Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Maddy summaryHB 718 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to strengthen wage enforcement, directly affecting employers (including state/local governments, corporations, and contractors) and workers owed unpaid wages. It requires the Department of Labor to collect quarterly data on wage violations, fines, unpaid wages, and complaint resolution, then submit semiannual reports to lawmakers and post them publicly. The bill mandates quarterly investigations of "high-violation industries" (those with 25+ violations in two years) and updates penalties to $2,000 per violation or triple unpaid wages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees. Employers failing to pay within 10 days of notice face these penalties, with each week of underpayment counted as a separate violation.

Maddy summaryHB 717 amends Pennsylvania's procurement law to add wage law violations as a specific reason for barring state contractors from future government contracts. It directly affects state contractors who fail to pay wages owed to workers under the 1961 Wage Payment and Collection Law. The bill adds a new subsection (531(b)(6.1)) to the debarment rules, requiring state agencies to suspend or debar contractors found in violation of wage payment laws. This change creates a direct link between wage compliance and eligibility for state contracts. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 716 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to require employers to provide employees with specific pay details (including rate, time of payment, and fringe benefits) at hiring and to post a summary of the law in a visible workplace location. Employers who fail to meet these notification or posting requirements face a $500 fine per violation. The bill also extends the time limit for employees to file legal claims for unpaid wages: if an employer didn't provide required notice or post the summary, the deadline becomes the later of three years after wages were due or the day the requirements were satisfied. This affects all employers in Pennsylvania subject to the Wage Payment and Collection Law.

Maddy summaryHB 719 prohibits Pennsylvania insurance companies from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or charging higher rates to applicants or policyholders solely because they use FDA-approved HIV prevention medications (PrEP for pre-exposure or PEP for post-exposure prophylaxis). The bill directly affects individuals seeking or maintaining insurance coverage who are prescribed these medications for HIV prevention. It bans specific "adverse actions" like coverage denial, reduced benefits, or discriminatory pricing based solely on PrEP or PEP use. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment and enforces violations through existing insurance fraud and unfair practice laws.

Maddy summaryHB 614 establishes Pennsylvania's Shared Housing and Resource Exchange Program, designed to help residents aged 60 or older who need housing find shared living arrangements with approved hosts. The Department of Aging will operate the program, requiring hosts to have at least two bedrooms (with one exclusively for the participant), charge no more than 30% of the participant's gross monthly income in rent, and sign a home-sharing agreement. The department will match participants with hosts based on location, lifestyle, and preferences, then facilitate the agreements. The program will be funded by state appropriations and take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 609 requires builders to notify residential property owners about construction defects they discover. Builders must send a written notice within 30 days via certified mail, including a description of the defect, the reason for knowing about it, and their contact information. This applies only to residential properties and does not apply if 15+ years have passed since construction. Builders who fail to notify (without reasonable cause) must pay the owner’s actual damages, but the notice itself doesn’t create liability or limit other legal remedies. The bill takes effect in 60 days.

Maddy summaryHB 637 establishes Pennsylvania's Youth Summer Employment Grant Program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry. The program provides grants to eligible employers (including businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities) who hire residents aged 15-18 for at least eight weeks during summer, pay at least $15/hour or the state minimum wage, and offer work or educational experiences. Grants amount to $5,000 for 10-20 youth, $10,000 for over 20 youth, with an additional $5,000 if 50% of hired youth live in historically disadvantaged communities (defined as areas with ≥20% poverty for 30+ years). Funding comes from a new nonlapsing Youth Summer Employment Fund in the State Treasury, with the department required to advertise the program to employers and schools.

Maddy summaryHR 78 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study how effectively the state supports infants affected by prenatal substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. It requires forming an advisory committee - including health, human services, and substance use experts plus a parent with lived experience - to evaluate current "plans of safe care" implementation, including barriers like duplicate reporting requirements and gaps in tracking infant outcomes. The study will assess coordination between health, child welfare, and treatment systems, cost implications, and alignment of policies across agencies. The committee must issue findings within 18 months, focusing on improving support for infants and families without changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 672 requires Pennsylvania health insurers to cover prescribed early allergen introduction dietary supplements for infants under one year old, specifically those containing safe, well-cooked egg or peanut protein to help reduce food allergy risk. Insurers must provide this coverage at no additional cost to consumers, including no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The law applies to most health insurance policies (excluding specialized plans like dental or workers' compensation) and mandates coverage for supplements prescribed by licensed healthcare providers. It directly affects infants at risk of food allergies, particularly addressing health disparities noted in the bill (e.g., higher allergy rates among Black children). The policy changes are effective 60 days after enactment, with no cost-sharing for these specific supplements.

Maddy summaryHB 663 requires bodywork facilities in Pennsylvania - including massage studios, spas, and similar businesses offering bodywork services like massage therapy or acupressure - to obtain a license from the Department of State. The bill establishes a licensing process involving background checks, application reviews, and regular inspections to ensure facilities meet health and safety standards, while prohibiting on-site dormitories. It excludes medical offices, solo practitioners who display their license in advertisements, and businesses offering only non-manipulative services (like topical skin treatments). Violations, such as operating without a license, could result in penalties, and the Department of State will oversee enforcement.