Rep. Mary Jo Daley

Maddy summaryHB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates Pennsylvania's Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program, targeting mental health workers serving children and adolescents. It allows eligible residents who complete qualifying degrees (like social work, counseling, or psychology) and work in early childhood-to-adolescence mental health roles to receive up to $22,500 in loan forgiveness after signing a 7-year employment contract. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the program, requiring applicants to prove residency, partial degree completion, faculty recommendations, and secure employment in the specified field. Participants must maintain employment for seven years or repay the forgiven amount if they leave the field early, fail to comply, or provide false information. This directly affects mental health professionals in Pennsylvania seeking relief from student debt while addressing workforce needs in youth mental health.

Maddy summaryHB 104 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse law to define "electronic monitoring device" and allow courts to mandate its use for high-risk defendants. The bill defines a GPS-enabled device worn on the wrist or ankle that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, with data retained indefinitely by police. Courts may require this device for defendants found to pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims, setting specific distance limits and restricted locations. The device must stay in place for the full duration of the protection order unless removed for "good cause" with notification to the victim. This directly affects individuals subject to abuse protection orders who are deemed high-risk by courts.

Maddy summaryHB 66 creates a Pennsylvania program providing $5,000 semester stipends to residents enrolled in accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) programs with a 3.0+ GPA. It directly affects students pursuing social work careers by funding their education through paid internships. The program requires internships at state-approved facilities to meet clinical training and licensing requirements, with stipends adjusted annually for inflation. Funding is contingent on available state budget resources, administered by the Department of Human Services.

Maddy summaryHB 39 amends Pennsylvania law to formally establish county humane officers' powers and duties under Title 16. It allows county commissioners to hire humane officers who enforce existing dog control laws (from the 1982 Dog Law) and animal cruelty laws (18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B). To qualify, officers must complete specific training programs (22 Pa.C.S. §§ 3712-3713) covering animal welfare enforcement. The bill directly affects county commissioners (who may hire officers) and the officers themselves, clarifying their legal authority without creating new animal welfare standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 2025 as "Endometriosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or provide funding but formally recognizes endometriosis - a condition affecting about 10% of women - as a significant health issue. The resolution urges federal lawmakers to increase research funding for endometriosis, review Medicare/Medicaid billing codes to ensure fair reimbursement for surgical treatments, and establish a national awareness month. It directly affects Pennsylvanians by promoting public and medical awareness of endometriosis symptoms and diagnosis challenges, though it has no binding effect on state or federal policy.

Maddy summaryHB 26 removes Pennsylvania’s existing abortion statutes (including the "Abortion Control Act" and its restrictions like parental consent, spousal notice, and gestational limits) and replaces them with a new framework focused on "reproductive rights." It repeals specific provisions related to medical consultation, informed consent, facility requirements, and reporting, while adding language affirming reproductive rights for patients and providers. The bill also eliminates references to federal healthcare compliance for insurers and updates terminology, changing the chapter heading from "Abortion" to "Reproductive Offenses." This bill directly affects all abortion providers, patients, and public health systems in Pennsylvania by fundamentally restructuring the legal landscape governing abortion access.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution designates the week of November 11 through 15, 2024, as "Pennsylvania Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week" and November 15, 2024, as "Red Shirt Day." The measure aims to raise public awareness about the growing number of students without adequate housing and to highlight the barriers they face in accessing education and support services. By encouraging residents to wear red on the designated day, the resolution seeks to show solidarity with unaccompanied minors and their educators while promoting community involvement in assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to submit detailed reports on the state's 988 suicide and crisis lifeline to legislative committees. The initial report, due within 180 days of the law's effective date, must include data on call volumes, answer rates, and awareness campaign performance, followed by an updated report one year later. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the department ensure effective communication with diverse populations and non-English speakers when providing crisis support. These provisions aim to improve oversight and transparency regarding mental health crisis response efforts in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's tax credit program to support semiconductor, biomedical, and clean energy industries while removing older credits for local resource manufacturing and milk processing. Companies seeking these credits must meet specific requirements, such as investing at least $20 million in new facilities, creating 100 permanent jobs, and paying prevailing wages. The legislation also introduces a new tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel and clarifies rules for clean hydrogen hubs. Additionally, the bill expands definitions for early-stage semiconductor businesses to include those with less than $10 million in revenue.