Rep. Danielle Otten

Maddy summaryHR 10 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study how Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers can be improved to better serve individuals with disabilities. It directly affects over 2 million Pennsylvanians with disabilities who rely on HCBS waivers administered by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), including those excluded from eligibility despite meeting federal disability criteria. The study will examine five key areas: whether waivers meet medical needs, compare payment rates across programs, analyze service menus, address barriers to community living, and investigate low employment rates (16% in integrated settings) for waiver participants. The goal is to identify concrete changes to improve access, affordability, and outcomes for people using these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 168 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to update the definition of "income" for senior citizens' property tax and rent rebate eligibility. It adds a provision allowing seniors who were eligible for these rebates as of December 31, 2018, to retain benefits if household income temporarily exceeds limits solely due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). This replaces a previous temporary rule that expired in 2016 for seniors eligible as of December 31, 2012. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania seniors receiving property tax or rent rebates who experience automatic income increases from Social Security COLAs.

Maddy summaryHB 192 repeals outdated language requiring psychological services to be provided on school premises for nonpublic school students. It updates the definition of "professional employees" to explicitly include school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and nurses in Pennsylvania schools. The bill mandates that school social workers must hold a new educational specialist certificate issued by the Department of Education, which must be created within 60 days. Additionally, it adds rules requiring schools to share student health records when students transfer and to retain those records for at least two years after a student leaves.

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 82 establishes a grant program to train school bus drivers in recognizing symptoms of severe allergic reactions and safely administering epinephrine auto-injectors. School entities, including public school districts and charter schools, may require drivers to complete this training before transporting students. The Department of Education will administer the program, providing grants to fund training programs that teach drivers to identify anaphylaxis symptoms and use epinephrine devices. This policy directly affects school bus drivers, students with allergies, and school entities responsible for transportation safety.

Maddy summaryHB 52 requires developers seeking building permits in Pennsylvania to submit information about potential impacts on endangered or threatened species to three state agencies: the Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These agencies must review the information within 90 days to determine if construction would harm protected species, providing written confirmation to both the developer and the municipality. If agencies fail to complete the review within 90 days, it is presumed no harm exists, allowing the municipality to issue the permit. The bill also includes funding to support this process. This directly affects developers, municipalities, and state agencies involved in building permit approvals.

Maddy summaryHB 108 requires all Pennsylvania municipalities (including cities, boroughs, and townships) to establish a "real property emergency services fund" financed by a $25 fee paid by both buyers and sellers during real estate transactions. The fund can only be used for specific emergency services expenses, such as purchasing/maintaining firefighting equipment, firehouse construction, firefighter and emergency medical personnel salaries, and ambulance maintenance. Municipalities must deposit the fees into the fund, impose a $250 penalty for non-payment, and annually publish reports detailing fund usage. The bill mandates biennial audits of the fund and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 107 amends Pennsylvania's Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to allow licensed organizations (such as nonprofits and charities) to accept electronic payments for games of chance and conduct online raffles. The bill requires organizations to verify that online raffle buyers are physically located in Pennsylvania and at least 18 years old before accepting payment. It permits credit/debit cards and mobile payment services for raffle tickets but prohibits sales outside Pennsylvania or to minors. The legislation also removes a conflicting regulation in the Pennsylvania Code to align with these new provisions.

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.