Rep. José Giral

Maddy summaryHB 477 requires candidates for school district office in Pennsylvania to undergo background checks before appearing on ballots. Specifically, candidates must submit Pennsylvania criminal history reports (limited to certain offenses), Department of Human Services certification regarding child abuse investigations, and federal criminal history records with fingerprints. Candidates are deemed ineligible if they have recent convictions for violent crimes (like assault or kidnapping), sex offenses (including rape or child sexual abuse), felony drug offenses, or appear on sex offender registries. This bill directly affects individuals running for school board positions in Pennsylvania, applying to all such elections held 180 days after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 476 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to establish a public master list of qualified voters who could serve as election clerks and create a process for filling clerk vacancies. The bill requires county election boards to maintain an annual master list of registered voters (with addresses) for random selection to fill vacancies, with specific exemptions like active military service or breastfeeding. It also mandates that election board vacancies be filled by randomly selecting from the master list of qualified voters, while maintaining the existing requirement that judges and majority inspectors must be from the majority party and minority inspectors from the minority party. These changes aim to standardize clerk appointment procedures and ensure fair representation on election boards.

Maddy summaryHB 474 requires Pennsylvania county boards of elections to maintain a publicly accessible website with a domain ending in ".gov" for election-related information. This bill directly affects all 67 county election boards by adding a specific administrative requirement to their existing duties under the Pennsylvania Election Code. The key provision mandates that these websites must use a ".gov" domain to ensure public access to election information. The bill takes effect one year after enactment, with no other substantive policy changes to election procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 485 creates a new Office of Information Technology within Pennsylvania's state government to establish and enforce digital accessibility standards. It requires all public entities (like counties, cities, and state agencies) to make their online services accessible to people with disabilities by developing implementation plans by July 2026 and fully complying by July 2028. Key provisions include adopting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), mandating procurement standards for adaptive technologies, and requiring compatibility with accessibility tools. The law aligns with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and applies to digital content, websites, and information systems used by the public.

Maddy summaryHB 471 allocates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to fund veterans' service officer programs in Pennsylvania. This bill directly affects veterans' service organizations that assist military veterans in accessing benefits and services. The key provision transfers the specified funds to the relevant department to support these programs under Title 51 of Pennsylvania law. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 291, also known as "Susan's and Emily's Law," updates Pennsylvania's parking rules to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. It requires vehicles parked next to pedestrian plazas or bike lanes to position their wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone between the lane and curb, aligned with traffic flow. The bill also clarifies disability parking rules, allowing local governments to restrict access to specific vehicles or license plates and charge reasonable fees while complying with federal disability law. Violations of the new pedestrian/bike lane parking rules carry a $15 fine, while disability parking violations can result in fines of $50-$300.

Maddy summaryHB 470 requires employers with 15 or more employees in Pennsylvania to provide a paid 30-minute meal break or rest period after five consecutive hours of work. This applies to all covered employees, with exemptions for union contracts that already provide equivalent or better break rights and during workplace emergencies. Employers violating the law face penalties of $100-$500 per affected employee per missed break, with additional recovery of lost wages for workers. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 478 proposes a constitutional amendment to disqualify individuals who recently held government positions (within two months) from serving as election officers in Pennsylvania. It expands existing rules by adding recent officeholders to the list of disqualified candidates, while maintaining exceptions for notaries public and National Guard members. The bill does not change election procedures but modifies constitutional eligibility standards for election workers. As a procedural resolution, it requires General Assembly passage and voter approval per Pennsylvania's constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryHB 487 amends Pennsylvania's procurement law to prioritize contracts for supplies manufactured and services performed by organizations employing people with disabilities, directly affecting Commonwealth agencies and disability service providers. The bill requires these contracts to be entered without competitive bidding if people with disabilities make a meaningful contribution to the work, mandates annual reviews for contracts over $300,000 to verify compliance, and phases out the use of federal subminimum wage certificates (14(c)) over two years. It also requires integrated work environments where employees with disabilities interact with non-disabled coworkers in state-contracted workplaces, with annual site visits to monitor compliance. The law aims to strengthen economic opportunities for people with disabilities through state procurement while ensuring fair pricing and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 442 establishes a new Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program within Pennsylvania's Department of State to help pharmacies understand how to modify their federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrations. The program will assist pharmacies in learning to accept mail-back packages for prescription drugs and install collection receptacles for safe disposal, as requested by the State Board of Pharmacy. This bill directly affects pharmacies that dispense prescription medications and the State Board of Pharmacy, which will coordinate with the program. The key provision adds this educational role as a specific duty for the Department of State under the Administrative Code of 1929.