Rep. Kristine Howard

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study Housing First programs across the U.S. and their potential application in Pennsylvania. The study must examine program costs, effectiveness in reducing homelessness (especially among chronically unhoused individuals and veterans), comparisons with traditional shelter models, and impacts of recent events like the pandemic. The commission will compile a report within 18 months covering specific aspects, including Pennsylvania's homeless population demographics and academic effects on unhoused children. This study aims to inform future housing policy decisions without mandating program implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 826 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to require public venues (like theaters, sports arenas, and events charging admission) to provide free admission for personal care attendants accompanying eligible individuals with disabilities. It defines "attendant care services" to include daily living support such as bathing, mobility assistance, and managing transportation, and specifies that "eligible individuals" are those needing such services due to a disability. The bill prohibits venues from charging personal care attendants for entry when their presence is necessary for the eligible individual to access the event. This directly affects people with disabilities who rely on attendants to participate in public activities and the venues hosting those events.

Maddy summaryHB 823 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to replace annual fire drills with "school security drills" in all public school buildings. It requires schools to conduct one security drill per year (after the first 90 days of school), with specific rules: drills must be age-appropriate, avoid violent simulations (like fake weapons or injuries), include mental health professionals, and require 7 days' advance notice to parents. Schools must also hold a debriefing period with mental health support immediately after each drill. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania public schools and their students, shifting focus from fire safety to comprehensive security planning.

Maddy summaryHB 815, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, requires employers with 50+ full-time equivalent employees to provide 90 days' written notice before mass layoffs or business closings affecting 30+ employees at a single site. It directly affects large employers in Pennsylvania, mandating notification to affected employees, the Department of Labor and Industry, and local municipalities. The bill specifies that notices must be delivered to employee representatives or employees directly, and includes exceptions for unforeseeable circumstances or natural disasters. Violations may result in civil penalties enforced by the Department of Labor and Industry.

Maddy summaryHB 803 requires Pennsylvania high schools (grades 9-12) to maintain opioid antagonists like naloxone (Narcan) on-site and train staff to use them during suspected overdose emergencies. Schools must develop a policy within 60 days with the Department of Education, detailing safe storage, administration procedures, and mandatory hospital transport after use. Trained staff, including nurses or teachers, can administer the medication in good faith without facing legal liability, criminal charges, or professional penalties. This law directly affects all public, charter, private, and nonpublic high schools in Pennsylvania, aiming to improve emergency response to opioid overdoses among students and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 753 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to better protect human trafficking victims during legal proceedings. It creates an automatic affirmative defense for victims convicted of crimes like prostitution (§ 5902), theft (§ 3922), or drug possession when those crimes resulted directly from trafficking. Victims can also file motions to vacate convictions for these specific offenses by submitting written proof, evidence, and notifying prosecutors. Courts must grant such motions if victims prove by a preponderance of evidence that their conviction stemmed from being trafficked, without requiring prior prosecution of the trafficker. This directly affects individuals previously convicted of trafficking-related offenses who were victims themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 742 amends Pennsylvania law to expand DNA collection requirements beyond felony sex offenses. It defines "other specified offenses" for adults (including certain felonies, misdemeanors like assault, and offenses requiring sex offender registration) and for juveniles (such as murder, aggravated assault, or terrorism when tried as an adult). The bill mandates DNA sampling upon conviction, delinquency adjudication, or certain ARD cases for these offenses, applies to individuals transferred from other jurisdictions, and includes provisions for expungement and mandatory costs. This affects individuals convicted of specified crimes who may now have DNA collected for the state database.

Maddy summaryHB 772 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update rules for suspending and expelling students. It directly affects public school students, particularly those under 8 years old in pre-kindergarten and elementary programs. The bill sets a 10-day limit for excluding students from in-person learning without a hearing and prohibits suspending or expelling children under 8 unless they pose an immediate threat of harm to others. These changes apply to all public schools and publicly funded pre-K programs across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 790 requires Pennsylvania hospitals with emergency departments to provide abortion services when an individual has an emergency medical condition that necessitates an abortion to stabilize their health. This applies to all hospitals in the state with emergency departments, directly affecting those facilities and the patients seeking emergency care. The bill defines "emergency medical condition" to include life-threatening situations like ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, or complications from pregnancy loss, requiring hospitals to offer the service unless the patient or their legal representative refuses after being informed of risks and benefits. Hospitals must take reasonable steps to secure written consent for refusal to ensure compliance. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 775 creates tax credits for Pennsylvania businesses hiring "phoenix employees" (workers who were out of the workforce for two years or received a 50%+ pay increase) in high-demand occupations. Companies can claim a credit equal to twice the state personal income tax rate on qualifying employees' earnings, applied against corporate, franchise, or personal income taxes. The bill limits annual credits to $150,000 in the first year, $300,000 in the second, and $450,000 thereafter, with $15 million allocated for the first year. Businesses must commit to retaining employees for three years and maintaining operations in Pennsylvania for five years to qualify. The credit directly affects employers in high-demand fields and workers reentering the workforce after extended gaps.