Rep. Carol Kazeem

Maddy summaryHB 306 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to require public utilities to share specific emergency response plans and safety records with state or federal agencies (including the National Transportation Safety Board) when a safety risk is suspected, such as potential harm to people or mass destruction. This exception overrides standard confidentiality protections, meaning agencies receiving the information are not bound by usual rules, and disclosures do not make the information public under the Right-to-Know Law. The bill directly affects public utilities and government agencies by streamlining safety-related information sharing during emergencies. It creates a clear process for mandatory disclosure in safety-critical situations while preserving confidentiality safeguards for other uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1045 requires Pennsylvania school nurses and other school staff with direct student contact to complete Department of Health-approved training on seizure recognition and first aid starting in the 2025-2026 school year, with training required every two years thereafter. The bill mandates specific content about identifying seizures, using seizure action plans, and providing basic first aid. It also clarifies that school staff providing seizure-related care are protected from civil liability under existing Good Samaritan laws (42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8332 and 8337.1). This bill directly affects all public school staff in Pennsylvania who work with students and aims to improve emergency response for students with seizure disorders.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates June 2026 as Scleroderma Awareness Month and June 29, 2026, as World Scleroderma Day within the state. The measure aims to increase public understanding of scleroderma, a rare autoimmune condition that causes skin hardening and can affect internal organs, by promoting awareness rather than implementing new policies or funding. The resolution does not change laws or allocate money but serves to highlight the disease and support ongoing research efforts at Pennsylvania universities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study Pennsylvania's disability waiver programs. It specifically examines how to improve experiences for individuals receiving Home and Community-Based Services waivers through the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). The study will assess medical care access, healthcare support barriers, and staffing challenges for waiver participants. The findings will inform future improvements to these services, focusing on people with disabilities who rely on community-based care instead of institutional settings. (HR 134, 2025)

Maddy summaryHB 434, the "Ebony Alert System Act," requires the Pennsylvania State Police to establish a system providing public alerts for missing young people of color (ages 12-25) under specific circumstances, including abduction, suspicious disappearance, or if they have disabilities. Law enforcement must consider eight factors - such as the individual's age, race, disability, or safety risks - before activating an alert. The system is funded by a $25 assessment on individuals convicted of kidnapping (18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 29), and falsely impersonating the alert system carries a $5,000 civil penalty. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, public safety systems, and vulnerable missing persons cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to make a one-time payment to medical assistance managed care organizations by December 31, 2027, to help increase payments to providers for medical equipment and supplies. The total amount available for distribution is calculated by taking the total funds these organizations paid to providers for such items in 2024 and adding 10% to that figure. Once the department distributes its share, the managed care organizations must pass along 10% of the 2024 payment amounts to each participating provider within 30 days. The law applies specifically to individuals enrolled in the medical assistance program and the healthcare providers and organizations that serve them.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for individuals employed as direct support professionals who assist people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. To qualify, workers must have an adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 and can claim a credit of up to $1,000 against their state taxes, with any unused portion refunded as cash. The program is limited to a total of $2 million per fiscal year and will be available from 2026 through 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's child protective services laws to clarify which specific sexual offenses involving children must be reported and to strengthen reporting protocols for staff at schools and medical facilities. It explicitly requires mandated reporters to file a report if they suspect a child is involved in the creation, display, or possession of child sexual abuse material or artificially generated images of children, regardless of whether the minor created the content. Additionally, the legislation mandates that institution staff notify their supervisor immediately after making a report and ensures that institutions cooperate fully with subsequent investigations. The changes will not take effect until one year after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1098 establishes a new program under Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency to combat internet crimes against children. It directs the Commission to provide grants to law enforcement task forces for investigating and prosecuting internet-related crimes against minors under 18, specifically violations of Pennsylvania laws covering sexual offenses, human trafficking, and child exploitation (18 Pa.C.S. §§ 30, 31, 6312, 6318, 6320). The grants will support local police teams, supplement federal child exploitation grants, and fund specialized training for investigators. This program operates alongside existing federal and state funding without replacing it, directly affecting law enforcement agencies working on these cases.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates May 2026 as "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month" to highlight the impact of ALS on patients and their families. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding; instead, it serves as a symbolic gesture to increase public understanding of the disease and support ongoing research efforts. By formally recognizing the month, the resolution aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by those living with ALS and the importance of continued medical investigation.