Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's consumer protection laws to require social media companies to ban anyone under the age of 14 from using their platforms. To enforce this, the law mandates that companies verify a user's age by checking a government-issued driver's license and photo ID, and it restricts how these companies can store the sensitive data collected during this process. Additionally, the bill gives parents the right to request the immediate deletion of their minor child's account and all associated personal information within ten days of asking. Social media companies that knowingly allow minors under 14 to use their services or fail to follow these verification and deletion rules would face penalties for unfair trade practices.
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Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution designates June 1, 2024, as "Idiopathic Hypersomnia Day" to raise awareness about a chronic neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and other debilitating symptoms. The bill aims to highlight the challenges faced by individuals with the condition, such as difficulties in work, school, and social life, as well as the frequent misdiagnosis and lack of effective treatments. By officially recognizing this day, the legislature intends to support advocacy efforts and encourage further research and funding for the disorder.
Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution establishes a select committee to investigate the security failures at the July 13, 2024, rally in Butler where a gunman targeted former President Trump. The committee will examine how federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies coordinated their response and will propose best practices for protecting public figures at future events. Authorized to subpoena witnesses and documents, the six-member panel must submit its findings and recommendations to the House by November 30, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in Pennsylvania to charge fees to taxpayers who owe delinquent per capita, poll, or occupation taxes. The fees are intended to cover the costs of sending notices about unpaid taxes and other collection efforts, and the money collected goes directly to the tax collector. Local officials must keep a detailed record of these fees and can only charge for costs incurred within five years of when the tax was due. The law also prevents taxpayers from suing to get these fees back and stops the use of contingency fees for collecting these specific taxes.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how local governments in Pennsylvania handle the collection of unpaid taxes for specific categories like income, occupation, and local services. It removes the requirement for tax collectors to send a registered or certified mail notice to taxpayers before taking collection action against their employers. Instead, local authorities can now charge taxpayers for the costs of sending notices or using other collection procedures, provided these costs are approved by the local governing body. Additionally, the bill limits the time window for collecting these specific costs to five years from the date the tax was originally due.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a consumer data privacy framework that defines the responsibilities of data controllers and processors while setting penalties for non-compliance. It clarifies that controllers are entities that determine how personal information is used and requires them to implement reasonable safeguards to protect collected data. The legislation specifies that publicly available information and certain mathematical representations of data are excluded from the definition of personal information, and it includes exemptions for financial institutions. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for consumers to opt out of data processing and grants them a 60-day window to correct errors in their data requests.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Pennsylvania Small Business Innovation Grant and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Funds Program to offer financial support to local small businesses participating in federal research initiatives. Administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, the program provides matching grants of up to $50,000 to businesses that have received Phase I awards from the Small Business Administration for federal research projects. To qualify, companies must be headquartered in Pennsylvania, commit to keeping at least 51% of their research work within the state, and submit specific reports demonstrating their ability to advance the project to Phase II. The legislation also sets limits on funding, allowing each business to receive only one grant per year and a maximum of five total awards, with funds released in installments tied to project milestones.
Maddy summaryHB 350 updates Pennsylvania's domestic relations laws to modernize how parentage is established and how parental rights are handled in adoption and support cases. The bill enacts the Uniform Parentage Act, which introduces new procedures for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, genetic testing, and legal processes for assisted reproduction and surrogacy. It also repeals older sections regarding paternity acknowledgment and clarifies the rules for terminating parental rights when a father does not contest an adoption hearing. Additionally, the legislation expands the legal grounds for courts to exercise jurisdiction over nonresident parents and ensures clearer notice requirements for all parties involved in these proceedings.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 2024 as MECP2 Duplication Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania to highlight a rare genetic condition that primarily affects boys. The bill aims to increase public understanding of the disorder's symptoms, which include severe gastrointestinal issues, frequent respiratory infections, and treatment-resistant seizures, while also noting its strong link to autism. By officially recognizing this month, the legislation seeks to draw attention to the challenges faced by affected families and the ongoing research into potential future treatments.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws by adjusting personal income tax rates and eliminating a specific tax on the gross receipts from the sale of electric energy. It requires electric utilities to pass the savings from these tax changes directly to consumers through reductions in state tax surcharges, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 for companies that fail to do so. Additionally, the legislation mandates that $6 million annually be transferred to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill also establishes a revenue-neutral reconciliation rule that will remain in effect until the end of 2024.