Rep. Dave Madsen

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to refine how pharmacy audits and fees are handled. It clarifies that certain insurance supplements are excluded from specific terms and changes the notice period for additional fees from the time of claim adjudication to thirty days before the fees are applied. The legislation also updates definitions to refer to "generic" drugs instead of "general" ones and expands the scope of federal employee benefit protections. Additionally, it adjusts reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers and the state agency overseeing these audits.

Maddy summaryHB 2064 amends the Older Adults Protective Services Act to update how financial institutions handle accounts for older adults. The bill removes specific language regarding beneficiaries and adjusts numerical limits on account protections from fifteen to seven. These changes directly affect banks and other financial entities by modifying the rules they must follow when managing funds for elderly clients.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Contraceptive Access for All Act, requires all government health programs and private health insurance policies in the state to cover FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products without charging the patient any out-of-pocket costs. The law specifically mandates that these contraceptives be included in coverage without requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or any form of cost-sharing such as deductibles or copayments. It applies to a wide range of standard medical insurance plans while explicitly excluding limited policies like dental-only or accident insurance. Additionally, the bill assigns duties to the Insurance Department and the Department of Human Services to oversee compliance and establishes penalties for entities that fail to meet these new coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to establish a Board of Governors for the State System of Higher Education. The board will consist of 22 appointed members, including two new nonvoting positions for a nonfaculty employee and a faculty member from constituent institutions. These nonvoting members will attend regular meetings but will not have voting power, except potentially in specific conflict of interest situations. The legislation also clarifies the board's authority to appoint these student, faculty, and nonfaculty members to its councils. The changes are set to take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen policies against bullying and cyberbullying for all public, private, and parochial schools. It requires school districts to adopt or revise their anti-bullying rules by January 1, 2009, to include clear definitions of bullying and cyberbullying, specific disciplinary consequences, and procedures for notifying parents within five days of an incident. The law defines bullying as severe or persistent acts that disrupt a student's education or school environment, while cyberbullying specifically involves these acts committed through computers or mobile devices during school hours. Additionally, the bill mandates that schools designate a staff member to receive bullying reports and ensures parent notifications comply with federal privacy laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to update definitions of deceptive acts and explicitly ban pyramid schemes. It clarifies that businesses cannot mislead consumers about product origins, quality, or availability, nor can they use false claims to disparage competitors. The legislation specifically targets pyramid promotional schemes by defining them as plans where compensation comes primarily from recruiting others rather than selling actual goods or services. Additionally, the bill strengthens rules against deceptive telemarketing by requiring sellers to clearly state their identity and the purpose of the call before asking for any information. These changes directly affect businesses and consumers by establishing clearer boundaries for lawful marketing and sales practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding abandoned and unclaimed property to improve how the state finds original owners. It requires the Treasury Department to work with state agencies like the Department of Revenue and the Department of State to share data and verify owner information at least once a year. These changes aim to make the process of locating owners more efficient by formalizing cooperation between different government departments. The legislation also includes provisions for handling income earned after property is paid out and establishes penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a School Meal Debt Fund and creates new rules to ensure all students in Pennsylvania public schools can access meals regardless of their ability to pay. It requires schools to provide meals to any student who requests one unless a parent has explicitly asked for them to be withheld, and it mandates that schools help families apply for free or reduced-price meal programs if a student owes money. The legislation strictly prohibits schools from stigmatizing students with debt by using wristbands, denying participation in activities, or threatening legal action, while also banning the use of collections agencies or credit reporting to recover unpaid meal costs. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Revenue to share confidential household income data with schools to better determine eligibility for federal assistance and to identify students who need help paying off meal debts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations laws to redefine marriage as a civil contract between two individuals, removing the previous legal requirement that it be between one man and one woman. It directly affects couples by eliminating state barriers to same-sex marriage and repeals the specific provision that declared such unions void within the Commonwealth. The legislation also updates the statutory definition of marriage to reflect this inclusive language while removing the section that stated it was public policy to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Administrative Code to update definitions and powers for Pennsylvania's Energy Development Authority. It clarifies what counts as a "project" and "cost" for energy initiatives, specifically including expenses for energy audits, environmental surveys, and infrastructure resilience. The legislation also changes how the Authority's board is structured, reducing the number of governor-appointed members from nine to five and adjusting the voting requirements for board decisions. These changes aim to streamline the Authority's governance while expanding its scope to support various energy-related activities.