Rep. Maureen Madden

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania schools to offer a voluntary, free online training course for teachers and staff focused on student identity and cultural awareness. The program aims to help educators teach students about their unique backgrounds, religious freedom, and how to navigate cultural differences while rejecting biases. Additionally, the legislation mandates that school curricula include instruction on the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations. The Department of Education must develop these materials, submit annual progress reports to state lawmakers, and review the content every two years to ensure best practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state program to provide insurance and financial assistance for property damage caused by landslides and subsidence resulting from coal and clay mining. It creates a dedicated insurance board and fund to administer coverage for homeowners and businesses in affected areas, particularly in southwestern Pennsylvania. The legislation outlines how premiums will be set, how claims will be processed, and how the program will be funded through an insurance fund and a separate assistance fund. Additionally, the bill assigns oversight duties to the Auditor General and allows insurance companies to offer coverage for these specific risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to create a new program offering tax credits for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of specific factory and mill buildings. To qualify, a building must be at least 75% vacant for two years, have been constructed before 1973, and undergo substantial repairs costing at least 20% of its market value. The Department of Community and Economic Development will oversee the certification process, working with municipalities to identify eligible structures and verifying that owners spend the funds strictly on approved improvements. Once a building is certified, businesses operating there can receive a business tax credit if they meet certain criteria, such as maintaining a workforce larger than the previous year. The legislation aims to revitalize older industrial sites by providing financial incentives for their repair and reuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to improve child welfare services and ensure they are available to all children regardless of their background. It requires the state department to conduct a triennial inventory of delinquency programs across the state and clearly defines the law's purpose as protecting children, preserving families, and prioritizing in-home care over institutional placements. The legislation also outlines specific payment percentages to counties for various services and mandates that the department refuse or revoke licenses for facilities that fail to meet safe and humane standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes tourism improvement districts and management associations to allow counties to create special zones for funding tourism-related projects. It outlines how these districts can be formed, how they operate, and how they can be dissolved, with a focus on ensuring transparency through open meeting laws and direct mail notifications to affected businesses. The legislation also details how special assessment fees are collected and used, requiring that these funds be spent on activities specified in an approved plan. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of counties and district management associations, including provisions for annual audits and reports.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution designates the week of October 13 through 19, 2024, as "Credit Union Week" to recognize the role of credit unions in the state. The measure highlights how these financial cooperatives provide low-cost services and financial education to over 5.3 million members across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. By officially naming this time period, the resolution aims to raise awareness about credit unions' commitment to community service and member advancement. The text is a ceremonial designation that does not alter laws or create new regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's laws to allow the Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to use a "design-build best value" method for selecting contractors on highway and bridge projects. Instead of relying solely on the lowest price, agencies can evaluate proposals based on a combination of cost, technical quality, and the ability to meet project goals. The legislation sets specific limits on how many of these new procurements can occur each year and establishes rules for how long agencies must advertise projects before accepting bids. It also introduces new requirements for evaluation committees, ensuring they have enough members and that individuals with recent ties to bidding companies cannot vote on those companies' proposals. Additionally, the bill allows agencies to pay unsuccessful bidders for the time and effort spent preparing their proposals under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that designates December 14, 2024, as "Wreaths Across America Day" in Pennsylvania. It honors the organization's mission of placing wreaths on the graves of military veterans and fallen service members at cemeteries nationwide. The resolution calls on residents to reflect on the sacrifices of these individuals and their families during the holiday season. As a commemorative measure, the bill does not alter laws or create new programs but serves to recognize a specific date for remembrance.

Maddy summaryHB 155 amends the Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Act to update licensing requirements and strengthen consumer protections for residents of health care facilities. The bill includes a specific change to strike the phrase "or other" from the text, which alters how certain regulatory language is applied within the law. By modifying the existing statute and abrogating a specific regulation, the legislation aims to refine the legal framework governing health care facility operations. This measure directly impacts health care providers and facility administrators who must comply with the revised licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates a 19th-century law to allow county recorders of deeds to officially file discharge papers for honorably discharged military personnel. The legislation defines "discharge" to include various forms of separation documents, such as DD Form 214, for individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces or reserve components. Under the new rules, recorders may charge a fifty-cent fee for recording these documents, but the records must remain confidential and only accessible to the veteran, their family, or specific government and judicial entities. Additionally, the bill repeals the original 1868 statute while ensuring that any ongoing administrative actions under the old law can continue under the new framework.