that we can keep this disgusting illegal and

30:41 - you know harmful

30:42 - substances out of children's hands

30:45 - through the vape registry

30:47 - to do that we will be needing additional bodies

30:50 - to satisfy those needs specifically with the vape registry and so if I were to tell

30:55 - you two things right off the bat that are critical

30:58 - and it's

30:59 - us being able to satisfy are statutorily mandated

31:01 - duties under the safe to say something program

31:03 - and also our duties under.

31:06 - The tobacco enforcement

31:08 - division

31:09 - and I want to say something rocky look about the

31:10 - tobacco enforcement section

31:12 - and a lot of people real and I again didn't realize this prior to getting elected

31:16 - but now I live it all day

31:18 - a lot of people think that that tobacco money just comes right

31:21 - like there's nothing we do we just sit back and hang out

31:23 - and we're going to get a check

31:25 - wrong

31:25 - there is a lot of work that goes into ensuring that we are satisfied ng

31:30 - and the parameters

31:33 - of the agreement

31:34 - and a lot and that's what they do they work every

31:36 - day to make sure that we are in the minute we don't

31:39 - I promise you

31:40 - there'll be litigation to try to

31:42 - take that money away from us

31:43 - so those are two main areas

31:45 - and

31:46 - a lot of people may not think about

31:47 - what they're so important for the safety

31:50 - of the the commonwealth yeah

31:51 - well I'm actually glad you mentioned the safe to say

31:53 - program because I was interested I saw that you all

31:56 - have recently launched your teen talk series.

32:00 - Or events that you're doing

32:02 - to have sort of at the intersection of social

32:04 - media and mental health for our young kids

32:07 - can you talk a little bit about that program and I know that

32:10 - the governor had in his proposal

32:12 - talked about removing cell phones in schools and

32:15 - so when to get your opinion and your thoughts

32:18 - on that as well as talk a little about the program

32:20 - the events that you have

32:21 - so I'll take them in reverse order okay

32:23 - so with regard to cell phones.

32:24 - I

32:25 - Mean I

32:26 - am not an expert in

32:28 - child learning

32:29 - but I will say that having a young son

32:32 - I personally

32:33 - would not be sad if they didn't have cell phones in schools.

32:37 - I mean I think that's a common understanding at least

32:39 - for most of the people in the world that I've spoken to

32:42 - and so

32:43 - I think looking at the totality of learning in pennsylvania

32:46 - I think that's a very good thing

32:47 - to not have cell phones at schools

32:49 - my red lights on.

32:51 - That.

32:53 - Up

32:53 - Thirty seconds

32:55 - go ahead

32:55 - and you've got your good

32:56 - so

32:57 - I'm going to start with the bucks county teen talk real quick and then hopefully

33:01 - someone else might I asked me to keep going with it I dunno but

33:03 - the bucks county team talk that was so important

33:06 - we

33:07 - One of the biggest

33:08 - absolute challenges we are all going to face as we move forward in life

33:12 - is the issue of technology and it's impact on.

33:16 - Child brains

33:17 - on how children learn

33:19 - on children's mental health

33:21 - and so we

33:22 - here in pennsylvania

33:23 - have taken a lead role

33:25 - in being in a position to hold

33:27 - counties

33:28 - or counties hold

33:29 - companies accountable

33:31 - and in this space which there's a whole lot much much longer answer

33:35 - but the point about these teen talks is to ask them

33:37 - you know because we as adults

33:39 - we sit around and we all think we have the answers everything right

33:42 - at least some of us do

33:43 - but the reality is we've got to get out there we

33:45 - got to talk to kids and so when we went out there

33:47 - it.

33:48 - I mean

33:49 - it was

33:49 - our mind was blown at

33:51 - and I'll just tell you very quickly

33:53 - first question to these kids and these are

33:55 - kids from oliver's bucks county.

33:57 - Question was

33:57 - alright how many of you use social media click

34:00 - all

34:00 - okay so

34:02 - have you used social media

34:03 - is there even a possibility you could not use it.

34:07 - None of them said they could not use it because it's

34:09 - so ingrained into like the way of their daily life

34:12 - and then the third call tion was I said how many of you think

34:15 - that you are being harmed

34:17 - in some way and these are eleventh and twelfth graders

34:19 - by social media

34:20 - every single hand shot right up.

34:23 - Shot right up

34:24 - and so

34:25 - that was our first meeting and we're going to be doing these all over the state.

34:29 - We're going to incorporate what they tell us

34:30 - into a report that will surely share with you.

34:35 - Thanks gentlemen representative brow.

34:38 - Think he chairman.

34:40 - I would like to pivot back to the discussion

34:43 - that you were having with the good lady from philadelphia regarding human trafficking

34:48 - and the attorney general's office has had a long standing history.

34:54 - Of.

34:55 - Investigating and prosecuting

34:58 - human trafficking which I am very think for four.

35:02 - According to current agency data since the inception of the human trafficking union

35:07 - unit your office has made seventy eight arrests

35:12 - and as of february two thousand twenty six has eighty

35:15 - one active investigations which you referred to earlier

35:20 - that's an increase of one hundred and twenty five percent

35:23 - since the formation of the unit in january of two thousand twenty four.

35:28 - The governor's budget proposal recommends an

35:30 - increase of six hundred twenty seven thousand dollars

35:34 - or a thirty eight percent increase

35:37 - and prot

35:38 - it projects level funding the program for the next five years.

35:44 - The good lady from philadelphia appropriately

35:46 - asked you know what else could we be doing.

35:50 - I would think that.

35:52 - That's

35:53 - going to

35:54 - cause you some problems the fact that it's

35:56 - level funded

35:58 - and.

35:59 - Tell me do you think

36:01 - his budget is sufficient

36:04 - for your needs at this point.

36:07 - So the short answer is no

36:10 - and

36:11 - the human trafficking section being one of the most

36:14 - the

36:15 - fastest growing sections.

36:17 - Which is also combined with cases that involve the highest victim needs

36:22 - and is an important part of that so when we look at individuals

36:26 - that are maker new arrest

36:27 - different cases

36:29 - everything's different.

36:30 - These are some of the most intensive

36:32 - cases that that we could possibly have.

36:35 - When we look at that tremendous increase

36:38 - in human trafficking.

36:39 - Arrests.

36:41 - We turn cases away like daily

36:45 - we are constantly

36:46 - in green

36:47 - there are cases constantly coming at us.

36:50 - This upcoming year we have some very challenging things

36:53 - that are coming our way with regard to human trafficking

36:56 - some of the largest

36:57 - human trafficking events in the in the world

37:00 - are going to be right here in pennsylvania

37:03 - so obviously america to fifty.

37:05 - Is is is huge.

37:08 - Fifa

37:08 - world cup

37:09 - the world cup is historically

37:12 - one of the largest events

37:14 - that brings with it human trafficking

37:16 - literally in the entire world.

37:19 - We have the nfl draft which is taking place in pittsburgh

37:22 - and we also have the major league baseball all star game in philadelphia this summer.

37:27 - We you're constantly being requested to participate

37:31 - in task forces which we are

37:33 - in collaborating with all of our partners

37:36 - all

37:37 - this goes back to one of the first questions asked by police

37:39 - staff.

37:40 - So we when we have a situation where so many police departments are woefully

37:45 - understaffed and they're just trying to keep their head above water later

37:48 - they turned to us to provide

37:50 - that

37:51 - that work

37:52 - with regard to for example.

37:54 - Human trafficking investigations

37:56 - we've been reach out to from other states we're working with delaware and new jersey

38:00 - the

38:01 - those

38:01 - reagents are working together

38:03 - to figure out how we can help each other on this as well

38:06 - to be able to succeed zestful we keep citizens safe

38:10 - with this human trafficking

38:12 - and with what's coming this year

38:14 - we have to be in a position to be able to do these

38:16 - these multi jurisdictional investigations

38:19 - and

38:19 - any one of those could be fifteen thousand dollars.

38:23 - For one investigation

38:25 - that's how much it costs where we go to the hotels and motels

38:28 - and we do that type of work

38:30 - and so very simply.

38:32 - Remaining at where we are right now

38:34 - will not put us in a strategically

38:37 - advantageous position

38:39 - as an agency

38:40 - to be able to utilize our resources

38:42 - to fight human trafficking

38:44 - in pennsylvania especially considering all these

38:47 - different events that are constantly coming here

38:49 - and that's very concerning

38:51 - and

38:52 - spear pacifically though

38:53 - tell me what are some things you will not be able to do without additional funding.

39:00 - I think it'll come down to not being able to

39:02 - provide that type of support that we should be

39:04 - providing

39:05 - to the local police

39:08 - the county's.

39:09 - Municipalities

39:11 - and they're requesting our help

39:13 - because you know again these investigations

39:16 - are not like overnight like what we do as

39:19 - our agents in the office

39:21 - we don't like a primary mission of ours isn't

39:23 - pulling people over right we're doing intense.

39:26 - Long term investigative.

39:29 - Cases involve undercover that involve a lot of different people

39:32 - and it goes back back to the very simple fact everything

39:35 - we say yes to means we're saying notice something else

39:37 - right

39:38 - and so when you look at the totality of the

39:40 - legit legally mandated work that we have to do

39:42 - and understand that.

39:45 - I just think that when we look at

39:47 - at public safety.

39:49 - We have to be in a position to provide the support for these agencies

39:54 - specifically with regard to human traffic.

39:57 - And so to that point I would ask that we would receive

40:00 - the funding that we requested.

40:03 - In our budget to be able to

40:04 - to keep pennsylvania safe

40:06 - and we're so thankful for everything that you do

40:09 - and this big discrepancy in the budget almost implies that the governor

40:13 - governor is not supportive of law enforcement

40:16 - and we would hope that that would change.

40:19 - Thank you

40:20 - thanks generally I will remind members let's not

40:24 - give our opinions on what other

40:26 - duly elected elected officials believe.

40:29 - So.

40:31 - Representative kincaid

40:32 - thank you mr chairman.

40:33 - I

40:34 - I first of all I want to start with them I'm I'm glad that at

40:38 - your office is able to

40:40 - take advantage of the human trafficking line and that

40:43 - we were able to get into the budget last time

40:47 - because it was not originally in the governor's budget but

40:50 - but we were able to do that so

40:52 - glad that that works out and.

40:55 - So over the last year the governor's office has joined

40:58 - or filed twenty lawsuits against the federal

41:00 - government on behalf of the people of pennsylvania

41:03 - to date seven of the laws those lawsuits have been I

41:07 - have rulings in favor of the people of pennsylvania and the rest are still pending

41:12 - and the attorney general's office is the people's lawyer

41:15 - and I'm wondering if

41:17 - you can talk about why

41:19 - where the attorney general's office would normally be the office to step in and.

41:24 - Protect the rights of of pennsylvania ins or

41:28 - the resources that have been allocated

41:30 - why your office has not been doing that and has

41:33 - been deferring to the office of the governor

41:35 - or are appreciate that question very much

41:37 - and I also appreciate the work to

41:40 - human trafficking one item

41:41 - where it should have been we appreciate that tremendously.

41:45 - It's import so this is a great question and it's a very

41:48 - so we in pennsylvania

41:50 - we're in a very unique

41:51 - situation

41:53 - and that uniqueness in my opinion

41:55 - is oftentimes strength

41:57 - and I really do believe that

41:58 - and so we are

42:00 - and I will just say.

42:02 - Just because I see it all the time when people ask me

42:04 - different questions like this.

42:06 - There's no other city in the country.

42:08 - That has a republican eg

42:10 - and a democrat governor and a divided legit were

42:13 - the only one we are a special thing that exists

42:16 - in this nation

42:17 - and

42:18 - and when I first approached the

42:21 - job when I first got elected

42:22 - and I think you might have asked me the same question a year ago I'm not sure

42:25 - I don't have my glasses on but I think it's.

42:27 - He and so.

42:30 - So.

42:32 - We took a lot of time the dive into this and

42:34 - figure out what is the right way to handle all this

42:38 - and so this is important to understand so

42:40 - in many states.

42:42 - The

42:43 - dynamic we have between the ages office and the office

42:46 - for general counsel it literally doesn't even exist

42:49 - in most states.

42:51 - The o g c he is underneath

42:53 - the attorney general's office

42:54 - so the agee has all of the

42:57 - agencies that

42:58 - staff and attorneys

43:00 - in here

43:01 - as was mentioned by someone earlier

43:03 - we have approximately close to six hundred

43:05 - attorneys the agency attorneys and others

43:08 - in the o g c

43:10 - we have around two hundred and sixty

43:11 - and the agee's office

43:13 - so both of us.

43:15 - I mean we have statutorily defined duties here in

43:18 - pennsylvania and these are finite and everything

43:21 - that

43:22 - we say yes to means we say no to something else

43:25 - and so the agee is responsible

43:27 - and I'm saying this for everybody the age he is responsible

43:30 - for certain things specifically

43:32 - right

43:32 - and that's defending statutes in pennsylvania

43:35 - we must defend statutes in pennsylvania

43:38 - it's all of the different work with human trafficking

43:40 - the things that we've been assigned to do specifically.

43:44 - At the same time the o j o g c

43:46 - has things that they have been statutorily

43:49 - mandated to do

43:50 - as well

43:51 - so

43:52 - The interesting thing here is that.

43:55 - We have the commonwealth attorneys act

43:57 - and it's we're watching the commonwealth attorneys act actually like operate

44:02 - right in front of us every day in a manner in which I think was the

44:06 - original

44:07 - intent of it

44:09 - and so what I mean by that is

44:11 - and this is an important

44:12 - piece

44:13 - so I asked my team to look this up I'm like

44:15 - you know because he turned the camo the attorneys act is set up where

44:18 - the governor's office can request us to do

44:20 - litigation right

44:22 - and so last year

44:24 - we were requested

44:26 - to

44:26 - We had we received over five hundred forty one.

44:30 - Communications

44:32 - on

44:33 - Litigation referrals

44:34 - okay

44:35 - and we we as an office.

44:37 - Adopted four hundred and sixty five of them.

44:41 - There were other

44:42 - cases which I think might be the ones you're referring to

44:45 - that at the request of the o g c were delegated

44:49 - to the governor at the at the governor's request

44:52 - and so that puts us in this position where

44:55 - there are some things that that lgc can do.

45:00 - That we also can do

45:01 - but there are tons of things

45:03 - that I do

45:05 - that they can't do

45:06 - I can't give them the authority thank you and sorry I only have thirty seconds in

45:10 - question and.

45:12 - So

45:13 - You submitted

45:14 - a an abacus brief to the commonwealth court and allegheny reproductive health center

45:19 - versus a d h s and in that brief you stated that

45:22 - the commonwealth had a compelling interest in protecting the health of women citing

45:26 - that some women experience harmful psychological emotional and physical impacts

45:30 - as the result of abortion you also acknowledge

45:32 - that some women may testify that having

45:35 - an abortion

45:36 - was a benefit

45:37 - but that the state had to weigh those can meeting interests what I find troubling

45:42 - about it is that in the argument.

45:45 - You completely excluded the women who have been harmed because they could not

45:49 - access an abortion

45:51 - because fundamentally those are the women that are actually at at issue in that case

45:55 - women who because of restrictions on medicaid

45:57 - payments for abortion care are unable to act as an abortion

46:01 - and a number of studies have found that those women

46:04 - who have been denied wanted abortions have more

46:06 - psychological problems than those who receive them.

46:10 - Including greater levels of anxiety stress lower self esteem and lower life

46:14 - satisfaction over time those women also developed more physical health problems

46:19 - and we cannot have this conversation without talking about the abysmal rate

46:23 - of maternal mortality in this commonwealth seventy four percent of maternal mortality.

46:29 - Cases are linked to mental health conditions substance

46:33 - use and overdose and injuries all of which are increased

46:36 - in the population of women denied abortions

46:39 - so I am wondering if can explain

46:41 - why you do not believe that the commonwealth has a

46:44 - compelling interest in protecting the health of those women.

46:51 - Yes

46:52 - thirty seconds please so okay

46:54 - two points I want to make your

46:56 - and his and

46:57 - as I said with everyone I'd be more than happy

46:59 - to sit down and talk one on one about any of these issues but

47:02 - that being said

47:03 - when I took office

47:04 - I made it very clear

47:07 - to my staff

47:08 - that we will do so the thing that a lot of agencies don't do

47:11 - and that is we will follow the law

47:13 - and we will defend every statute that is passed by this body.

47:18 - Whether I like it I don't like it whether I'm indifferent to it

47:21 - because if I don't do that

47:24 - then and this is a really important answer to a really important question

47:27 - if I don't do that

47:29 - then as the body.

47:32 - Works through your job and comes up with statutes

47:35 - and you don't think that I will defend them

47:38 - then that will do I think that causes irreparable

47:41 - harm in your process and so to that point.

47:44 - I said we are going to defend every statute

47:46 - that is

47:47 - passed by this body that sign a law by the governor

47:50 - and that has not been ruled unconstitutional yet

47:53 - and so I promise you

47:55 - in my first year I have successfully irritated the entire political spectrum.

48:00 - By adhering by adhering to that

48:03 - but I'm not going to stop

48:04 - and so

48:05 - the minute that statute is determined to be unconstitutional

48:09 - then our job is done.

48:11 - In but we do it with everything on all sides of

48:13 - the aisle because that is the duty that is my job

48:16 - that's what I took an oath to do and I will continue to do it.

48:19 - Thank you so

48:20 - so just to clarify for.

48:23 - That

48:24 - that ten seconds

48:25 - and just to clarify the reason that these women were

48:28 - excluded from your advocates brief was because they

48:31 - didn't fit that

48:32 - narrative.

48:34 - Though I don't I would have to look

48:35 - honestly I would have to talk to the authors

48:37 - and I would have to take a dive into it and get a better understanding of it

48:40 - but I would be more than happy to have that conversation

48:43 - and then meet with you and we can talk about it

48:45 - and thank the gentlelady representative nelson.

48:49 - Thank you mr chair

48:50 - I appreciate the opportunity for maybe some additional time that's

48:54 - that's very nice I did the same thing with representative marcel last week.

48:59 - Both sides

49:00 - yes.

49:01 - I

49:01 - Will welcome the

49:02 - attorney general and

49:03 - special shout out it's great to see a fellow westmoreland

49:07 - county.

49:09 - Citizen at the front table there so

49:12 - great to see

49:13 - and I really am

49:14 - wanting to a couple of different areas so

49:16 - hopefully we'll be able to be focused on our.

49:19 - Exchange and that's building on this bipartisan effort that we've

49:23 - had in the

49:24 - in the house to really confront

49:26 - and combat human trafficking.

49:28 - Represent

49:29 - from lawrence county

49:30 - she had asked some follow-up questions my good

49:32 - colleague from philadelphia we've advanced

49:35 - a human trafficking bill hopefully the senate will get it across the governor's desk

49:40 - but you had mentioned.

49:42 - The nfl draft which is going to be in pittsburgh they say six or have seven hundred

49:46 - thousand people america to fifty fifa

49:51 - and

49:51 - in that america to fifty funding or some of the other additional funding

49:56 - that's going to the draft is your office

49:58 - receive operating funds or support

50:01 - to be able to come combat the sex trafficking

50:04 - that everybody is concerned is really going to come in

50:07 - with those dollars.

50:12 - Okay thanks I appreciate that.

50:16 - It

50:17 - Is.

50:17 - Because the.

50:20 - You know that

50:20 - we are getting millions

50:22 - and there is a sex traffic concern I'd like to

50:25 - get back to that g

50:26 - o line in the difference

50:28 - it's a twenty three million dollar difference between

50:31 - the governor supported funding for your efforts and your request

50:35 - for are your efforts so and.

50:38 - As we look at

50:40 - human trafficking within these

50:42 - events

50:43 - can you touch on the sense of urgency the additional things

50:46 - that your office will be able to do

50:49 - to protect citizens

50:51 - women.

50:52 - Go after these trafficking.

50:56 - Yes absolutely so.

50:59 - Without going into a greater conversation on the

51:02 - on

51:03 - All say the interaction between the g g o account

51:06 - and our other

51:08 - accounts that are are restricted accounts.

51:12 - What we are specifically asking for with regard to human trafficking this year

51:16 - is an increase of eight hundred fifty five thousand one dollars and the purpose of

51:21 - that is to add to positions that's an attorney and an agent

51:26 - to be able because right now as we sit

51:29 - with

51:29 - with all things being equal we don't have.

51:32 - The ability to keep up with what is already coming in

51:35 - to bring

51:36 - these hurricanes

51:38 - of potential trafficking

51:40 - without having additional.

51:42 - Additional tourney or additional agent is going to be superbad and so to that point

51:46 - where we're requesting eight hundred and fifty five

51:47 - thousand dollars that's two positions and that's really.

51:52 - Really really important I will say that in the

51:54 - first year of the human trafficking section

51:57 - just a little historical background.

52:00 - Five hundred and forty two thousand dollars

52:02 - was

52:03 - taken from g g o

52:05 - to pay for the efforts of the human trafficking sexual

52:08 - well and that that is

52:10 - a

52:10 - Very reasonable last less than a million dollars to help

52:14 - prepare

52:15 - and

52:15 - protect pennsylvania's

52:17 - I'd like to shift

52:18 - a little bit over because

52:19 - we'll leave seen as human trafficking

52:21 - labor trafficking sex trafficking

52:24 - it all

52:25 - is an undercurrent you know in the

52:27 - the gentleman earlier brought up about activities in

52:32 - you know minnesota and concerns of minnesota come into pennsylvania I just want to

52:36 - point out

52:37 - and

52:38 - you know as we look at some of these

52:40 - is

52:40 - Institute instances of trafficking.

52:43 - There have been illegal criminal

52:45 - aliens arrested in easton bell font

52:48 - philly dormant even in historic gettysburg

52:52 - in belle font

52:53 - and

52:54 - the ice arrest of that criminal from poland

52:57 - exploitation of a minor enforcement of a minor sexual

53:01 - assault

53:02 - sexual offense against a child

53:04 - in philadelphia an illegal

53:06 - alien from cuba recently arrested lewd acts of a minor

53:10 - cocaine possession in heroin

53:12 - shifting from the sex trafficking into the drug trafficking

53:16 - side

53:17 - it's another area where there's an eight million dollar gap

53:20 - between what your office

53:23 - would

53:24 - request for funding to be able to and and credit to both

53:28 - nationally the efforts against fentanyl and your

53:31 - efforts here in pennsylvania

53:33 - you know in westmoreland county we've dropped

53:35 - over two years

53:36 - twenty five percent less overdose deaths from

53:40 - ninety five five

53:41 - down to seventy one so

53:43 - lives are being saved in the efforts for law enforcement how will this

53:49 - eight million dollar gap.

53:51 - You know be able to be invested a little bit more

53:54 - effectively similar to operation clean sweep and

53:57 - provide

53:58 - preventative efforts

54:00 - to get fence nol and these drug dealers so

54:03 - to begin with I just want to share a little bit about the work that's being done by

54:07 - our bureau of narcotics investigations

54:09 - I think it's really important for people to understand that

54:12 - it's also important to understand that all of this

54:13 - work we're doing with regard to attacking the supply

54:16 - also goes hand in hand with attacking the demand

54:19 - which is something we're doing through through

54:22 - the leti program.

54:24 - Letty program

54:25 - on which we're expanding and that's something I would like

54:27 - to talk about as well if possible but it's critical for

54:31 - for this body to know

54:32 - that last year through the work of the bureau of narcotics investigations

54:36 - in collaboration with our partners all throughout the state

54:39 - we were able to remove an absolutely astounding fifty six million doses

54:44 - retinal

54:45 - million.

54:46 - Or fifty six million each one of those doses could be

54:49 - deadly that's not

54:51 - drop dramatic for purposes of my statement to you

54:54 - and you know the the

54:56 - opioid addiction

54:57 - and the absolute destruction it's cause and wreak havoc on

55:01 - lives

55:02 - I mean it's something that I'm familiar with

55:04 - through the course of my life

55:06 - it's something that I was familiar with through being a career prosecutor

55:09 - and nothing is worse than

55:11 - apparent having to watch their kid

55:12 - slip away into the web of addiction and there's

55:14 - nothing they can do about it so this is so unbelievably

55:18 - work.

55:22 - Thank you german.

55:24 - Into that point.

55:26 - In addition to that type of work that work is done

55:28 - by working with departments all throughout.

55:32 - Excuse me all throughout the state

55:34 - and so we are currently right now underfunded

55:38 - and again this is a situation where ge geo

55:40 - has was taken

55:42 - to fund

55:43 - these positions

55:44 - so the increase of eight point nine four million dollars is specifically

55:48 - for the normal cost to carry

55:51 - that's what this is about

55:52 - and

55:53 - and there's another part of this it's super important and again I I

55:56 - the red light stressing me out I'm not sure

55:58 - chairman

55:59 - of thirty second.

56:00 - Thirty second

56:01 - okay

56:02 - traditionally in the

56:03 - in the history of drug

56:04 - cases.

56:06 - Drug this goes back into the eighties the nineties

56:09 - drug forfeiture funds were used to fund all kinds of police work.

56:15 - Drug forfeiture funds have decreased drastically.

56:19 - I can tell you right now that and

56:21 - so I'm looking right here

56:23 - in twenty four twenty five

56:25 - there was ten million dollars in that account it's down now

56:28 - projected to be around four million at the end of this year

56:31 - so

56:32 - The bad guys are so much savvier with how they

56:34 - handle their funds they're using crypto currency

56:37 - like we are retraining ourselves to be able to go find

56:40 - that money through crypto accounts and things of that nature

56:43 - at the same time

56:45 - we as prosecutors have also.

56:48 - Change the way that we approach

56:50 - forfeiture funds in the first place

56:53 - and it's the right thing to do

56:55 - you don't want to just go take people's things

56:57 - you know unless we convict someone of a crime

57:00 - like there's so my point saying that is

57:03 - why us moving forward with

57:04 - with the way we think and understand it combined with the type of

57:08 - money the bad guys using

57:09 - we don't have that money anymore to use to fund

57:12 - our drug work

57:13 - that's why this is so important.

57:15 - Thank you mr chair

57:16 - like the gentleman representative flemming.

57:21 - Thank you

57:21 - mr chairman good morning

57:23 - general sunday and team

57:25 - and.

57:26 - I had the great privilege of hosting a town hall with seniors

57:30 - on friday in my district

57:32 - and one of the questions I received in and we answered this a little bit but

57:37 - and

57:38 - I'm really interested in in the

57:40 - recently.

57:42 - Constituted elder exploitation section of the office of attorney general

57:47 - and I know it was only established in october so

57:50 - we're we're going on about five to six months here

57:54 - of establishment but

57:55 - can you

57:56 - eat what we explain to that person who had the question is you know we get local law

58:00 - enforcement involved at first and then.

58:02 - You know the the

58:04 - county

58:05 - area agency on aging

58:07 - has a role as well as well as the office of attorney general so

58:10 - if you could

58:11 - talk about that

58:12 - office please and what you're doing to help

58:15 - and you know.

58:18 - Prosecute those who have been involved in elder abuse and exploitation.

58:22 - Absolutely so

58:24 - thank you for holding that town hall

58:26 - those are unbelievably important because education is

58:28 - the key to victory and in most of these situations.

58:32 - Pennsylvania we've one of the highest numbers of senior citizens in the country

58:35 - and we also and that's a wonderful thing.

58:38 - God willing we'll get there

58:40 - but the reality is they are under attack like we've never seen in

58:43 - ever in the history of law enforcement

58:45 - I mean there are most likely small countries

58:47 - whose entire gdp comes from stealing from

58:50 - american seniors

58:51 - and so when you take that and combine it with the advent

58:55 - of technology

58:56 - like ai right

58:57 - and and and I think innovations not mutually exclusive for protecting people

59:01 - right but it has supercharged

59:03 - these scams

59:05 - to the point where

59:06 - like we have law enforcement sometimes they can't figure out if it's a scam

59:09 - and you know my

59:10 - my older parents

59:12 - and they were

59:13 - formerly sophisticated humans and they are rough they

59:16 - have a rough time with it as well so that being said said

59:18 - we wanted to create a section

59:21 - where we could put specialized experts that are able

59:23 - to proc to investigate and prosecute these cases

59:26 - that we can get

59:28 - because

59:28 - we put so much work into prevention which is

59:31 - unbelievably important

59:32 - but at the same time

59:34 - if we can get these people we want to investigate them and prosecute them

59:38 - and this goes back to the law enforcement issue of recruitment retention

59:42 - a lot of these departments they do not have

59:44 - the

59:45 - people

59:46 - to

59:47 - Train for the expert level

59:49 - type of investigative work because they're too busy doing traffic stops and they're

59:53 - doing the those core competencies

59:54 - so the minute we announced this

59:57 - we were flooded

59:58 - 010 flooded with requests to take cases

01:00 - 06.600 we are already overwhelmed and I will tell you that this is amazing I want to thank.

01:00 - 10.310 All the legislators that help with this on both sides of the aisle.

01:00 - 12.300 I want to thank.

01:00 - 13.940 Everybody from the

01:00 - 15.980 administration that help on this

01:00 - 17.810 and this is a collaborative effort

01:00 - 20.270 raw pulling on the pulling this together

01:00 - 20.930 and I

01:00 - 23.900 I mention the area on aging earlier for a reason

01:00 - 24.830 because

01:00 - 26.640 they're the foot soldiers

01:00 - 29.810 that are out there a lot of times being the ones that identify

01:00 - 31.700 if there's even an issue in some cases

01:00 - 33.740 they are really really helpful

01:00 - 36.290 and a lot of times they go I think unnoticed

01:00 - 39.290 and I want to take a minute to just say how grateful we are

01:00 - 42.110 for them as well right now in the office

01:00 - 43.980 the section has.

01:00 - 48.050 We have one chief deputy attorney general we have a deputy attorney general

01:00 - 49.940 we have an executive assistant

01:00 - 54.240 and we have a section director and four spec full agents.

01:00 - 55.880 That are all working right now

01:00 - 59.180 since we started this section to your point a few months ago

01:00 - 03.050 and in the eastern part of the state we have twenty two open cases

01:01 - 05.180 central we have six open cases

01:01 - 08.720 and in pittsburgh and allegheny we have nine open cases

01:01 - 09.650 and

01:01 - 11.750 I have no doubt that as years go on

01:01 - 13.280 this section will grow.

01:01 - 15.815 I built this section through people that already

01:01 - 18.718 existed throughout the entirety of the office.

01:01 - 19.948 On them together.

01:01 - 21.238 Yeah I mean a

01:01 - 24.208 ten fifteen years ago I know this body.

01:01 - 25.788 Passed a law

01:01 - 27.738 there was a proliferation of

01:01 - 29.697 you know caregivers being made

01:01 - 30.498 as

01:01 - 32.098 You know.

01:01 - 33.538 You know.

01:01 - 37.338 A appointed as executors of estates and like it used to that

01:01 - 38.578 that used to be

01:01 - 41.538 how the fraud occurred now it's much more sophisticated where

01:01 - 42.718 you've got people.

01:01 - 45.228 Impersonating the voices of children

01:01 - 46.718 saying they're in an accident we

01:01 - 49.188 won gentlemen I'll just mention history he said he needed

01:01 - 50.428 it was his son

01:01 - 51.618 who called

01:01 - 54.238 me said he needed fifteen thousand dollars

01:01 - 57.918 asap and that particular transaction was stopped at the bank level

01:01 - 01.368 they went to the bank to withdraw the money he said

01:02 - 02.658 that they do

01:02 - 07.098 you know that they the banker finally asked him will have you spoken to your son

01:02 - 09.877 they called him he had no in and that's how they found

01:02 - 12.588 out it was a scam because he finally spoke to them so

01:02 - 15.198 thank you so much for free your work in this but

01:02 - 19.938 it is more sophisticated and we we need to do whatever we can to protect our seniors

01:02 - 21.618 though hands on deck and I

01:02 - 23.118 absolutely thank you general

01:02 - 23.448 then

01:02 - 24.628 gentlemen are

01:02 - 26.763 representative awesome or.

01:02 - 28.438 Thank you chairman harris.

01:02 - 31.698 Good morning attorney general sunday

01:02 - 36.168 I'm glad that you're here today thank you for all you do for the commonwealth and

01:02 - 39.641 for all the members of the attorney general's office thank

01:02 - 43.048 you for all you do and sacrifice for the commonwealth.

01:02 - 48.168 It's my understanding that the drug law enforcement unit

01:02 - 51.048 has a close working relationships

01:02 - 53.428 has close working relationships

01:02 - 55.798 with county district attorneys

01:02 - 58.338 when it comes to drug investigations

01:02 - 02.988 and in response to drug trafficking becoming more aware

01:03 - 05.988 of asset forfeiture forfeiture laws

01:03 - 08.878 making seizures and forfeitures

01:03 - 10.408 more do difficult.

01:03 - 16.998 District attorneys also have accelerated their involvement in drug investigations

01:03 - 19.428 continuing to add labor

01:03 - 21.118 to their already

01:03 - 25.918 busy workload I have three questions related to this.

01:03 - 30.648 Can you explain the financial correlation between your office

01:03 - 36.778 and county officials given their accelerated involvement in drug enforcement.

01:03 - 38.958 So

01:03 - 41.178 To well to begin with our bureau of

01:03 - 43.258 narcotics investigations.

01:03 - 48.448 Collaborates with every da's office probably in the state.

01:03 - 52.318 We work together on cases we share information

01:03 - 53.488 and we

01:03 - 55.878 a lot of this also comes down officer safety

01:03 - 59.968 you know when you have departments that don't have enough police officers.

01:04 - 01.008 These these

01:04 - 02.238 this type of work

01:04 - 05.218 is unbelievably dangerous

01:04 - 07.590 and so you want to make sure that you have enough officers

01:04 - 10.618 there to do it so we can be supportive in that way.

01:04 - 13.349 In addition to that obviously we have technical

01:04 - 15.558 expertise in our office that we utilize

01:04 - 17.858 in collaboration with the pennsylvania state police

01:04 - 22.914 that will be information special information with regard to wires and things like

01:04 - 25.228 that and other investigative methods.

01:04 - 28.728 That that we have specialized training in as well

01:04 - 30.738 sometimes when we can do it

01:04 - 32.418 we.

01:04 - 34.258 Went there.

01:04 - 37.278 Yeah

01:04 - 39.612 under under certain circumstances we may help

01:04 - 43.318 a department with overtime if it's an eg case.

01:04 - 46.528 For for that officer to be able to come out and be helpful.

01:04 - 47.878 In that matter

01:04 - 49.638 and so that's really important

01:04 - 52.998 and tying back to the initial part of your question where you reference

01:04 - 54.528 that the drug dealers

01:04 - 00.684 are more cognizant of the forfeiture laws they are and so when you talk about people

01:05 - 03.178 that drug dealers that are selling.

01:05 - 04.128 That

01:05 - 05.308 we have a case like

01:05 - 05.868 there was a

01:05 - 08.838 when it was actually one of my last cases da was one where

01:05 - 11.268 someone was utilizing the dark web

01:05 - 13.078 to buy and sell drugs.

01:05 - 13.638 They were

01:05 - 15.028 they were.

01:05 - 18.418 Making money by utilizing different crypto schemes

01:05 - 19.528 to do that

01:05 - 21.838 and we have the expertise

01:05 - 25.108 to be able to assist in identifying and locating

01:05 - 26.448 how that money

01:05 - 27.988 is being stored

01:05 - 29.298 we can help with

01:05 - 31.227 working with colleagues all around the country

01:05 - 33.288 other agencies offices and our federal partners

01:05 - 35.128 on how to identify

01:05 - 37.008 and how the drugs are being

01:05 - 38.128 transported

01:05 - 40.518 and in particular how they're being used in a dark web

01:05 - 45.208 okay I'm gonna ask that too and I'll let you respond to both of those.

01:05 - 46.518 How important is

01:05 - 51.928 is the drug task force funding especially in rural district attorney's

01:05 - 53.788 it within the commonwealth

01:05 - 56.525 and can you provide info formation on whether

01:05 - 00.018 the costs of drug investigations have increased

01:06 - 03.268 for such things as police salaries

01:06 - 05.818 drug prices and technology.

01:06 - 08.088 Well the first part is

01:06 - 08.928 that

01:06 - 10.048 funding is critical

01:06 - 12.918 a lot so so for those that don't know

01:06 - 14.298 a district attorney's office

01:06 - 15.448 can choose

01:06 - 19.494 they can either run their own drug task force or they can utilize the one that's ran

01:06 - 21.388 by the attorney general's office.

01:06 - 23.808 In a lot of the really really small counties

01:06 - 25.128 the very rural counties

01:06 - 26.518 that drug work

01:06 - 27.748 is a little bit different

01:06 - 29.418 where they know

01:06 - 32.538 who the people are they're familiar with the families

01:06 - 36.808 and oftentimes you have better investigate guns and prosecutions

01:06 - 40.008 when that's a more locally driven type of case

01:06 - 41.458 and so

01:06 - 44.868 I can say as a former da who was a recipient of those funds

01:06 - 47.268 and we if we didn't have that

01:06 - 48.988 we would have been toast

01:06 - 50.808 and so that's really important

01:06 - 53.448 and I also want to reemphasize again

01:06 - 55.728 the fact that because a lot of these departments

01:06 - 57.298 you are understaffed.

01:06 - 58.888 They don't have

01:06 - 00.768 like there are certain types of

01:07 - 01.788 of of

01:07 - 04.534 cases and investigations you don't want to have

01:07 - 06.948 people dabbling for lack of a better way to put it

01:07 - 07.758 you want

01:07 - 10.818 experts that are trained that understand how to do it

01:07 - 12.618 and understand every aspect of it

01:07 - 14.778 that is critical for officer safety

01:07 - 17.448 it's critical for prot connecting the integrity of the case

01:07 - 19.788 is critical for protecting due process

01:07 - 21.558 is critical for all of that

01:07 - 22.368 and so

01:07 - 26.844 that's why that money is so important because it gives them the ability to train

01:07 - 31.318 those officers that they otherwise could train to do that type of work.

01:07 - 34.528 Thank the gentleman thanks.

01:07 - 37.386 Representative israel.

01:07 - 45.568 We're going to go to representative webster.

01:08 - 05.418 Good morning thank you mr chairman

01:08 - 07.908 and thank you all for being here today I

01:08 - 09.078 I do have a

01:08 - 10.848 a little bit of a sensitive question

01:08 - 12.858 and I want to orient us towards

01:08 - 13.978 it's a budget

01:08 - 16.188 is a budget question as well and they know it so

01:08 - 17.608 it's sensitive

01:08 - 18.688 many of my

01:08 - 21.448 constituents are very concerned

01:08 - 22.338 about

01:08 - 23.808 the the fidelity and

01:08 - 26.605 and the sanctity of our elections coming up in

01:08 - 30.088 november the budget question is do you have.

01:08 - 33.738 Resources do we have the kinds of things that we need

01:08 - 35.868 to protect the elections

01:08 - 36.408 in the

01:08 - 38.278 in the commonwealth of pennsylvania.

01:08 - 40.018 So.

01:08 - 42.228 Couple answers then

01:08 - 44.098 to start with

01:08 - 47.218 when I was in elected da I had.

01:08 - 51.088 The ability is elected the ai to work with the agey.

01:08 - 52.728 Sort of election task force

01:08 - 54.518 every time there was an election coming

01:08 - 57.318 and that's something that I took advantage of as a da

01:08 - 00.838 and what we did was we collaborated together

01:09 - 02.788 we we shared information

01:09 - 04.267 we would share like hey something's happening

01:09 - 07.018 over here is something we should look at.

01:09 - 08.824 Well that same process

01:09 - 09.252 is

01:09 - 09.918 In place

01:09 - 11.088 and so

01:09 - 13.008 that's us working with the a's

01:09 - 14.878 working with the administration

01:09 - 17.548 and working with with everyone

01:09 - 19.788 to do everything we can to ensure

01:09 - 21.558 that elections are safe

01:09 - 22.698 and fair

01:09 - 25.068 fair and so to that point very simply

01:09 - 25.848 do

01:09 - 29.304 You know the law surrounding especially when you look at like criminal activity

01:09 - 32.278 versus like there's a lot of different nuances to it.

01:09 - 34.908 We're certainly prepared to.

01:09 - 37.078 Work with the locals.

01:09 - 37.791 On

01:09 - 40.108 Things that might come up that day

01:09 - 42.538 but we are always at the ready

01:09 - 45.538 to work with our colleagues to investigate

01:09 - 46.708 instances

01:09 - 48.918 and we've done that and we've charge

01:09 - 50.038 individuals.

01:09 - 51.598 For doing

01:09 - 52.126 or

01:09 - 53.728 You know.

01:09 - 55.768 Conducting criminal activity

01:09 - 57.425 during the course of committing a lockdown I I

01:09 - 59.868 just think that's something that I know at home

01:10 - 01.608 they want me to be able to say

01:10 - 04.698 and to be able to say you know we've had this discussion in

01:10 - 06.238 pennsylvania

01:10 - 08.448 knows how to run elections and we know how to

01:10 - 10.358 support the folks that are running them

01:10 - 11.758 and I appreciate you

01:10 - 12.898 thank you thank you.

01:10 - 15.168 Just switch real quickly as

01:10 - 16.308 the veterans question

01:10 - 18.498 you have have in fact taken on

01:10 - 21.114 so some work to protect veterans'

01:10 - 22.728 benefits and others from fraud and.

01:10 - 26.368 Is there anything that this legislatures should be doing

01:10 - 28.528 with you to to.

01:10 - 30.108 Give you the resources or the

01:10 - 32.338 or the cover to.

01:10 - 33.568 I think this too

01:10 - 36.168 this goes directly back through our gg of funding

01:10 - 38.118 and what I mean by that is

01:10 - 40.438 and obviously like I'm a veteran.

01:10 - 42.018 I work with veterans.

01:10 - 42.468 I

01:10 - 44.534 These are huge major issues we've one of the highest

01:10 - 47.458 veterans populations in the country here in pennsylvania

01:10 - 50.194 and it goes back to the the core

01:10 - 52.938 issue that I think spacing our budget

01:10 - 55.331 which is the gg funding.

01:10 - 55.998 Because

01:10 - 57.798 we haven't really got into this yet

01:10 - 59.428 but very simply

01:10 - 02.628 for many many years we have utilized money

01:11 - 04.708 from our restricted account.

01:11 - 06.618 To fund

01:11 - 08.148 things that should have been funded

01:11 - 10.198 raji gl account

01:11 - 12.618 and as a result of that that money

01:11 - 14.488 in the restricted account

01:11 - 18.598 at one point like five years ago was around like what forty five million dollars.

01:11 - 19.708 Forty six million

01:11 - 21.928 and most recently it was at.

01:11 - 28.366 By the end of this year under six million and so my point is.

01:11 - 29.616 Utilizing that

01:11 - 33.036 each of those years to keep things going was fine in the moment

01:11 - 35.406 but it is an absolute reality

01:11 - 40.576 that if we don't ensure that the structure of the budget is one that can last.

01:11 - 41.496 Or

01:11 - 42.966 When we're all long gone

01:11 - 44.436 okay then we're we're

01:11 - 46.026 not going to be in the good as bass

01:11 - 49.446 and so my point is that we can move resources to different places

01:11 - 53.976 if we have that gg of funding and so that's that's my answer.

01:11 - 55.986 I appreciate that very much I know

01:11 - 58.236 it gets political really fast and

01:11 - 01.936 and and one of the things I like to say this is.

01:12 - 04.806 The academic answer this is doctor webster you know

01:12 - 06.286 rather than the

01:12 - 08.646 veteran webster asking this question right that

01:12 - 10.096 that.

01:12 - 12.166 You know.

01:12 - 13.726 Small government.

01:12 - 15.526 Which we're all

01:12 - 17.376 in favor of smart government

01:12 - 19.026 but small as a measure

01:12 - 20.596 of quantity

01:12 - 22.236 and we're short in some ways

01:12 - 23.189 and

01:12 - 25.746 so we should be talking about good government in quality

01:12 - 28.296 as we go along and appreciate your answer thank you

01:12 - 29.506 thank you representative

01:12 - 31.306 thank the gentleman.

01:12 - 33.286 Representative float.

01:12 - 37.416 Thank you chairman good morning secretary or general

01:12 - 39.756 sorry my apologies general sunday

01:12 - 41.166 I just want to build

01:12 - 42.376 on

01:12 - 44.466 What the good representative from

01:12 - 46.596 dauphin county was talking about

01:12 - 47.826 which has scams

01:12 - 50.597 and I I host a scam seminar every year in my

01:12 - 53.496 district as well as many of my colleagues do

01:12 - 54.096 and

01:12 - 56.406 collaboration with our local law enforcement

01:12 - 58.176 our district attorney

01:12 - 02.416 and and the department of banking to educate the constituents

01:13 - 07.426 on the unfortunate levels of scams that are running rampant across the state and.

01:13 - 10.566 It's targeting our vulnerable residents as

01:13 - 12.156 in particular our seniors

01:13 - 14.256 often these scams involve

01:13 - 17.326 at the loss of a significant amount of money.

01:13 - 20.316 For these targeted and some losing as much

01:13 - 21.846 vital resources

01:13 - 22.626 that

01:13 - 25.416 you know force them to have to leave their homes

01:13 - 28.354 I had a ninety year old woman who was forced out of her

01:13 - 32.446 home because she was scammed out of all of her savings and.

01:13 - 34.716 Money that she uses to live an

01:13 - 37.566 I also had another one where seniors

01:13 - 40.506 get a link in their text messages

01:13 - 45.696 asking them to click on this link there sent an email it gives access to

01:13 - 48.526 all of their computer information

01:13 - 54.786 and that they are able to access their bank accounts and their investments and and

01:13 - 57.966 tragically I had another woman who is contacted through

01:13 - 00.016 facebook messenger

01:14 - 02.776 and she was contacted by a person by the name

01:14 - 05.406 of mel gibson who said he was in need of help

01:14 - 10.606 she sent him a significant amount of money and when she realized it was a scam

01:14 - 13.656 and she fell into a depression and she killed herself

01:14 - 14.976 these are real the

01:14 - 16.306 really.

01:14 - 18.996 Sad situations that are

01:14 - 19.356 are

01:14 - 23.296 my constituents are facing and constituents across pennsylvania

01:14 - 24.246 so you've

01:14 - 25.446 already discussed

01:14 - 29.746 and how you're working to compact combat these.

01:14 - 31.716 These issues with scams but

01:14 - 36.856 given that the governor is providing the level of funding that is.

01:14 - 40.215 Is not providing the level of funding that you're requesting.

01:14 - 45.672 Does that impact your ability to respond to and combat these scams and protect our

01:14 - 49.866 vulnerable residents it does absolutely and I just look you're

01:14 - 52.210 so last year the office of the attorney general

01:14 - 54.066 so we have the office of public engagement

01:14 - 56.946 which also want to put a plug in for everyone in here

01:14 - 01.422 we can go anywhere and give presentations on so many different topics and two

01:15 - 04.336 thousand twenty five we gave thirteen hundred presentations

01:15 - 07.276 to over one hundred twenty five thousand people

01:15 - 07.956 and

01:15 - 09.456 those presentations

01:15 - 12.096 are so unbelievably important because

01:15 - 14.176 you know you can't fix.

01:15 - 17.526 The harm after it happened oftentimes but if you can prevent it

01:15 - 19.896 then that's where we need to be

01:15 - 25.096 and so again this goes back to and I'll pull a right back towards ggf funding.

01:15 - 28.336 Over the years that money has been utilized.

01:15 - 29.796 For

01:15 - 32.586 a lot of well actually rpr ppd funding

01:15 - 35.706 or restricted account has been used to supplement or ggf funding

01:15 - 40.326 and so we've made a specific ask in the document and is documented throughout

01:15 - 41.676 our entire budget as.

01:15 - 46.326 For giving us money to be able to get that gdl account where it needs to be

01:15 - 48.696 because that brings us back to a position

01:15 - 50.586 where we can hire people

01:15 - 53.116 that can do this additional work.

01:15 - 56.446 In what you're talking about is so important because.

01:15 - 58.606 When we talk about technology.

01:16 - 01.446 Even in the last year

01:16 - 04.686 the technology has increased on all these scams

01:16 - 07.816 for us to be able to properly investigate.

01:16 - 13.536 Unbelievably complex technologically advanced criminal cases

01:16 - 15.666 we need experts to do that

01:16 - 18.826 we pay for those experts from

01:16 - 20.466 the ppd the account

01:16 - 21.726 the restricted account

01:16 - 24.246 which is what's funding the gg o account

01:16 - 27.027 and so we don't have the resources in that

01:16 - 30.796 account anymore to be able to fund these experts

01:16 - 34.786 and we have to be pennsylvania where the fifth largest state in the country.

01:16 - 36.786 We and I will not sit back

01:16 - 37.596 and

01:16 - 39.936 allow us to be in a position where we can

01:16 - 43.426 go into the breach and be the people that are fighting these fights.

01:16 - 44.626 For pennsylvania

01:16 - 49.566 and so very simply I would ask everyone to take a look at this specific budget request

01:16 - 51.666 with regard to funding gg oh

01:16 - 53.586 because that frees up

01:16 - 57.186 those restricted accounts so we can use them for experts

01:16 - 58.636 for technology

01:16 - 00.496 so that we can stay

01:17 - 02.496 we will never be ahead of the bad guys

01:17 - 04.326 but at least put us on paired

01:17 - 05.866 well and and these

01:17 - 08.315 these scams are always changing and it isn't

01:17 - 10.566 it's really hard especially for our seniors

01:17 - 12.962 but I I don't want to just say the seniors because

01:17 - 15.426 even myself I was scammed on the day of my scam jam

01:17 - 15.966 so

01:17 - 18.166 I mean how ironic is that

01:17 - 19.476 but it changed

01:17 - 20.886 the only one I know

01:17 - 24.350 but real quick is there a mechanism to help victims

01:17 - 28.816 recover the loss of the funds so we have a scam squad

01:17 - 30.066 in what we do is

01:17 - 32.726 when someone calls the agee's office we will

01:17 - 35.986 immediately go into action to try to mediate

01:17 - 40.662 and mitigate the amount of money that that person loses and so call the attorney

01:17 - 42.156 general's office send them our way

01:17 - 45.096 we have people that's their sole job in the world

01:17 - 47.466 just to do that and sometimes

01:17 - 50.356 it's hard to do it because of people use.

01:17 - 53.406 No crypto atm or

01:17 - 54.636 if they know

01:17 - 55.296 you

01:17 - 56.916 they wire the money

01:17 - 57.966 things like that

01:17 - 59.670 it makes it a lot harder but if they use

01:17 - 02.836 credit cards if they use things certain apps.

01:18 - 06.216 Then we might be able to mitigate that and help save them

01:18 - 08.102 from losing as much money that they otherwise

01:18 - 10.086 would have lost that's great information

01:18 - 11.466 thank you so much yep

01:18 - 14.236 thank the gentlelady representative guzman.

01:18 - 27.216 Thank you mr chair and

01:18 - 27.996 thank you

01:18 - 31.146 mr attorney general and team for your time this morning

01:18 - 35.682 and of course thank you for your continued work on behalf of all pennsylvanians mr

01:18 - 37.792 attorney general in my district I hear a lot from

01:18 - 40.386 working families every day about the challenges they face

01:18 - 43.686 whether it's finding good jobs keeping our kids safe online

01:18 - 48.786 protecting our seniors from scammers and or putting the bad guy or gal's away for good

01:18 - 51.156 of while keeping our neighborhoods safe

01:18 - 54.126 so in that vein mr attorney general like to ask you

01:18 - 56.034 particularly about a new phenomenon that's been

01:18 - 59.266 occurring lately and that's on the platform of roadblocks

01:18 - 00.696 so roadblocks is a

01:19 - 04.476 child's game that is used by eighty three million daily users of which

01:19 - 08.626 forty two percent of it's users are under the age of thirteen.

01:19 - 13.446 Just this last october and october two thousand and twenty five a bucks county family

01:19 - 14.766 sued roadblocks

01:19 - 18.966 because there's because the thirteen year old child was sexually exploited

01:19 - 22.506 on the platform in fact anybody that's watching it at home I encourage you

01:19 - 26.466 to google roadblocks discord twenty twenty six sexual predators

01:19 - 28.266 and you'll read a whole lot about

01:19 - 29.506 all the cases

01:19 - 31.386 all around the country in regards to

01:19 - 34.476 roadblocks and it's enabling of child predators

01:19 - 37.936 and so mister attorney general I'd like to ask you specifically

01:19 - 42.216 in regards to your work in helping to secure our online platforms and

01:19 - 44.316 to secure our kids online

01:19 - 45.156 and so

01:19 - 48.126 how how does your office coordinate with tech platform

01:19 - 48.546 tech

01:19 - 51.366 technology platforms excuse me when it comes to these

01:19 - 53.586 type of predator investigations

01:19 - 56.586 so first of all thank you so much for bringing up this question

01:19 - 59.496 this will be in a lot of ways the challenge

01:19 - 01.066 of our future.

01:20 - 04.416 And I'm very proud of the work that we've done in this area

01:20 - 06.406 so to start with.

01:20 - 10.266 You know we live in a world where sometimes not everybody gets along

01:20 - 12.456 and I've found a place where

01:20 - 14.766 there is a tremendous amount of cooperation

01:20 - 18.036 so back in december of this past year

01:20 - 21.726 the pennsylvania gs office myself along with my colleague from new jersey

01:20 - 22.686 and

01:20 - 24.396 we led an effort

01:20 - 26.016 which was the first step

01:20 - 27.276 in compelled seeing

01:20 - 28.776 many many companies

01:20 - 30.416 and I'll go through them with you

01:20 - 35.386 to change the way that they do business in particular with regard to their chatbots.

01:20 - 39.876 This is public information and to your point anyone can go and look

01:20 - 41.356 and see.

01:20 - 44.946 What is happening with a lot of these chatbots the kids are using

01:20 - 47.706 where these kids are going into the cia chatbots

01:20 - 51.756 I mean I have heard in we mentioned the team talk from a few weeks ago.

01:20 - 55.146 I mean we had someone tell us that they know someone who thinks that

01:20 - 58.006 the chatbots like their girlfriend or boyfriend

01:20 - 58.686 we have

01:20 - 02.086 and this is public chatbots where they have.

01:21 - 04.116 Aided people in committing suicide

01:21 - 05.326 where they have

01:21 - 06.726 aided children

01:21 - 08.877 in beer having ways and doing things that no

01:21 - 11.646 parent would ever in a million years ever ever ever

01:21 - 13.206 accept and approve

01:21 - 14.886 so we went around

01:21 - 16.086 the whole the whole country

01:21 - 19.746 and we managed to pull together forty two attorneys general

01:21 - 22.056 when you want ours and twenty one ds

01:21 - 25.236 and we came together and we sent the first step

01:21 - 26.226 in

01:21 - 28.006 In how this works

01:21 - 29.529 to anthropic

01:21 - 30.946 to apple.

01:21 - 34.746 The chai ai character technologies inc

01:21 - 35.986 google

01:21 - 36.666 luca

01:21 - 38.856 meta microsoft nami

01:21 - 40.986 open ai perplexity ai

01:21 - 43.186 replica and sai

01:21 - 46.296 and so this effort is ongoing right now as we speak

01:21 - 49.026 this is a public letter this is available for you

01:21 - 50.416 to review.

01:21 - 51.646 Shortly after that

01:21 - 53.736 I can very quickly because our time is limited

01:21 - 54.066 so

01:21 - 58.116 Those those companies are ai companies and of course they deserve to get their

01:21 - 59.736 letters but I'm speaking specifically

01:22 - 03.606 about the online gaming platforms of roadblocks where again

01:22 - 07.806 millions of kids play online and they're being exposed right now to

01:22 - 09.936 ch child predators mr attorney general

01:22 - 14.106 of the days of church how predators being on chat rooms and chatting on

01:22 - 17.796 a with with their potential prey is over there they're playing games

01:22 - 20.796 with actual children playing in children's games and so

01:22 - 24.036 I'd like to ask you specifically in terms of these companies

01:22 - 26.526 that are allowing predators to play on their games

01:22 - 28.896 what are we doing to help protect our kids

01:22 - 31.356 from these companies that are allowing child predators

01:22 - 35.916 to run ramp it over their platforms so what I can say is this what I can say

01:22 - 38.656 because there's certain things I can't discuss.

01:22 - 40.986 In a venue like this

01:22 - 43.476 but what I can say is that we take this

01:22 - 45.766 unbelievably seriously

01:22 - 47.776 and this is something that.

01:22 - 49.536 We are looking at.

01:22 - 53.136 I can't go into detail on that but I will say that

01:22 - 53.856 that is

01:22 - 56.976 an understanding of the harm caused by what you're talking

01:22 - 58.086 about right now

01:22 - 00.456 is not something that has escaped us

01:23 - 03.346 and we have a lot of resources in place

01:23 - 06.996 to do things that we can do

01:23 - 08.446 to.

01:23 - 10.176 Take care of these situations

01:23 - 14.502 so I'm asking all the parents at home to check your kids discords and roadblocks

01:23 - 17.436 information for messages from other individuals that they may not know

01:23 - 19.908 very quickly because I know my time is very limited I

01:23 - 22.132 want to talk about violent crime because it doesn't just

01:23 - 23.496 impact philly or pittsburgh

01:23 - 25.536 impacts a city or writing of which I represent

01:23 - 28.146 and so on this task works as you guys have

01:23 - 30.935 what can we do besides giving besides giving more

01:23 - 33.486 money what can we do to expand that task force

01:23 - 35.856 to include smaller cities like the city of redding

01:23 - 38.918 yeah absolutely I mean our gun violence task force

01:23 - 41.686 works with small cities all throughout the commonwealth

01:23 - 45.096 we've made it into your point because I was a da and a third class city

01:23 - 47.496 so I know exactly what you're talking about

01:23 - 51.466 and what I can't say is we have already started communication

01:23 - 54.696 on ways that we can expand our gun violence task force into

01:23 - 55.956 those different areas

01:23 - 58.896 there are other things that we can do with regard to

01:23 - 00.966 the mental health crisis to impact

01:24 - 04.176 on the public safety in those areas as well through our leti

01:24 - 06.016 a mental health component.

01:24 - 09.426 In addition to that obviously the drug work that our bureau of or of

01:24 - 11.506 of narcotics investigations

01:24 - 14.056 I promise you they are very active.

01:24 - 15.756 In with your constituents

01:24 - 18.006 and so this is something we do all the time

01:24 - 19.974 I think that what I would like to do because you have

01:24 - 22.656 a lot of really good questions here I would loved to

01:24 - 25.596 set up a time to talk to you one on one about some of the

01:24 - 28.156 tech issues that you brought up in particular

01:24 - 30.727 to kind of ennis as things progress I will obviously be

01:24 - 32.831 in a much stronger position to have this conversation

01:24 - 35.416 thank you mr attorney general thank you mr chair.

01:24 - 38.376 Chair thanks gentlemen and recognizes representative

01:24 - 38.826 stella

01:24 - 40.966 thank you mr chairman

01:24 - 43.486 and good afternoon general sunday

01:24 - 44.316 and

01:24 - 47.506 your budget documentation states

01:24 - 50.826 funding levels in the proposed budget are lower

01:24 - 52.426 than we had requested

01:24 - 54.096 in an acting anything lower

01:24 - 58.456 would necessarily have devastating consequences on our office.

01:24 - 00.456 Now I would assume kind of

01:25 - 03.216 just what we've done for the past hour and a half here

01:25 - 05.646 the mission of the attorney general's office

01:25 - 09.636 is to maintain the highest standards of ethics protect life

01:25 - 12.936 property constitutional and consumer rights

01:25 - 15.636 to ensure safety and freedom for those living

01:25 - 16.536 in visiting

01:25 - 18.316 the commonwealth of pa.

01:25 - 19.296 Now

01:25 - 23.146 understanding the strict current state of the commonwealth's finances

01:25 - 27.306 can you please tell us specifically what your office is doing

01:25 - 29.746 to undertake any.

01:25 - 33.646 Program adjustments staffing adjustments

01:25 - 37.266 and that you can ensure your office can continue to provide

01:25 - 39.786 the necessary services and reese sources

01:25 - 43.206 that the commonwealth expects from the attorney general's office

01:25 - 45.496 if funding is not provided.

01:25 - 47.236 So.

01:25 - 50.013 Okay so to break that down the first question if

01:25 - 53.206 funding is not provided what would we do essentially.

01:25 - 57.312 I have to go back again and and I just want to touch on

01:25 - 00.066 this briefly because this is a critical part of this answer

01:26 - 02.526 and that is going back to the restricted accounts

01:26 - 03.826 so

01:26 - 07.056 Because geo remain stagnant for so many years

01:26 - 09.726 that forced us to draw from the restricted accounts

01:26 - 13.816 okay these restricted accounts and this is unbelievably important.

01:26 - 18.046 They would otherwise be supporting consumer protection investigations

01:26 - 19.776 equipment needs for agents

01:26 - 23.566 essential upgrades to facilities technology and infrastructure

01:26 - 26.616 and they've been depleted to an absolute critical level.

01:26 - 27.906 Okay that's

01:26 - 29.346 really important to understand

01:26 - 30.856 and so.

01:26 - 35.776 The fiscal year twenty six twenty seven budget provides an opportunity to reestablish

01:26 - 37.816 an appropriate budgetary

01:26 - 39.076 operations

01:26 - 39.666 located

01:26 - 42.646 in that includes alignment of the expenditures

01:26 - 45.436 with their designated funding sources

01:26 - 46.546 so.

01:26 - 48.876 To your point we

01:26 - 50.476 obviously

01:26 - 53.136 respect and understand how important it is

01:26 - 54.546 to be thoughtful was spent.

01:26 - 55.806 Like that's the

01:26 - 56.286 we

01:26 - 57.616 In our homes

01:26 - 58.536 in government

01:26 - 59.976 it is absolutely crucial.

01:27 - 01.516 I believe

01:27 - 03.316 that public safety

01:27 - 05.056 is one of the main.

01:27 - 07.926 Is one of the main tasks of government

01:27 - 11.766 if our communities if our communities aren't safe literally nothing else matters

01:27 - 13.686 kids can't learn in school

01:27 - 16.186 and businesses can't thrive.

01:27 - 19.486 It causes so many problems and so to that point.

01:27 - 23.196 What we would like to do is increase the gg of funding

01:27 - 24.096 and

01:27 - 28.336 and I want to go back a second on that so so I don't think anyone brought it up today

01:27 - 33.076 but the governor's proposed budget includes a modest two percent increase in video

01:27 - 36.936 but it also includes a proposed fifteen point two million dollars

01:27 - 40.576 in a separate law enforcement support line.

01:27 - 45.306 Let me as a nobody is going to argue with what you just said with

01:27 - 47.346 the safety objection of the residents

01:27 - 48.006 but

01:27 - 52.866 are there other ways for additional funding streams are there additional

01:27 - 55.815 funding resources instead of what you're

01:27 - 58.926 asking with egidio increase I appreciate that

01:27 - 02.586 I'll just add a if there's something more to that because nobody's going to argue

01:28 - 06.852 that we enjoy the safety protection they provides so so when you look at the work we

01:28 - 10.932 do in our public protection division and consumer protection we're capped at the

01:28 - 12.886 amount of costs that we can recover

01:28 - 16.546 and so right now we're capped at two point five million dollars.

01:28 - 20.676 I think that if that cap was increased five million dollars

01:28 - 23.964 that would obviously provide us an additional two point

01:28 - 26.676 five million dollars in costs that we can go ahead

01:28 - 27.856 and grasp

01:28 - 29.436 as a result of all the work we do

01:28 - 31.416 that section brought in

01:28 - 35.026 to the commonwealth last year hundred and thirty six.

01:28 - 39.136 One hundred and two million doubt

01:28 - 42.743 and so if you look at that relatively speaking the bring it in in

01:28 - 44.716 one hundred and two million dollars.

01:28 - 45.396 The

01:28 - 47.046 highest cost we can recoup are

01:28 - 48.336 two point five million.

01:28 - 50.916 I think that's an area where we could find

01:28 - 53.946 some additional funding and I always want to make it clear

01:28 - 54.546 like

01:28 - 58.636 we are we're not asking for all these additional resources

01:28 - 01.926 we are asking that the resources that we currently have

01:29 - 03.406 are funded

01:29 - 04.266 and so

01:29 - 07.866 you know and when you look at for example the bodies that we're asking for

01:29 - 10.546 is very minimal because we've actually.

01:29 - 12.886 Eliminated empty positions

01:29 - 14.656 to be able to get this done.

01:29 - 15.486 So.

01:29 - 16.686 Alright great

01:29 - 18.546 thank you so much and of course I

01:29 - 19.686 make available to you

01:29 - 20.956 my.

01:29 - 22.544 Deputy chief of staff ben rent if you'd like

01:29 - 24.328 to take a deeper dive in any of those numbers

01:29 - 25.146 will do

01:29 - 26.266 thank you mister general

01:29 - 27.006 thanks mr

01:29 - 29.836 think the gentle lady representative waxman.

01:29 - 31.516 Thank you chairman.

01:29 - 34.986 Thank you so much for being with us this morning you and your team.

01:29 - 38.892 I have a couple of questions that I just want to ask him and try to get yes or no

01:29 - 42.076 answers to so we can kind of move quickly but.

01:29 - 42.816 Going back to

01:29 - 46.692 two thousand twenty four there have been coalitions of state attorneys general that

01:29 - 50.106 have sued the trump administration over federal grant freezes

01:29 - 51.606 and funding pauses

01:29 - 54.186 that affected education infrastructure and public

01:29 - 56.526 health dollars this was in the beginning your term

01:29 - 00.966 did your office participate in any of those law suits yes or no.

01:30 - 03.726 So that's not a yes or no question

01:30 - 06.696 and the reason for that is because the complexity

01:30 - 08.886 of our system and how

01:30 - 11.293 our system works and functions I'm not sure if you were

01:30 - 14.086 you present when I went through this little while ago.

01:30 - 15.036 Second

01:30 - 17.696 were you present when I went through this a little while ago

01:30 - 19.270 yes but I wanted to try to

01:30 - 20.736 try to get a yes or no there is

01:30 - 26.646 so it's it's actually intellectually deceiving for that to be a yes or no answer

01:30 - 29.836 the reason for that is because you have to understand

01:30 - 33.586 the specific legal framework that we operate with you're in pennsylvania.

01:30 - 38.532 Okay I'm going to continue and there were similar lawsuits twenty states that

01:30 - 40.776 challenged executive actions that restricted

01:30 - 44.826 federal funding for climate change resilience and also disaster relief

01:30 - 48.376 did your office participate in any of those cases

01:30 - 49.746 what I will say again

01:30 - 50.896 is

01:30 - 51.666 That and

01:30 - 54.426 this is very important to understand and I appreciate your question

01:30 - 55.816 however

01:30 - 58.546 over the course of that same year.

01:30 - 00.946 We require we receive

01:31 - 04.506 five hundred forty one litigation referrals from

01:31 - 07.216 the governor's office for general counsel.

01:31 - 10.296 Of which four hundred sixty five of them

01:31 - 12.396 were adopted by our office

01:31 - 16.036 that we did litigate there were other are cases.

01:31 - 19.126 That were requested that they be delegate

01:31 - 21.435 and under the commonwealth attorneys act that is a law

01:31 - 24.306 and a right that the governor has and he made that request

01:31 - 26.706 and he made those actions at his request

01:31 - 28.156 that's my answer

01:31 - 31.126 that was your answer okay so I'm just going to keep going here.

01:31 - 36.728 It's similar question there have been several states that have filed suit over

01:31 - 38.932 changes to federal immigration enforcement policy

01:31 - 41.952 as well as the expansion of detention facilities.

01:31 - 43.332 Did your office

01:31 - 46.808 participate in any of those lawsuits are planning to participate in any of those

01:31 - 49.352 lawsuits so as I said previously under the commonwealth

01:31 - 50.502 attorneys act

01:31 - 54.732 we have duties and responsibilities that are bifurcated here in pennsylvania.

01:31 - 58.592 That being said the office of attorney general has a lot of mandated duties

01:31 - 00.792 that we absolutely have to do by statute that

01:32 - 02.882 includes protecting children from predators

01:32 - 05.732 that includes protecting seniors from being scanned

01:32 - 09.272 it includes removing fifty six million dollars fifty six million doses of.

01:32 - 12.012 I'm going to I'm going to ask you to just

01:32 - 13.997 to just kind of keep your answer just to

01:32 - 15.542 to a few sentences you've kind of

01:32 - 16.232 the gentlemen

01:32 - 17.372 everybody wants this but

01:32 - 19.092 I will give you latitude

01:32 - 20.352 on time

01:32 - 22.892 so that the general can give full answers

01:32 - 24.062 so will give latitude

01:32 - 24.392 to

01:32 - 26.372 Represent a wax thank you very much

01:32 - 28.722 and so with that being said.

01:32 - 32.252 We have a case we have a world that exists where the commonwealth attorneys act

01:32 - 33.932 gives the governor the right

01:32 - 39.278 to bring charges or to break the brink cases when he deems that necessary we received

01:32 - 44.952 as I said previously and let's see five hundred and forty one litigation referrals

01:32 - 48.032 and we adopted four hundred and sixty five of them

01:32 - 49.352 however

01:32 - 51.392 as I previously mentioned because this is.

01:32 - 53.652 Critical to understand.

01:32 - 58.752 There were other cases that were delegated the governor at the governor's request

01:32 - 02.222 because the governor wanted to bring those cases that he has a legal right to do

01:33 - 04.859 and so he brought those cases in accordance with

01:33 - 07.662 his legal authority as the governor of pennsylvania.

01:33 - 10.802 So let me maybe ask a more thank you for that answer

01:33 - 13.862 and let me ask you maybe another question that will give you

01:33 - 16.352 a broader answer to be able to give which is

01:33 - 18.512 can you just identify for me

01:33 - 21.722 a single action that your office has taken

01:33 - 25.082 not that the governor took as part of the commonwealth attorneys act and

01:33 - 25.682 and but

01:33 - 29.342 something that your office has done where you have seen that the federal government

01:33 - 31.152 has either overreached.

01:33 - 33.692 Or in another way

01:33 - 37.752 cause pennsylvania harm can you name a single action that you've taken.

01:33 - 39.842 So

01:33 - 43.302 That's an interesting question the way you're phrasing it.

01:33 - 44.192 But

01:33 - 47.052 working with the way you're phrasing it.

01:33 - 48.972 I will say very simply.

01:33 - 51.692 The office of attorney general in pennsylvania

01:33 - 53.412 led the country.

01:33 - 55.272 In going after.

01:33 - 56.892 Ai companies.

01:33 - 00.632 Very very power powerful ai companies some of the most powerful

01:34 - 02.922 companies in the entire world.

01:34 - 06.282 That no one else was going to do.

01:34 - 08.822 That we chose to be the leader

01:34 - 11.252 and stick our you know what out there

01:34 - 12.932 because it was the right thing to do

01:34 - 16.124 and what I will tell you very simply is and this

01:34 - 19.362 doesn't take I think a phd in civics to understand

01:34 - 20.132 that

01:34 - 21.572 actions like that

01:34 - 24.342 may not have been looked upon in a manner.

01:34 - 26.502 That.

01:34 - 28.362 Was what.

01:34 - 31.212 Would be positive from the federal government

01:34 - 32.502 and I'll leave it at that

01:34 - 33.272 okay

01:34 - 34.622 well I think that

01:34 - 36.902 the point has been made and I appreciate your time

01:34 - 40.022 and thank you for that to the chairman for allowing us a little latitude

01:34 - 43.332 so that we could have a a full exchange thank you so much.

01:34 - 46.772 Thank the gentleman representative barton.

01:34 - 49.297 Thank you mr chairman thank you general sunday

01:34 - 51.212 for being here thank you for your team and

01:34 - 53.012 being here as well and and

01:34 - 55.712 let me just preface this with a thanks for all the great

01:34 - 58.262 work you're doing keeping our commonwealth safe as well

01:34 - 00.842 and I'd like to talk to about school safety

01:35 - 05.562 general sunday so your office requested a three point one million.

01:35 - 08.652 Dollars for the school safety appropriation.

01:35 - 10.892 That's an increase of about

01:35 - 12.330 sixteen percent I think

01:35 - 14.612 just over four hundred thousand dollars

01:35 - 17.282 of which are argued at your office identified as

01:35 - 19.592 crucial to ensure student safety

01:35 - 21.012 and.

01:35 - 25.513 However the the government the the governor has

01:35 - 28.932 has recommended a decrease for this appropriation

01:35 - 30.402 can you provide

01:35 - 35.142 more information on what your office intended to do with the additional

01:35 - 37.352 four hundred plus thousand dollars

01:35 - 40.782 and and why you deemed it critical.

01:35 - 43.232 Absolutely so the funding

01:35 - 43.922 so

01:35 - 45.492 By way of background

01:35 - 48.032 and I'm sure you are what you would have been a part of this.

01:35 - 53.082 The the safe to say something program expanded this year

01:35 - 57.662 and prior to it's expansion in the end the legislation that did so

01:35 - 59.862 we had a we didn't know that was going to

01:35 - 01.862 happen so obviously in our previous b budget

01:36 - 04.362 we didn't request that additional money.

01:36 - 06.582 As a result of the expansion

01:36 - 09.702 of the safe to say something program providing.

01:36 - 12.392 Thirty day and forty eight hour

01:36 - 16.932 windows or schools to get back to the ages office.

01:36 - 19.512 We will have an additional need

01:36 - 21.812 to be able to effectively lie

01:36 - 23.522 and effectuate that legislation

01:36 - 28.682 and so very simply that will put us in a place where we have costs to carry or

01:36 - 30.062 do not

01:36 - 31.412 give us costs to carry

01:36 - 33.598 and at the same time it will put us in a position

01:36 - 36.402 where we can handle the additional workload

01:36 - 37.622 by adding

01:36 - 39.252 those additional

01:36 - 40.502 mandates

01:36 - 41.802 from the legislature.

01:36 - 47.102 Perfect let me get since you brought up safe to say that my my wife was a former

01:36 - 50.502 director of student services at parkland school district

01:36 - 52.993 and I was delighted with that program and

01:36 - 56.202 the results that she saw actually lifesaving

01:36 - 58.502 results that she saw with that program

01:36 - 01.357 can you share with what what the safe to say programme

01:37 - 03.542 has c have to say something pardon me programme

01:37 - 06.452 has done across the commonwealth have you seen those same results

01:37 - 09.132 absolutely so since it's launch.

01:37 - 11.562 Well since the launch of this program.

01:37 - 14.021 In the very beginning this tip line received

01:37 - 16.502 over one hundred and seventy eight thousand wow

01:37 - 17.282 tips

01:37 - 20.042 and for the people that don't know how it works very simply

01:37 - 22.982 a student can anonymously send a tip in

01:37 - 26.912 on another student so a lotta times those are individuals that might

01:37 - 29.412 be talking about committing suicide

01:37 - 33.392 there might be individuals that are going to commit a crime commit a crime with a gun

01:37 - 34.142 it can be amid

01:37 - 35.642 all kinds of different things

01:37 - 38.357 when they send that in it's immediately screened

01:37 - 40.682 by the agee's office it goes to the school

01:37 - 43.452 and the nine one one is called that's appropriate

01:37 - 45.302 and so with that being said

01:37 - 49.592 and that number I gave you that actually excludes false reports

01:37 - 50.982 that were

01:37 - 52.622 or may have been received

01:37 - 53.952 so.

01:37 - 56.552 From two thousand and twenty four to twenty five

01:37 - 00.582 twelve point five percent of the tips received were designated

01:38 - 02.432 as life safety matters

01:38 - 04.772 so think about that twelve point five

01:38 - 05.702 percent

01:38 - 06.422 and

01:38 - 08.822 the top tip categories we received

01:38 - 13.812 and this is startling especially as apparent bullying cyberbullying.

01:38 - 16.232 Suicide suicidal

01:38 - 17.382 ideation.

01:38 - 20.082 Drug distribution and possession.

01:38 - 22.002 Smoking tobacco

01:38 - 22.772 vapes https

01:38 - 24.132 in school

01:38 - 26.664 and inappropriate inappropriate language and

01:38 - 29.582 behavior and I want to thank you for bringing up

01:38 - 34.092 the safe to say something program because we have a mental health crisis.

01:38 - 36.612 In pennsylvania and

01:38 - 37.202 amongst

01:38 - 38.382 children.

01:38 - 40.502 It's really at an all time high

01:38 - 42.752 and a lot of that goes back to

01:38 - 44.522 general societal issues

01:38 - 49.442 but when we talk about the incredible work at this office and other offices have done

01:38 - 50.942 with regard to ai

01:38 - 52.802 with regard to the companies

01:38 - 56.712 that are creating this environment that is basically like throwing.

01:38 - 58.002 Fuel

01:38 - 59.912 on top of these mental health issues

01:39 - 02.642 we have to be in a position to save these kids

01:39 - 06.392 it's safe to say something program is a tool that can be used

01:39 - 08.222 we are very very proud of it

01:39 - 10.742 and I thank you for the funding we've already received

01:39 - 13.172 and I hope that we receive the funding we need

01:39 - 14.882 to make sure that those young

01:39 - 19.778 voices are heard during their time of crisis and thank general sunday thank you so

01:39 - 23.082 much for your commitment to keeping our our children and our schools safe thank you

01:39 - 23.612 thank you

01:39 - 25.572 thank you mr chairman.

01:39 - 30.342 Thank the gentleman representative marceau.

01:39 - 34.742 Thank you mr chairman I appreciate it and thank you so much for being here

01:39 - 36.182 it's great to see all of you

01:39 - 38.300 I actually had a follow up question to

01:39 - 41.372 representative barton's relating to the safe to say

01:39 - 43.002 something program

01:39 - 46.532 obviously as a former school board member I appreciate hate

01:39 - 49.752 the fact that this program is so helpful and is really

01:39 - 52.932 helping our students in schools across the commonwealth.

01:39 - 55.262 The question that I have I

01:39 - 56.868 will first two questions

01:39 - 57.692 first is

01:39 - 00.865 do you have concerns in reducing that number at all

01:40 - 04.022 or do you feel confident that that amount of funding

01:40 - 06.792 is going to be adequate for this year.

01:40 - 08.192 Based on the governor's budget

01:40 - 10.622 so based on the governor's budget

01:40 - 11.922 our request

01:40 - 13.082 was an increase

01:40 - 14.552 I believe on top of that ribbon

01:40 - 17.652 of four hundred twenty seven thousand dollars.

01:40 - 20.102 That is what we believe we need

01:40 - 23.249 to be able to properly run the safe to say

01:40 - 26.592 something program in light of the additional.

01:40 - 28.452 Additional requirements

01:40 - 32.952 that have been mandated through legislation passed last year.

01:40 - 35.778 Thank you very much and then my follow up question

01:40 - 38.102 relates to actually the program itself

01:40 - 40.742 and you mentioned that the

01:40 - 43.772 the program is based on it being an anonymous tip

01:40 - 45.302 and so I have.

01:40 - 48.542 A young constituent at my district a student

01:40 - 49.692 who

01:40 - 52.216 was concerned about another student based on what she

01:40 - 54.752 had heard she ripped ported it through the program

01:40 - 57.092 and unfortunately her tip did not

01:40 - 59.102 remain anonymous within

01:40 - 03.782 that school district and she eventually she became bullied

01:41 - 06.298 and she ended up having threats against her and

01:41 - 08.732 had to switch to another school because of that

01:41 - 11.712 and so my question to you is

01:41 - 13.232 how do you protect

01:41 - 14.502 someone's

01:41 - 18.992 confidentiality so that the program remains as strong as it has been

01:41 - 21.535 I actually am putting together legislation right

01:41 - 23.942 now which I'd be happy to talk to you guys about

01:41 - 24.782 that would

01:41 - 26.132 in some way

01:41 - 28.412 like help to protect these students

01:41 - 32.792 but I just wanted your thoughts on how do we maintain the integrity of

01:41 - 33.512 that

01:41 - 37.154 anonymous aspect of the program so that we can continue

01:41 - 39.752 to have it used by folks throughout the commonwealth

01:41 - 41.612 so two parts that number one

01:41 - 45.182 the specific instance you're talking about if you could share that

01:41 - 45.902 privately

01:41 - 48.572 with my first deputy attorney general care about her

01:41 - 50.022 we'd appreciate.

01:41 - 52.142 The second part of this is it comes down to

01:41 - 54.132 in our opinion train.

01:41 - 56.684 Like a lot of the schools have to understand.

01:41 - 59.854 Specifically how this works now will tell you

01:42 - 02.144 that most schools do.

01:42 - 03.574 And so

01:42 - 05.854 but I don't have specific ada

01:42 - 08.644 on instances like what you're talking about

01:42 - 10.504 that's something that I'm going to task

01:42 - 12.724 are safe to say something program

01:42 - 13.874 with looking into

01:42 - 17.794 and then that's something maybe we can use as you move forward through your

01:42 - 19.114 legislative process

01:42 - 20.944 absolutely I appreciate that

01:42 - 25.510 and I do know that there was some training included in our last budget relating to

01:42 - 26.974 the safe to say something program

01:42 - 29.824 and so if that confidentiality and.

01:42 - 32.014 Kind of anonymous aspect to it

01:42 - 34.294 needs to be incorporated and we need

01:42 - 38.800 to clarify that language in some way I'd also appreciate that opportunity to talk to

01:42 - 41.914 you guys have said thank you so thank you so much I really appreciate that.

01:42 - 43.024 Chairman

01:42 - 44.234 thank you yep.

01:42 - 46.124 Thank the gentlelady.

01:42 - 48.104 Chairman briggs.

01:42 - 51.080 Determined and thank you general I'm always good

01:42 - 54.584 to see you and and greg always great to see you.

01:42 - 59.104 I want to thank you and your office for the collaboration on the the vape

01:42 - 00.544 legislation

01:43 - 02.404 organized retail theft

01:43 - 05.194 we do work very well together most of the time.

01:43 - 07.564 So I want to I want to thank you for that

01:43 - 09.794 I have a couple of questions

01:43 - 11.494 and if it depends on you

01:43 - 14.944 how quickly you want to answer these and then I will leave that.

01:43 - 17.050 If you want to talk a little bit about

01:43 - 18.794 reentry which I know you're passionate about

01:43 - 20.734 and mental health but

01:43 - 22.294 this is a budget hearing

01:43 - 24.304 we have been passing in the house

01:43 - 28.354 legislation that I think would generate help us generate revenue

01:43 - 29.744 and the

01:43 - 32.914 false claims act passed out of the house and sitting in the senate

01:43 - 35.104 and last session we advanced

01:43 - 36.974 antitrust legislation

01:43 - 38.284 and I was hoping to

01:43 - 39.854 get your

01:43 - 44.250 take on if if you view them as favorable for the commonwealth to have

01:43 - 46.604 have you have those extra tools

01:43 - 49.094 to advance we had worked with previous

01:43 - 52.124 generals regarding the antitrust legislation

01:43 - 53.077 and I

01:43 - 53.464 of

01:43 - 56.564 Wanted to see if I if you've looked at that legislation.

01:43 - 00.784 The false claims and antitrust get your thoughts and if you think

01:44 - 02.663 they would be a value.

01:44 - 04.714 So with regard to

01:44 - 05.314 both

01:44 - 07.834 pieces of legislation I have not personally read them

01:44 - 10.214 and that's not

01:44 - 12.690 indicative of of the fact that we're not reading them

01:44 - 15.004 I have someone in my office multiple people to ask

01:44 - 17.554 with going through that so I just wanted to make that

01:44 - 18.974 very clear

01:44 - 21.734 I will say that with regard to antitrust.

01:44 - 23.654 We.

01:44 - 26.284 After I spoke last year

01:44 - 28.954 that obviously triggered meetings on our part

01:44 - 29.644 and

01:44 - 32.044 what is what's the right way to do this.

01:44 - 33.244 I know that

01:44 - 37.184 under anti trust for us in pennsylvania we obviously utilize

01:44 - 40.564 the sherman act and our federal remedies that are available

01:44 - 42.334 in addition to some common law remedies

01:44 - 43.054 and

01:44 - 44.414 to that point

01:44 - 47.164 I think that with regard to anti trust again

01:44 - 49.084 and I don't have an answer for this other than

01:44 - 51.824 I think that we need to listen to.

01:44 - 53.984 All of our constituents

01:44 - 57.074 and bring everybody together have a conversation

01:44 - 00.754 and so that we can take that into consideration one of the things that I heard

01:45 - 03.524 and again this is solely through.

01:45 - 06.124 It's in pieces of of

01:45 - 08.471 conversations I've had with some stakeholders

01:45 - 10.414 in going through this process on our end

01:45 - 13.124 was a concern about.

01:45 - 14.854 The overall

01:45 - 18.854 nature of our sort of litigious society

01:45 - 20.054 pennsylvania

01:45 - 21.484 and so

01:45 - 22.924 when that was brought up

01:45 - 25.394 I just you know hey that's all something that I guess

01:45 - 26.654 needs to be discussed

01:45 - 28.744 and so my hope is that

01:45 - 30.724 these conversations can go on

01:45 - 31.414 and

01:45 - 33.454 listen take into consideration whatever

01:45 - 36.814 these other individuals you'll about that but specifically with data

01:45 - 40.264 like not just it's a bad environment like what are you talking about exactly

01:45 - 42.154 and then just continue the conversation

01:45 - 43.054 that's I mean

01:45 - 44.944 that's that's my possess been

01:45 - 47.554 on that for now I know that we remain neutral I believe

01:45 - 48.034 with that.

01:45 - 49.834 Group then we were mandatory

01:45 - 51.254 okay so

01:45 - 53.194 with regard to false claims

01:45 - 55.234 I'm getting up to speed on false claims

01:45 - 56.374 to be honest

01:45 - 58.684 and so I'd be more than happy to have a separate

01:45 - 59.824 conversation with you

01:46 - 00.844 on false claims

01:46 - 04.414 I think those conversations would be great I think in our

01:46 - 06.454 minds pity there's a lot of money that we lose

01:46 - 08.854 or leave on the table during these these

01:46 - 11.684 litigations with the sherman act and other so.

01:46 - 16.204 I it would it was something we did previously I would love to have a roundtable with

01:46 - 18.964 the various stakeholders in your office again that would be really

01:46 - 19.954 really helpful

01:46 - 20.584 so

01:46 - 24.130 If you want to talk we have some more a couple of extra minutes I don't mental health

01:46 - 25.534 is something that you've been very

01:46 - 29.194 passionate about in york and and in the office of attorney general

01:46 - 30.514 if you want to share some

01:46 - 33.244 thoughts what how we could why work together to

01:46 - 36.019 to address that it's it's it's really not a question just

01:46 - 39.284 an opportunity for you to so to address that reentry.

01:46 - 41.456 Mental health okay so you're either one so

01:46 - 43.834 reentry it's your your your been long winded so

01:46 - 45.994 you get to pick which one you want to close

01:46 - 49.214 we've had you and I have had conversations about reentry.

01:46 - 50.344 So it's

01:46 - 51.394 I apologize for my

01:46 - 55.281 long winded this my mom's listening I want to give her show you know so.

01:46 - 56.404 But

01:46 - 58.694 I will say very quickly that.

01:46 - 00.494 She actually is listening.

01:47 - 02.014 I mean but very quickly

01:47 - 05.590 that we have a mental health crisis in pennsylvania is one of my top priorities in

01:47 - 10.114 the office we've taken what has already been a wonderful thing the lady program

01:47 - 11.824 and we have added to it

01:47 - 13.684 an entire mental health component

01:47 - 16.684 so right now I think we have seven counties have signed on

01:47 - 19.474 I think that we need to look at the mental health side

01:47 - 22.354 of the lady initiative find ways that we can strengthen it

01:47 - 24.094 we have to find a way

01:47 - 26.434 to chroot to have these crisis centres

01:47 - 29.564 so that people can have access to mental healthcare

01:47 - 31.804 so that they don't go languishing in prison somewhere

01:47 - 32.824 a huge

01:47 - 34.294 huge part of what we do

01:47 - 35.963 I've traveled around the state

01:47 - 38.354 talk to the people that have done it successfully

01:47 - 40.174 we were just in the lehigh valley

01:47 - 43.114 this past week having this conversation with st luke's

01:47 - 45.814 and to talk about ways we can do this as well

01:47 - 49.714 and it's an absolute home run it and I would love to talk to more people about it

01:47 - 51.724 this is the lady mental health component

01:47 - 55.294 and if we truly want to make society better we have to

01:47 - 57.184 increase acts as your reentry

01:47 - 00.874 we have to decrease barriers to reentry for people coming out of prison

01:48 - 03.004 when people work magic happens

01:48 - 05.434 it changes their lives it changes their families

01:48 - 07.024 and these have to be good

01:48 - 08.644 a career type jobs

01:48 - 10.624 and this is something we really believe in

01:48 - 12.004 and so I look forward and

01:48 - 14.944 speak with anyone that wants to talk to me about ways

01:48 - 16.444 that we can get people to work

01:48 - 17.374 and

01:48 - 19.004 after they've been held accountable

01:48 - 20.914 thank you general thank you chairman for

01:48 - 22.354 a couple of extra seconds absolute

01:48 - 25.334 gentleman representative kale.

01:48 - 26.524 Thank you mr chairman

01:48 - 29.594 attorney general thank you for being here today

01:48 - 31.754 after hearing the questioning

01:48 - 35.217 from my friend the gentleman from philadelphia just a

01:48 - 38.494 couple of minutes ago I just wanted to extend a thank you

01:48 - 43.750 thank you for taking your job seriously for being focused on issues that really

01:48 - 48.460 matter here in the commonwealth of pennsylvania that matter to my constituents for

01:48 - 51.154 using the tax dollars that are in your control

01:48 - 51.994 well

01:48 - 54.244 I want to say thank you because we've had

01:48 - 58.539 in the past not that long ago at attorney generals that use the position that

01:48 - 01.246 grandstand and you have not been in attorney general

01:49 - 04.334 of that sort and I truly appreciate the seriousness

01:49 - 06.824 that you are bringing to your position.

01:49 - 11.104 I do have a question as it relates to artificial intelligence

01:49 - 14.716 a lot of the bills that that we are proposing here that we

01:49 - 18.434 are passing a lot of the things that are occurring here.

01:49 - 20.734 In the commonwealth and beyond

01:49 - 21.454 around

01:49 - 25.454 artificial intelligence whether it's in consumer protection

01:49 - 28.004 whether it's in medicine fraud

01:49 - 29.654 child predators

01:49 - 32.294 my question for you today

01:49 - 37.954 is your staff or is your office rather properly staffed to meet

01:49 - 39.064 these new

01:49 - 43.034 technologies and these new issues in artificial intelligence

01:49 - 44.644 the short answer is no

01:49 - 46.502 we are doing everything we can to get there and

01:49 - 49.564 that's why this goes back to the proper ie geo funding

01:49 - 50.464 so

01:49 - 51.154 That

01:49 - 51.934 the account of

01:49 - 52.504 our

01:49 - 54.334 public protection division account

01:49 - 56.434 that's where the money comes from

01:49 - 58.004 to get the experts

01:49 - 01.094 to because you have to hire x experts in all these cases.

01:50 - 02.434 Too and because

01:50 - 03.904 the sophistication.

01:50 - 07.864 Of of the issues has become so so advanced

01:50 - 10.484 we have to bring in more advanced people to work on them

01:50 - 13.514 what we are doing internally is we are creating

01:50 - 15.604 we are creating a section

01:50 - 18.074 it's going to focus on.

01:50 - 19.894 On computer for

01:50 - 21.404 waterless a computer

01:50 - 22.844 what does he actually.

01:50 - 34.984 That would be our data privacy and responsible technology unit

01:50 - 35.614 is

01:50 - 36.574 It's

01:50 - 37.384 it that's the

01:50 - 39.784 whole purpose of it is to put us

01:50 - 42.134 because when you look around the country.

01:50 - 46.144 Both times we've had huge issues that we've had to face with ai

01:50 - 47.804 it's been pennsylvania

01:50 - 50.704 and new jersey and pennsylvania and

01:50 - 53.524 connecticut once and then we had west virginia helping us

01:50 - 57.604 and so my point is we have to be the state is going to step up and do that

01:50 - 01.960 so we want to internally figure out how do we get these experts in here what do we

01:51 - 04.504 have to do to be in a position to successfully handle this stuff

01:51 - 05.194 I mean

01:51 - 06.314 technology

01:51 - 07.744 is a wonderful thing right

01:51 - 08.494 I mean

01:51 - 09.904 you know up

01:51 - 10.714 innovation

01:51 - 12.484 is not mutually exclusive

01:51 - 14.474 from protecting pennsylvania

01:51 - 17.134 and I thank the legislature for being so thoughtful

01:51 - 20.084 in how everyone's working through these issues.

01:51 - 22.724 Like for example the ccm legislation.

01:51 - 26.114 That we now utilize here to prosecute

01:51 - 28.904 people that are using ai to create ccm.

01:51 - 30.094 That's what that is

01:51 - 32.224 and powerful we use it all the time

01:51 - 35.744 and I want to make another point very quickly and that is that.

01:51 - 39.844 There was an ai executive order that was put out

01:51 - 43.774 and and I made it clear and I want to reemphasize that here

01:51 - 48.374 that if the constitutionality of one of our ai statutes is challenged

01:51 - 50.534 we will defend that statue.

01:51 - 52.510 Just so you know as you're going through your

01:51 - 54.194 your law making process.

01:51 - 57.104 I appreciate that and I'm just curious.

01:51 - 59.644 I would imagine in the private sector

01:51 - 01.234 in the tech sector

01:52 - 03.914 at the salaries are very competitive.

01:52 - 08.500 Are you guys in a position to be able to match that or at least get close enough so

01:52 - 11.324 you can attract talent to your office.

01:52 - 13.964 They are vastly different than what we make

01:52 - 16.054 and we are not in a position to do that

01:52 - 17.974 while we are in a position to do

01:52 - 19.964 is get our salaries

01:52 - 23.384 at an equal level with the other government agencies

01:52 - 27.244 because then the way we attract people is by the mission of the office

01:52 - 30.824 there are hundreds of attorneys in this office.

01:52 - 32.434 That have worked here

01:52 - 36.604 for over four or five different ages because they love love love the work

01:52 - 39.015 they get to go on ct they get the fight they get to fight

01:52 - 41.434 bad guys they get to fight the biggest bad guys out there

01:52 - 44.444 and so will we need to do is have parity

01:52 - 47.804 with the agee's office and the office of general counsel

01:52 - 50.374 and then that and then let us do our job

01:52 - 50.824 and

01:52 - 52.514 and attract people and bring them into

01:52 - 54.923 our military in general thank you for the work that you

01:52 - 57.274 and your team are doing I appreciate you being here today

01:52 - 58.424 thanks mr chairman

01:52 - 58.924 thank you

01:52 - 01.420 thank the gentleman representative representatives

01:53 - 02.444 c.

01:53 - 04.414 Thank you mr chairman

01:53 - 06.886 thank you attorney general and thank you to the colleague

01:53 - 09.614 my colleague who just spoke that asked all my questions.

01:53 - 11.854 But

01:53 - 13.124 it's good thank you.

01:53 - 17.704 Though as we talk about ai and how much it's affecting all of our lives

01:53 - 19.624 every day every one of us

01:53 - 21.484 is hit with something new with ai

01:53 - 24.734 and I think you answered some of the questions but.

01:53 - 27.044 In a perfect world

01:53 - 28.724 what would your department look like if we were

01:53 - 31.864 really going to do this right with funding with staff

01:53 - 35.230 to take on a I know I want to thank you also for coming out with the statements

01:53 - 36.734 you've come out with and I've come out

01:53 - 38.344 and complimented you on that

01:53 - 42.430 with being able to say that you will take this on no matter what the executive order

01:53 - 44.172 says but what would this look like in a perfect

01:53 - 46.324 world that we really could find you properly

01:53 - 49.984 to where we should be to combat all the issues that we're starting to see an ai

01:53 - 51.164 I would say that

01:53 - 52.474 the proposed budget

01:53 - 53.344 from the

01:53 - 55.154 attorney general's office

01:53 - 55.684 is

01:53 - 57.284 A strong start.

01:53 - 59.764 Because what that does and I hate to be

01:54 - 01.144 a broken record on this

01:54 - 03.859 it puts us in a position where weak can begin

01:54 - 06.874 building up those public protection division funds

01:54 - 09.364 because those are the funds that we use

01:54 - 11.804 when we litigate in our lawsuits.

01:54 - 14.924 That funds the experts that funds.

01:54 - 16.594 Accountants it funds

01:54 - 18.214 like I said cyber experts

01:54 - 20.734 like that's where we fund our lawsuits

01:54 - 22.634 is through that account

01:54 - 23.314 and that's a

01:54 - 25.144 article part of all of this because

01:54 - 31.024 the goal our goal in all of these lawsuits is not to seek as much money as we can get

01:54 - 34.964 our goal is to make sure that pennsylvanians are safe

01:54 - 37.294 and often times that may not result

01:54 - 39.224 in a financial

01:54 - 40.544 win.

01:54 - 43.274 It may result in us changing

01:54 - 44.494 us companies

01:54 - 45.364 process

01:54 - 47.524 it might be behavioral change

01:54 - 48.274 that

01:54 - 51.184 removes the problem that was causing the issue

01:54 - 52.054 because our

01:54 - 55.414 our goal first and foremost is to stop the behavior that's hurting people

01:54 - 55.834 right

01:54 - 58.094 and so to that point

01:54 - 58.444 and

01:54 - 00.764 if anyone disagree with that.

01:55 - 01.774 I just.

01:55 - 05.074 I know the people in this bench in particular this is a huge issue

01:55 - 09.134 but to be able to fund the public protection division account.

01:55 - 12.546 By putting the appropriate money in g geo.

01:55 - 15.244 Will allow us to let the system work

01:55 - 18.154 to be able to go and do the job that we're supposed to do.

01:55 - 22.384 Thank you for that on that same and I have another question of this one

01:55 - 24.249 we have a bill that we've passed the house I think

01:55 - 26.854 with the one hundred and eighty roads but we got.

01:55 - 29.644 Really no response rear office other than.

01:55 - 30.244 I

01:55 - 33.694 Guess remained neutral or didn't really provide anything on a click to cancel

01:55 - 35.674 where it allows people to

01:55 - 38.912 cancel any type of subscriptions anything online the

01:55 - 41.279 same way they subscribe to it we are trying to get a pass

01:55 - 42.404 senate

01:55 - 44.269 but your office shouldn't take much of a stand

01:55 - 46.504 on it it's more of a consumer protection law

01:55 - 48.214 that we're trying to move forward

01:55 - 50.843 that says if I subscribe to whatever online I

01:55 - 53.524 should be able to unsubscribe just as easily

01:55 - 54.794 to get off of it

01:55 - 58.364 I just want to know where you might stand on that.

01:55 - 00.544 I could give you the house bill if it helps

01:56 - 02.234 twelve ninety nine.

01:56 - 04.174 So we were not familiar with the bill

01:56 - 07.864 and so we will you said house bill twelve ninety nine yes

01:56 - 09.514 we will look into that

01:56 - 09.814 are

01:56 - 10.744 really look into it

01:56 - 12.484 and we will circle right back to you

01:56 - 17.110 and then on one more thing when we talk about consumer protection then your office

01:56 - 19.024 has been great working with my office and

01:56 - 21.803 the senator's office in my district on an issue

01:56 - 25.064 that we've seen in seniors and as far as properties

01:56 - 26.204 and real estate

01:56 - 31.060 and the charges for rent that are happening it has gotten out of control as we see

01:56 - 35.294 these private equity companies coming in and buying up manufactured home communities

01:56 - 37.714 and communities similar to that around the commonwealth

01:56 - 39.664 and pushing rents through the roof

01:56 - 42.954 and we pass the bill here in the house and I dunno what the bill number was

01:56 - 45.254 to stop this predatory actions

01:56 - 48.574 but has stalled in the senate and I wanted to see what kind of stance

01:56 - 51.351 that we could work with with your office to make this

01:56 - 53.524 happen and push the law through with the governor says

01:56 - 55.491 he'll sign it into law to make sure this does not

01:56 - 57.944 continue to happen throughout the commonwealth.

01:56 - 00.899 So I'm looking right now my paperwork in front

01:57 - 03.214 of me to find something but I can't find it

01:57 - 06.014 and what it would have been is.

01:57 - 09.704 So we we actually have litigated cases

01:57 - 11.024 and

01:57 - 13.684 we've had settlements within the last year

01:57 - 16.544 where we actually compelled.

01:57 - 17.434 At

01:57 - 19.415 Twenty three deeds to be given to individuals who

01:57 - 23.564 thought they were doing a rent to own scenario

01:57 - 25.364 and they got screwed

01:57 - 30.184 and so we we sued them and we got all twenty three individuals and their deeds

01:57 - 34.424 and we also one I think was around nine hundred thousand dollars in restitution

01:57 - 36.154 as well in those cases

01:57 - 39.334 and so we have an area of expertise within our off office

01:57 - 41.954 and looking at those cases

01:57 - 43.834 and I'm not sure if that quite hits

01:57 - 45.884 what you're describing

01:57 - 46.534 but

01:57 - 48.064 if that happens we're here

01:57 - 49.861 and if someone files a complaint

01:57 - 51.344 we will investigate

01:57 - 53.414 to the point of legislation

01:57 - 54.924 I certainly would want to look at it

01:57 - 56.484 before I would ever comment on it

01:57 - 57.964 I learned the lesson

01:57 - 02.674 and a locked out and I will notice I will state that my deputy chief of staff is.

01:58 - 05.154 Paying attention this and he's working on it.

01:58 - 09.244 I mean I learned a long time ago not to say about whether I like a bill

01:58 - 10.364 until I read it

01:58 - 12.004 because bad things happen when I do that

01:58 - 15.484 so I would like to review at first and be able to circle back to you

01:58 - 17.524 thank you and thank you to your staff who

01:58 - 19.464 have been diligent on these issues thanks you

01:58 - 20.774 think chairman

01:58 - 21.914 james jersey

01:58 - 23.074 thank you chairman hairs

01:58 - 26.044 first of all I want to say kudos to

01:58 - 29.404 journal sunday and chairman harris to both your moms for

01:58 - 32.224 watching this and I hope hope are still watching

01:58 - 35.194 my mother literally text me and say I'm watching you

01:58 - 35.914 know

01:58 - 36.964 she is watching

01:58 - 38.114 and we appreciate it.

01:58 - 40.364 That's two now.

01:58 - 41.954 I.

01:58 - 46.480 First of all thank you for for the tremendous testimony today for all of you being

01:58 - 50.234 here I think we can all agree that putting public safety first.

01:58 - 54.974 Is the primary function of government and we we we support that wholeheartedly

01:58 - 57.034 but again I think this is the

01:58 - 00.760 start of the budget process right this is these budget hearings are really that big

01:59 - 03.554 ginnings of our negotiations to try and understand.

01:59 - 08.464 Where it's important to fund certain things where we shouldn't be funding things

01:59 - 11.722 and while we are concerned with the overall number

01:59 - 14.734 that the governor has put forth for this current

01:59 - 17.044 spending proposal of roughly

01:59 - 18.964 fifty one and a half billion dollars

01:59 - 21.163 I think we can all agree and I think we've heard that

01:59 - 23.974 throughout these hearings that funding your efforts

01:59 - 25.574 is fundamental

01:59 - 30.034 to ensure the safety of our communities to ensure the safety of our our young people

01:59 - 34.564 and to make sure that our seniors are protected so just to clarify

01:59 - 37.394 getting these numbers correct in the governor's.

01:59 - 40.654 Proposed budget he is recommending that your

01:59 - 44.764 er scuse me in last year's proposed budget the current budget that we're in right now

01:59 - 47.074 he recommended and

01:59 - 48.484 sixty three million

01:59 - 51.784 but you requested seventy three million is that correct

01:59 - 55.214 in last year's budget for your for your g g o line.

01:59 - 55.654 It

01:59 - 57.044 Does everything.

01:59 - 58.394 That's correct

01:59 - 59.794 and then in this current

02:00 - 01.354 budget proposal

02:00 - 03.914 you requested eighty two million

02:00 - 06.604 and the governor is proposing fifty nine million

02:00 - 08.654 is that also correct

02:00 - 11.194 and that's specifically for gg oh yes

02:00 - 12.334 that's correct

02:00 - 13.574 okay.

02:00 - 16.744 So I I think that's that that's concerning

02:00 - 18.904 and and I think you've done a really

02:00 - 21.514 tremendous job today of sort of outlining

02:00 - 22.984 what won't happen

02:00 - 25.834 if your office isn't properly funded

02:00 - 27.184 and I think that is

02:00 - 29.254 jeopardizing the safety of all of our

02:00 - 31.594 residents here in the commonwealth of pennsylvania

02:00 - 37.004 are you concerned that the governor isn't prioritizing your office in public safety.

02:00 - 38.494 I mean I wouldn't

02:00 - 39.644 venture to

02:00 - 41.684 say that I have that concern.

02:00 - 43.414 Because I try to

02:00 - 44.494 focus on

02:00 - 45.734 my role

02:00 - 47.524 and what I can do with what I have

02:00 - 49.934 I don't know what motivates

02:00 - 53.164 different people when they come up with with their budget proposals

02:00 - 55.684 and but what I can say very simply is

02:00 - 59.944 and we appreciate the additional funding that was proposed in the governor's budget

02:01 - 02.584 but it just isn't enough and so.

02:01 - 05.374 I would hate to draw that inference based on

02:01 - 06.244 that budget

02:01 - 08.734 okay well I think I think we can all appreciate

02:01 - 12.610 and support what you're doing and as I said this is the beginning of the negotiation

02:01 - 14.884 process so we understand how these things work but

02:01 - 20.290 but I think that that fundamentally providing for public safety and your efforts is

02:01 - 22.924 something that we should all be focused on achieving so

02:01 - 25.334 thank you very much for being here today.

02:01 - 27.704 Thank the chairman.

02:01 - 28.534 General

02:01 - 29.914 definitely thank you

02:01 - 31.834 for being here I will say for the record

02:01 - 37.564 I think it is dangerous to make inferences on people's views and opinions because

02:01 - 41.944 in this very chamber there are time and time again where bills will put up

02:01 - 43.814 and respectfully

02:01 - 45.834 my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for

02:01 - 48.274 various reasons vote against it

02:01 - 50.614 says it's too much money and all these other things

02:01 - 54.634 and many of those things are priorities for safety and whatnot

02:01 - 58.364 and if that's the case then we could all make the inference

02:01 - 00.214 that when you vote against

02:02 - 02.254 many of those things many folks

02:02 - 03.004 in this

02:02 - 03.724 chamber

02:02 - 05.104 voted against the budget

02:02 - 06.004 and

02:02 - 07.124 in general

02:02 - 08.464 so if you voted

02:02 - 09.526 the budget

02:02 - 11.896 that we'd literally just passed in november

02:02 - 14.446 I can therefore make the inference

02:02 - 17.236 that you do not support the attorney general's office

02:02 - 20.566 even though you stood up here and ask questions

02:02 - 22.336 in support of the attorney general

02:02 - 24.286 and you did not vote for the budget

02:02 - 26.846 see how inferences work.

02:02 - 29.266 If I make the same inference it's.

02:02 - 31.516 Then it seems as though

02:02 - 35.146 you're not in support of the safety and security of pennsylvania it's

02:02 - 37.096 because you didn't vote on the budget

02:02 - 38.776 of which the attorney general's

02:02 - 40.276 office is a partner

02:02 - 42.536 and so I would caution

02:02 - 44.546 any of my colleagues

02:02 - 47.686 from making those type of generalizations

02:02 - 50.116 and inferences on how people

02:02 - 50.746 feel

02:02 - 52.216 as a matter of fact

02:02 - 53.026 I think

02:02 - 54.286 in our house rules

02:02 - 56.476 if our parliamentarian was here

02:02 - 58.486 we'd be able to strike that from the record

02:02 - 00.406 because I believe our house rules

02:03 - 03.566 require that you not make such inferences

02:03 - 06.566 about people's political people's motives

02:03 - 07.816 when they are voting

02:03 - 09.646 and so I just want to be very care of full

02:03 - 14.306 and clear as we move forward because we can make a whole lot of inferences

02:03 - 16.646 based off of how people vote.

02:03 - 19.066 Mrs general how do have one question

02:03 - 20.456 which I don't actually

02:03 - 21.166 know

02:03 - 25.096 this was posed to me by one of our members and leadership on the access question on

02:03 - 28.496 his behalf there was a concert in pittsburgh

02:03 - 31.496 with me montfort in son.

02:03 - 33.746 No clue who that is.

02:03 - 36.626 The unaware that you know what it is.

02:03 - 37.576 As a group

02:03 - 38.326 familiar

02:03 - 39.226 okay

02:03 - 40.376 sorry.

02:03 - 42.262 I

02:03 - 43.006 Have no idea

02:03 - 44.026 fo real bed

02:03 - 44.836 you know it is

02:03 - 46.196 ok a lot look

02:03 - 48.496 maybe I'll maybe I'll live under a rock I dunno

02:03 - 49.856 but.

02:03 - 55.636 Okay so thank you thank you apparently that'll be a part of my playlist going home

02:03 - 57.719 and then it anyway.

02:03 - 00.776 So the ticket agency.

02:04 - 04.256 Advertised that

02:04 - 07.676 there's only five percent of tickets left.

02:04 - 13.436 When the fact is that tickets had not even gone on sale yet

02:04 - 15.836 and we've passed

02:04 - 16.876 twice

02:04 - 18.986 in this chain chamber overwhelmingly.

02:04 - 23.176 Bills banning that type of deceptive practice

02:04 - 25.736 so the question is do you believe it is unlawful

02:04 - 27.886 and unlawful deceptive practice

02:04 - 31.726 for ticket resellers in and resale market places

02:04 - 34.406 to make these miss leading

02:04 - 35.176 and

02:04 - 37.226 assertions online

02:04 - 39.596 on one tour talking about ticket sales

02:04 - 40.736 so.

02:04 - 42.886 So my answer to that is

02:04 - 44.036 obviously that

02:04 - 45.926 thank you for the question

02:04 - 48.716 thank you for the question and I understand.

02:04 - 51.436 How that could irritate someone and I understand

02:04 - 56.482 the issues obviously that are being faced there and with that being said so the way

02:04 - 58.816 it works is the unfair trade practices laws

02:04 - 00.826 make it pretty clear that this conduct would

02:05 - 02.126 would be a concern

02:05 - 05.276 I know there's legislation has been introduced

02:05 - 06.999 that would provide more clarity and that is an

02:05 - 10.226 effort that we would certainly be supportive of.

02:05 - 13.076 We could certainly demure

02:05 - 16.426 I would decline to prejudge this specific case

02:05 - 19.956 because I would want to look at the facts but we want to conduct an investigation

02:05 - 22.516 and I don't think that it benefits anyone when I do

02:05 - 25.736 a prejudged situation without looking at the facts

02:05 - 26.386 and

02:05 - 28.966 and so forth so with all that being said.

02:05 - 31.804 I think that I go back back to the factors legislation

02:05 - 33.886 being introduced we certainly would look at that

02:05 - 35.356 if someone does feel

02:05 - 39.406 that there is a violation of the unfair trade practices consumer protection law

02:05 - 42.226 I would ask them to file a complaint with our office

02:05 - 43.796 and we will absolutely look into it

02:05 - 45.116 thank you.

02:05 - 45.676 Okay

02:05 - 46.486 so

02:05 - 47.636 Apparently I'm going to

02:05 - 49.246 be listening to mumford and son

02:05 - 51.226 to figure out who they are are

02:05 - 55.546 if you are a mumford and son fan please do not come for me on instagram

02:05 - 56.956 or tiktok or

02:05 - 59.236 whatever because I don't know who they are

02:05 - 01.786 I will find out before the day is over

02:06 - 03.596 and with that

02:06 - 04.706 this will conclude

02:06 - 06.086 our budget hearing

02:06 - 08.146 with the office of the attorney general

02:06 - 11.206 we want to thank general sunday and his whole team him

02:06 - 12.986 for being here.

02:06 - 14.116 This morning

02:06 - 15.236 and.

02:06 - 17.356 We will be back

02:06 - 19.436 at one o'clock.

02:06 - 24.736 This afternoon for dcnr in d e p s budget hearing right here

02:06 - 25.856 one pm in the

02:06 - 26.966 house chambers

02:06 - 27.346 this

02:06 - 29.396 budget hearing is downturn.

02:06 - 38.226 Hmm.

02:06 - 54.576 And.