Rep. Milou Mackenzie

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 2024 as "Care at Home Month" in Pennsylvania to honor home care, hospice, and home health professionals. It highlights the essential roles these workers play in helping individuals with disabilities and an aging population receive daily support and medical services within their own homes. The resolution acknowledges the significant number of jobs in this sector and the growing demand for caregivers as the state's population ages. Ultimately, the measure serves as a commemorative gesture to express gratitude for these dedicated workers rather than implementing new policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's budget rules by requiring the state to submit a seven-year financial plan to the General Assembly. The new requirement mandates that the budget include actual spending from the previous year, current available funds, the proposed budget for the next year, and estimated accounts for the following four years. This change directly affects how the executive branch prepares and presents financial information to lawmakers. The law will become active 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill establishes new pension benefits for retired public employees starting in 2025. It provides an additional monthly payment to eligible retirees from state education and government systems who retired before 2001, with the amount calculated as a percentage of their July 2025 annuity based on their original retirement date. The legislation also creates a special one-time adjustment for retired municipal police officers and firefighters, ensuring these groups receive increased benefits. Funding for these new payments will be spread over ten years beginning in 2025, and the benefits are not available to survivors of members who died before that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called masked intimidation in Pennsylvania, which occurs when someone wearing a facial covering intentionally harasses, intimidates, or threatens another person or group with the goal of making them fear for their physical safety. The offense is classified as a third-degree misdemeanor, but the law includes specific exceptions that allow individuals to wear masks for purposes such as costumes, religious reasons, occupational safety, weather protection, or health measures like limiting the spread of illness. The legislation explicitly states that it does not infringe upon First Amendment rights and defines key terms like harassment and intimidation to focus on conduct based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, or gender identity.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Vital Statistics Law to clarify the fees charged for certified copies of vital records. It ensures that no fees are required for these copies when requested by active-duty military personnel, their dependents, or the families of service members who died or were honorably discharged. The change specifically applies to members of the armed forces, including the National Guard, and their eligible family members. The new fee exemption takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's human trafficking laws to explicitly criminalize the act of helping undocumented immigrants enter or stay in the state in violation of federal law. It defines the offense as encouraging or inducing an undocumented immigrant to remain by concealing, harboring, or shielding them from detection. The legislation establishes this as a third-degree felony, but upgrades it to a more serious second-degree felony if the actions endanger the immigrant's life, involve a minor, or subject them to labor or sexual servitude.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill requires individuals who become sponsors for unaccompanied alien children to undergo background checks before they can legally represent those children in legal proceedings. The law mandates that sponsors submit background check information to the Department of Human Services within 30 days of taking on the role and prohibits any sponsor from representing a child if they have not completed this check or would have been denied employment due to criminal history. By adding a new chapter to the state's domestic relations statutes, the legislation aims to ensure that adults advocating for these minors have been vetted for safety concerns prior to interacting with them in official settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 2024 as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania to highlight a chronic pain condition that often affects limbs after injuries. It also recognizes November 4, 2024, as Color the World Orange Day, encouraging people to wear orange and light buildings in that color to show support for patients and raise funds for research. The legislation aims to educate the public and medical community about the symptoms and management of CRPS while supporting efforts to find better treatments and a cure.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Grant Recipient Employee Verification Act, requires businesses in Pennsylvania that receive state grants to verify the work authorization status of their employees using the federal E-Verify system. It prohibits these employers from knowingly hiring individuals who are not legally allowed to work in the United States and mandates that they keep records of these verifications for the duration of employment or three years, whichever is longer. The Department of Labor and Industry will be tasked with investigating complaints about violations, which includes the power to inspect business records and interview employees. Employers who fail to comply with these new verification requirements face potential penalties, while individuals filing false complaints could face criminal charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hotels and motels in Pennsylvania with at least 150 guest rooms to verify the work authorization status of their employees using the federal E-Verify system. Under the new rules, these employers are prohibited from knowingly hiring individuals who lack the legal right to work in the United States and must keep records of these verifications for the duration of employment or three years, whichever is longer. The Department of Labor and Industry will be tasked with creating a complaint form for reporting violations and will gain the authority to inspect business records and interview staff to ensure compliance. Penalties for knowingly employing unauthorized workers or providing false information on complaint forms are also established within the legislation.