Rep. José Giral

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 8, 2024, as Marian Anderson Day in Pennsylvania to honor the African American contralto. The resolution specifically commemorates the day the Philadelphia Orchestra rededicated Verizon Hall as Marian Anderson Hall, marking 85 years since Anderson was denied a performance at Constitution Hall due to her race. It serves as a ceremonial recognition of this historical event and the renaming of the venue.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania resolution designates May 2024 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month to highlight the condition known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The bill directly affects the state's House of Representatives and aims to increase public understanding of ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes muscle weakness and affects thousands of adults annually. By officially recognizing this month, the legislation seeks to acknowledge the challenges faced by patients and their families while promoting awareness of ongoing research efforts. The measure does not alter laws or allocate funding, serving instead as a symbolic gesture to foster community recognition of the disease.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania resolution designates the week of November 3 through 9, 2024, as "Election Official and Election Worker Appreciation Week." The measure aims to formally recognize and honor the service of election officials and workers across the state who manage voting processes and maintain election integrity. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the efforts of these public servants.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Pennsylvania's Department of Health to conduct a study on how smartphone use affects children's health and development. The legislation is based on concerns that early phone ownership and increased social media access may contribute to mental health issues and disrupted sleep patterns in young people. If completed, the study must result in a public report, recommendations for parents, and guidelines for pediatricians to share with families within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new license for real estate appraiser trainees in Pennsylvania to help them gain experience before becoming fully certified. Under the new rules, individuals who meet specific educational requirements can receive this license without taking an exam, allowing them to work under the direct supervision of a qualified certified appraiser. The supervising appraiser must have at least three years of experience and can oversee no more than three trainees at a time. Once the trainees complete their supervised assignments, they can apply for a full appraiser credential. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge in Reading as the PFC Lawrence J. Deisher Memorial Bridge to honor a local soldier who died during the Vietnam War. The legislation requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs with the new name on the bridge carrying State Route 2021 over Mineral Springs Creek. The act includes findings about Deisher's military service and bravery, which serve as the basis for the memorial designation. It will become effective 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Travel Price Integrity Act, aims to protect consumers from sudden price hikes when booking transportation online. It prohibits travel service providers, such as airlines or ride-sharing apps, from changing prices while a user is viewing or purchasing a service for at least 30 minutes after they first visit the website. Additionally, companies must notify customers at least five minutes before this 30-minute window ends if a price change is planned. Violations of these rules would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing state consumer protection laws.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill amends the state's Tax Reform Code to establish a new tax credit called PROSPER, designed to support displaced workers and promote renewable energy opportunities. The legislation defines "displaced workers" as individuals who have lost their jobs due to layoffs, plant closures, or industry shifts, while also specifying criteria for "green jobs" and "fossil fuel or pollution intensive industries." Under this plan, eligible individuals can receive a tax credit to help offset their tax liability, aiming to provide financial relief and encourage employment in resilient sectors. The bill directly affects the Department of Revenue, which will administer the credit, and the workers and businesses that meet the specific definitions set forth in the new article.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to help long-term care nursing facilities manage unpaid care costs while waiting for medical assistance decisions. It allows facilities to request payments for uncompensated care after an application has been pending for at least sixty days due to delays or denials with appeals. If the application is eventually denied, the state can recover these payments, but if approved, the state will offset future benefits by the amount already paid. Additionally, the bill requires the state to provide nursing homes with specific application status updates within five business days if the facility has obtained the applicant's permission to share that information.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 20, 2024, as "Candidate Pledge Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the efforts of Hannah-Kate McFadden in promoting civility among political candidates. The bill does not create new laws or change existing regulations but serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage elected officials and candidates to sign a pledge against bullying, name-calling, and inflammatory rhetoric. By recognizing this date, the measure aims to highlight the importance of compromise and respectful discourse in the political process without imposing any mandatory requirements on officials.