Rep. Michael Stender

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act to establish a formal registration system for physicians who recommend medical cannabis. Under the new rules, the Department of Health can place conditions on a doctor's registration, such as probation, limits on how many patients they can certify, mandatory supervision by another doctor, or specific reporting requirements. To be eligible for registration, a physician must not have been convicted of a felony related to controlled substances in the five years prior to applying. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to distribute revenue collected from oil and gas leases on publicly owned streambeds directly to the counties where those streambeds are located. For money earned between January 1, 2014, and the bill's effective date, the department must calculate the total amount and send it as a single lump-sum payment to each affected county. Any revenue collected after the bill takes effect will be distributed to the respective county on an ongoing basis. The law requires that these funds be used exclusively for the maintenance of creeks and streams within the receiving county, with the specific allocation decisions left to county discretion.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to update rules for emergency permits related to stream clearing. It specifically allows state agencies and local governments to request emergency permits for maintenance activities around water obstructions when a disaster declaration is in effect. Under the new provision, these permits would authorize clearing work for a minimum distance of 250 feet from the water obstruction. The law applies to any emergency permit issued under state law and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution formally recognizes September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and designates September 10, 2024, as World Suicide Prevention Day within the state. The measure is sponsored by a group of representatives and addresses the issue by officially highlighting these dates to raise public awareness about suicide prevention. It encourages residents of Pennsylvania to offer support to those struggling with mental health challenges, aiming to reduce the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act to require health facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, to report incidents of workplace violence to law enforcement and maintain records of such events for at least two years. It mandates that facilities provide employees with clear methods to report violence or suggest prevention measures without fear of retaliation, while also protecting staff who file false reports or act as perpetrators. Additionally, the legislation enhances the grading of certain criminal offenses that constitute workplace violence and requires facilities to post signage related to these safety measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Pennsylvania's State Veterans' Commission to ensure broader representation of different veteran groups. It mandates that the commission include representatives from sixteen specific national veterans' organizations, such as the American Legion and VFW, along with four members appointed by the Governor who must be female or Vietnam-era veterans. The legislation also clarifies the roles of state-level leaders from the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars as nonvoting members. These changes aim to modernize the commission's composition while maintaining its existing structure under Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Cancer Drug Repository Program Act to clarify definitions and expand the program's scope. It adds specific legal definitions for manufacturers and wholesale distributors and allows approved pharmacies to accept unused prescription drugs from state medical assistance programs for dispensing to patients. The legislation also updates the list of eligible entities that can return or donate drugs to the repository and requires the creation of a list of participating pharmacies. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for program fees, storage regulations, and immunity for participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to update the required contents of local subdivision and land development ordinances. Specifically, it allows municipalities to permit new residential homes that replace demolished one- or two-family dwellings to follow the setback rules of the original structure if the new building is substantially similar in use and design. The change applies to cities, boroughs, towns, and townships across the state and requires local governments to provide these specific setback standards to building permit applicants. The legislation becomes effective 60 days after its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Independent Energy Office within Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission to oversee the state's electricity grid. The office will be led by an Energy Advocate appointed by the Consumer Advocate, who has the authority to review actions by state agencies to ensure they do not harm energy reliability or affordability. If the Energy Advocate determines an agency action is harmful, they can first request the agency to reverse it, and if that fails, the office has the power to block or reverse the action itself. The office is also tasked with promoting the use of energy produced within Pennsylvania and operates subject to funding decisions by the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exclude certain pet adoption fees from sales and use tax. It directly affects nonprofit corporations that act as releasing agencies for dogs under the state's Dog Law. To qualify for this tax exemption, the adoption fees charged by these organizations must not exceed the actual expenses incurred for caring for the animal. The change is set to take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.