From the Desk of Mr. and Mrs.

Hamlet Garcia

Philadelphia PA 19116

January 10 ,2018

The Honorable State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman

350 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120

RE: Senate Bill 664 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 Known as the public School code

Dear State Senator Corman

I Hamlet Garcia I am requesting a phone meeting with you.

My name is Hamlet Garcia and I am a father, husband and longtime Pennsylvania resident and business
owner of In Kase Insurance Agency in Southampton, PA Buck County

First, I want to thank you for your commitment to the children and
families of Pennsylvania. I am writing this letter requesting your consideration to vote on this important
bill 664 Session 2018-2019. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for residence and right to free
school privileges and for suspension and expulsion. Introduced at the senate, by State Senator Daylin
Leach. link
below http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?syear=2017&body=S&type=B&bn=664

Why did I become an advocate? I do not want to see another family arrested for allegedly” “stealing a
public education”. School residency issues should be handled as civil administrative matters.

In 2011, my wife and I were separated for a few months. My wife and daughter moved to Montgomery
County with her father. We reconciled and as a result my wife and daughter moved back to Philadelphia
school district two months before the school year ended. Please note, Montgomery County is 2 blocks
away from my home in Philadelphia. .

Later that year, my wife and I were arrested and charged with, Felony of 3rd degree , which carries a
maximum sentence of 7 years in jail, for “stealing” 2 months’ worth of Kindergarten education for my five
year old daughter

In 2013, I had to make a huge sacrifice, on behalf of my wife and daughter, I had to plead guilty to
“stealing a public education, pay over $10,700 dollars in restitution for two months of kindergarten
education and a $100 dollar fine. More information about our case on this link National Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/28/couple-could-end-up-behind-bars-if-found-guilty-sending-kids-
to-school-outside.html

As a result, I am writing this letter requesting your support in the passage of an Educational Bill 664 to
stop the arrest of parents charged with felony larceny for “stealing of an education” for their child or
grandchildren.

There is a solution that benefits all sides! This can be done at NO cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers
Furthermore, Pennsylvania already had in place a civil and administrative remedy to address school/zip-
code residency violations; they just failed to enforce it. Stat. (24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 13-1302).
→ http://www.scribd.com/doc/204036849/Summary-Offense-for-Falsely-Claiming-Residency-Within-a-
School-District
This process issues a fine and a civil remedy for school residency violations therefore the rush to heavy
handed prosecution is unnecessary.

Arresting parents for allegedly “stealing a public education”. Does not address the educational best of
interests of children and their familial situations are being disregarded. States' attorneys are rushing to
criminalize matters which should first be subjected to careful and thoughtful administrative review.

Rationale: There is already a Pennsylvania infraction statute that allows for a fine and reimbursement of
school tuition.

All communities within Pennsylvania are facing the impacts of this education and economic crisis, but
arresting parents, the primary care givers of children for “theft of an education” will not improve our
educational and economic challenges.

We should not wait for a family go to prison so then to pass this bill we must remember what happened
in Ohio. This bill can prevent another parent death, kelley Williams Bolar Dad was a lovely grandfather.
He owned his house, where he paid property and school tax.

To protect his granddaughter from bullying at her local school he enrolled his granddaughter in the school
that he paid taxes he and his Daughter Kelly was called a criminal they didn't have the money and the
research to fight the system both went to jail. he died of a heart attack in prison Yes stress can kill you!!
The governor of Ohio revokes the sentence just a little too late.

We can prevent this tragedy to happen in Pennsylvania No parent should be sentenced to death
for providing education to their children. Such radical laws exist in countries we criticize, countries like:
Afghanistan, Somalia Cuba North Korea.

We thank you in advance for making sound, fiscally responsive public policy that protects the basic
human rights of all Pennsylvania citizens, especially the most vulnerable

“The future of America's economic strength is determined each day in classrooms across our
Nation”

Sincerely,

Hamlet Garcia