Rep. Robert Leadbeter

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 establishes a policy allowing Pennsylvania educational institutions to award academic credit for military training and service. It directly affects students enrolled in community colleges, public universities, and state-related institutions who have completed military duties. The legislation requires the Department of Education to create guidelines for granting credit based on the skills and experience gained during service. Additionally, the bill ensures that professionals holding state licenses do not lose their credentials or miss continuing education requirements while serving in the military.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to issue electronic control gloves to corrections officers, with mandatory distribution required for officers working in units housing inmates who have received disciplinary sanctions and are segregated from the general population. The legislation mandates that the department create public written policies for the use, training, maintenance, and storage of these devices and requires all officers to complete an approved training course before receiving them. Additionally, the bill defines electronic control gloves as gloves with electrodes that emit less than 500 volts to temporarily immobilize or restrain individuals and requires their use to comply with existing state guidelines on law enforcement use of force.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows grandparents and great-grandparents in Pennsylvania to seek partial or supervised physical custody of their grandchildren under specific circumstances. It grants standing to these relatives when a parent has died, when the child has lived with the grandparent for at least 12 months before being removed by the parents, or when the parents are in custody proceedings and disagree about the grandparent's role. The law also permits grandparents to file for custody if neither parent has care of the child or if a parent has supervised physical custody, provided the grandparent has shown a sustained interest in the child's welfare. This legislation directly affects families navigating child custody disputes by expanding the legal options available to extended family members.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's existing law to strengthen legal protections for individuals who donate food to charitable or religious organizations. It clarifies that donors are immune from civil or criminal liability if they donate food in good faith after a reasonable inspection confirms it is safe to eat. However, this immunity does not apply if the donor was negligent, reckless, intentionally harmful, or knew the food was contaminated. The legislation also explicitly covers donations of food that is not easily sold due to appearance, age, or expiration dates, while maintaining the government's right to regulate such food.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania hospitals to publish their standard prices for medical items and services on their websites and provide these lists to the public upon request. The law mandates that hospitals display both a comprehensive list of all charges and a simplified, consumer-friendly version for specific services that patients can schedule in advance. Additionally, the bill prohibits hospitals from taking debt collection actions against patients if the hospital fails to comply with these price transparency requirements. By enforcing these rules, the legislation aims to increase clarity on healthcare costs for patients while holding hospitals accountable for maintaining accurate pricing information.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit program in Pennsylvania designed to help parents pay for their children's education outside of the public school system. It allows taxpayers who have eligible school-age children not currently enrolled in public schools to claim up to $8,000 per child annually for qualified expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring, educational software, and standardized test fees. The credit can be used to reduce state tax liability or, if the amount exceeds the tax owed, it will be refunded to the taxpayer. To receive the benefit, parents must file a claim with the Department of Revenue, which will distribute the funds either via direct deposit or certified mail.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Passover and Yom Kippur as official days of religious observance within Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the First Day of Passover and Yom Kippur in state statutes to acknowledge their significance to the Jewish community, which includes over 400,000 residents. However, the legislation explicitly states that these designations do not require employers or the state government to treat these days as legal holidays or to provide paid time off. The changes serve to officially record the dates of these observances without mandating any specific accommodations for workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private health insurers and state-managed health plans to cover biomarker testing when it is used to diagnose, treat, or monitor a specific disease or condition. The legislation defines biomarker testing as the analysis of tissue, blood, or other biological samples to identify indicators of biological processes, while explicitly excluding coverage for general screening purposes. Coverage for these tests must follow the same rules as other medical services, including standard cost-sharing and medical necessity reviews, and the changes will take effect 180 days after the bill is signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "establishment" under Pennsylvania's human trafficking laws to include various venues such as hotels, motels, truck stops, and transportation hubs. It mandates that owners and managers of public lodging establishments provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees within 90 days of hiring or the bill's effective date, with specific content on identifying victims and reporting signs of exploitation. The legislation also requires these businesses to maintain records of employee training for two years and submit proposed training materials to the Department of Labor and Industry for approval. Additionally, the bill introduces enforcement mechanisms, including administrative and criminal penalties for violations, while allowing for affirmative defenses if an establishment can prove it took reasonable steps to prevent trafficking.