Rep. Emily Kinkead

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the text of House Bill 1371 to correct specific errors in the language regarding how certifying officials and agencies process petitions. The changes include updating references to federal definitions, adjusting section numbers, and clarifying that agencies must provide specific details when denying a petition due to a petitioner's failure to provide requested information. These amendments refine the procedural rules for handling certification forms without altering the core purpose of the original legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation coverage to include post-traumatic stress injuries sustained by active volunteer emergency medical services personnel. It specifically defines eligible EMS providers as those designated by a municipality as its primary responder or dispatched via public safety answering points and mutual aid agreements. The legislation also clarifies that compensation is not required to be filed within a specific timeframe and broadens the list of qualified medical professionals who can evaluate these claims to include psychologists and psychiatrists. Finally, the bill sets an immediate effective date for most provisions while delaying the implementation of new sections regarding specific act amendments for one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to create new rules addressing the management of double utility poles, which occur when old poles remain alongside newly installed replacements because attached infrastructure has not yet been moved. The legislation requires companies that attach services like electricity or cable to these poles to register annually with the commission and provides a framework for utilities to notify them when they must migrate their equipment to new poles. It also establishes procedures for compensating utilities for costs related to removing abandoned attachments and authorizes the commission to impose civil penalties on owners who fail to comply with the new regulations. Additionally, the bill specifies that any costs utilities incur under these rules cannot be passed on to customers through higher rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes specific Pennsylvania cities to regulate shared electric low-speed scooters by creating local programs and ordinances. It defines these scooters as two- or three-wheeled devices with a maximum speed of 20 mph and sets rules for where they can be ridden, such as prohibiting use on freeways or sidewalks in business districts. The legislation requires companies operating these scooters to carry substantial liability insurance and establish complaint hotlines for reporting abandoned vehicles or safety violations. Additionally, the bill mandates that riders be at least 16 years old and equipped with proper lighting when riding between sunset and sunrise.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies in Pennsylvania to create violence prevention committees to address workplace violence against employees. These committees must include a mix of management, union or elected non-union staff, and direct care workers who will conduct annual risk assessments, track incidents, and develop safety plans. The legislation also mandates that employees report violence within 24 hours, protects reporters from retaliation, and requires facilities to make risk reports public while maintaining records for at least three years. Health facilities that fail to comply with these new reporting and prevention duties face administrative fines of up to $10,000 per violation.

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 establishes a new Earned Paid Leave Act that requires employers to allow employees to accrue and use paid time off after working for 90 days. Under the program, workers earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, with a maximum cap of 40 hours per year, and they must be paid their regular rate of pay while on leave. The legislation also creates a Small Business Grant Program and assigns specific duties to the Department of Labor and Industry for administering the law and enforcing penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates September 2024 as "Hunger Action Month" throughout Pennsylvania to raise awareness about food insecurity. The measure highlights the state's significant hunger challenges, noting that over 1.5 million individuals and one in six children face limited access to adequate food. It encourages collaboration among policymakers, businesses, and community organizations to address these issues and directs attention to the work of local antihunger groups. By adopting this symbolic designation, the House aims to mobilize public support and focus resources on combating hunger during the month.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the state court system's financial stability and its reliance on fines and fees. The study will examine how different states fund their courts, analyze the impact of fee dependence on various socioeconomic groups, and quantify the costs associated with collecting these fees and enforcing related penalties. The committee is required to consult with other states and relevant organizations before submitting a report with findings and recommendations to legislative leadership within 18 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes constitutional amendments to Pennsylvania that would disqualify individuals convicted of specific crimes from holding public office. It bars anyone sentenced for embezzlement, bribery, perjury, or abusing a family member from serving as a state legislator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, judge, or justice of the peace. The legislation also requires the attorney general to be a member of the state bar and mandates that judges complete specific training or pass an exam. These changes would be presented to voters as separate ballot questions at the next general election.