Rep. Tarik Khan

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Reapportionment Openness and Fairness Act, establishes rules for redrawing Pennsylvania's legislative districts to ensure the process is transparent and inclusive. It mandates that the Legislative Reapportionment Commission include incarcerated individuals in population counts for state and local districts, counting them at their last known residence if they were Pennsylvania residents before incarceration. The legislation also sets strict eligibility requirements for commission members, prohibiting recent government officials, lobbyists, and relatives of legislators from serving to prevent conflicts of interest. Additionally, the act requires the commission to actively solicit public input and disseminate information to educate residents about the redistricting process.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 2024 as "Homemade Sauerkraut Month" in Pennsylvania to celebrate the cultural tradition of making fermented cabbage. The bill includes background information on the history of sauerkraut and offers practical tips for home preparation, such as using non-metal tools and allowing time for fermentation. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents by encouraging them to try making the dish themselves during the designated month.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates the fees that constables and deputy constables can charge for their services in both civil and criminal cases. It directly affects law enforcement officers who perform duties such as serving legal documents, transporting defendants, and providing courtroom security. The legislation increases the dollar amounts for various tasks, such as raising the fee for executing an arrest warrant from $25 to $50 and adjusting costs for transporting prisoners and holding defendants in court. Additionally, the bill establishes a new $10 surcharge for each criminal case where a constable provides a service, while ensuring that indigent defendants in criminal cases are not held financially responsible for this fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Nursing Assistant Workforce Hub Program to help Pennsylvania recruit and train staff for nursing homes. It directs the Department of Community and Economic Development to divide the state into four regions and award grants of up to $4 million to nonprofit organizations to run local hubs. These hubs can use the funds for building facilities, hiring staff, providing job placement services, and offering financial support to help workers get certified. The program is funded by a $16 million transfer from the state's General Fund and requires annual reporting on progress and outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Emerging Psychologists Workforce Initiative Program in Pennsylvania to help address shortages of mental health professionals by offering financial support to new doctoral-level psychologists. The program provides commitment stipends to eligible applicants who agree to complete an accredited internship in designated shortage areas or facilities and then remain employed there for at least 12 months after finishing their training. To qualify, applicants must be Pennsylvania residents holding a relevant doctoral degree and must not have previously completed a full year of internship hours. The Department of Health is responsible for administering the program, distributing internship positions between rural and urban areas, and enforcing the employment contract terms, including requiring recipients to repay the stipend if they fail to meet the service requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-year pilot program to provide funding for restoring school libraries in Pennsylvania's low-achieving schools. Eligible schools can receive grants of up to $170,000 to purchase books, digital resources, and technology, as well as to hire or train certified school librarians. The Department of Education will select at least 12 schools representing diverse student demographics to participate, and the program requires annual reporting and an independent evaluation to assess its impact on student performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to authorize the creation of school-based health centers within public and private schools. These centers must remain open during school hours and cannot refuse care based on a student's ability to pay, insurance status, or existing primary care provider. Services are determined by school boards based on student demographics and needs, with strict requirements for parental consent and data confidentiality. The legislation also mandates the establishment of a statewide advisory council to oversee program operations and requires the Department of Health to collect usage and demographic data once funding is available.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania real property laws to prevent homeowners and condominium owners from being blocked by deed restrictions or community rules from installing solar energy systems on their detached roofs or townhouse units. It establishes clear definitions for "solar energy systems" and "detached roofs" to ensure these protections apply to the correct types of residential properties. While the law prohibits outright bans, it allows homeowners' associations to set reasonable regulations regarding safety, aesthetics, and certification to maintain community standards. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, giving communities time to update their governing documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts public access to eviction records in Pennsylvania by automatically placing such files under limited access seven years after the case is filed or once a judgment is satisfied. It prohibits courts, landlords, and consumer reporting agencies from sharing these records with the public or using them in tenant screening reports, while still allowing access to the parties involved, their attorneys, and specific entities like nonprofit researchers. Landlords are required to notify the court within 30 days if a tenant pays a money judgment in full or vacates the property by the agreed date. The legislation also creates a private right of action for tenants, allowing them to seek damages of up to two months' rent or $5,000, whichever is greater, along with attorney fees, if their eviction records are improperly disclosed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school nurses and other staff with direct student contact in Pennsylvania to complete approved training on recognizing seizures and providing first aid. Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, these employees must finish either an online course or in-person instruction covering seizure recognition and action plans. The law applies to all public, private, and parochial schools in the state to ensure staff are prepared to respond to medical emergencies. The training requirement is mandatory for the specified personnel, replacing any previous optional status for these courses.