Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Health Insurance Core Benefits Coverage Act to require all individual and group health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover a specific set of essential services. These mandatory benefits include emergency care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, and preventive services, ensuring that plans are at least as comprehensive as those first offered in the state in 2020. The Insurance Department is authorized to adjust these requirements through regulations by considering factors such as population health needs, potential discrimination, and medical advancements. Insurers that fail to comply with these coverage standards face penalties, while the law explicitly excludes limited policies like dental-only or accident-only plans from these mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania fishing and hunting laws to provide financial relief for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war. It establishes that veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating will receive free fishing, hunting, and furtaking licenses, while those with ratings between 60% and 99% will pay a reduced fee of one dollar. To qualify, applicants must be certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and submit proof that their disability was incurred during military service. The changes apply to resident licenses and will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on improving Home and Community-Based Services waivers for individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania. The investigation will examine how these programs, managed by the Office of Long-Term Living and the Office of Developmental Programs, can better meet medical needs, reduce barriers to community living, and enhance employment opportunities. Specifically, the study will compare service menus and pay rates between the two offices, analyze administrative processes, and review how other states have addressed similar challenges. Ultimately, the commission is tasked with issuing a report containing recommendations to improve eligibility, access to care, and support services for this population.

Maddy summaryHB 1032 establishes a new grant program called Solar for Schools to fund solar energy projects at educational institutions. The bill also creates a legal framework requiring owners of solar facilities on leased land to provide financial guarantees that cover the cost of removing the equipment when it stops producing electricity. These financial assurances must remain in place even if the facility is sold to a new owner, ensuring that the original landowner is protected. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Department of Community and Economic Development to manage these grants and outlines specific rules for solar agreements to prevent future cleanup costs from falling on property owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania laws to require parents receiving state assistance to actively cooperate in establishing paternity and securing child support for their children. It mandates that applicants must appear before a court to address potential fathers before receiving aid, with exceptions only if alternative methods are equally efficient. The legislation also establishes that providing names of two putative fathers who are later excluded by genetic testing will create a presumption of noncooperation, which can only be overturned with strong evidence. Finally, the bill outlines specific penalties for failing to cooperate, including the termination of medical benefits and a reduction of cash assistance by at least 25%.

Maddy summaryHB 2216 authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of General Services and other state agencies to transfer various parcels of land and easements to private entities, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. The bill facilitates these exchanges through mechanisms such as quitclaiming interests, granting easements, and conveying property titles, often in return for improvements, monetary payments, or reciprocal land swaps. Specific actions include transferring land for a theater in Philadelphia, releasing restrictions on park lands, and exchanging state park jurisdiction for highway improvements. Essentially, the legislation streamlines the process for the state to give away or swap its real estate holdings to support public projects, historical preservation, and community needs.

Maddy summaryHB 897 updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to streamline credit transfers between public colleges and universities by establishing new definitions and admission standards. The bill guarantees that students transferring with an associate degree or 30 credits will receive full junior standing and face the same admission and retention requirements as students who started at their new institution. It also creates a Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program and mandates specific data reporting to improve transparency and accountability within the higher education system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to refine how pharmacy audits and fees are handled. It clarifies that certain insurance supplements are excluded from specific terms and changes the notice period for additional fees from the time of claim adjudication to thirty days before the fees are applied. The legislation also updates definitions to refer to "generic" drugs instead of "general" ones and expands the scope of federal employee benefit protections. Additionally, it adjusts reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers and the state agency overseeing these audits.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania laws regarding the division of property inherited by multiple people, known as heir's property. It introduces a "right of first refusal" that allows family members or other co-owners to buy a share of the property at the same price offered by an outside buyer before that buyer can purchase it. Additionally, the bill mandates a court-ordered settlement conference within 60 days of a partition lawsuit to encourage parties to negotiate a fair solution, such as a buyout or continued shared ownership. If the court finds that a party refused to negotiate in good faith during this conference, the lawsuit could be dismissed. These changes aim to simplify the legal process and help prevent the forced sale of family homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Contraceptive Access for All Act, requires all government health programs and private health insurance policies in the state to cover FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products without charging the patient any out-of-pocket costs. The law specifically mandates that these contraceptives be included in coverage without requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or any form of cost-sharing such as deductibles or copayments. It applies to a wide range of standard medical insurance plans while explicitly excluding limited policies like dental-only or accident insurance. Additionally, the bill assigns duties to the Insurance Department and the Department of Human Services to oversee compliance and establishes penalties for entities that fail to meet these new coverage requirements.