Rep. Perry Warren

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a new Employee Misclassification Working Group to coordinate efforts among state agencies in identifying and addressing cases where workers are incorrectly classified as independent contractors rather than employees. The legislation mandates that the Department of Revenue share tax information with specific labor and unemployment offices to help investigate these misclassification issues and requires the use of federal identification numbers to streamline data matching. The working group itself will be led by a representative from the Department of Labor and Industry and will include members from the Department of Revenue and the Office of Attorney General, with optional participation from local prosecutors and labor enforcement officers. Meetings of the group are required to occur at least every three months to develop and oversee enforcement strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Susan's and Emily's Law, updates Pennsylvania parking rules to protect pedestrian plazas and bicycle lanes. It requires vehicles parked next to these areas to align their wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone separating them from the parking lane, ensuring they do not obstruct access. The law also clarifies that local authorities can set specific parking configurations and allows designated disabled parking spots to be restricted to particular license plates. Violations of the new alignment rules carry a fine of up to $15, while unauthorized use of disabled parking spaces results in fines ranging from $50 to $200.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care facilities in Pennsylvania to install surgical smoke evacuation systems to protect workers from hazardous fumes generated during surgery. The law mandates that these safety measures be in place by January 1, 2025, or 90 days after the bill becomes effective, whichever date occurs later. By updating the state's Health Care Facilities Act, the legislation directly impacts hospitals and surgical centers to ensure they meet new equipment standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2407 updates Pennsylvania's emergency management laws by adjusting the funding amounts for various grants and programs that support fire and emergency medical services companies. The bill specifically changes the financial allocations for different initiatives, such as reducing certain grant limits while increasing others, and mandates that protective equipment provided through loans must be free of PFAS chemicals. Additionally, it requires the State Fire Commissioner to report on these programs annually instead of every two years. These changes aim to refine how state funds are distributed and managed for emergency responders without altering the core purpose of the existing grant systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to update the list of protected characteristics, explicitly adding sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, handicap, disability, and the use of support animals to existing categories like race and age. The legislation directly affects employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and providers of housing and public accommodations by clarifying that discrimination based on these new and existing traits is unlawful. It reinforces the state's policy of ensuring equal opportunity and mandates that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforce these protections through established procedures and penalties. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to protect religious exercise while maintaining the commission's powers and duties to prevent prejudice and handle complaints.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania State Police to report to the Attorney General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a background check reveals that a person attempting to buy a firearm is unlawfully present in the United States. Additionally, it mandates that judges inform the State Police about individuals who have been found incompetent, involuntarily committed, or treated for mental health issues, as well as those with drug use or addiction problems. These changes aim to improve the sharing of critical information between state authorities and federal immigration officials regarding firearm eligibility. The law will become effective 60 days after it is signed into legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Pennsylvania's existing rules on firearm possession by clarifying the responsibilities of individuals who are legally prohibited from owning guns. It mandates that people facing certain disabilities must surrender their firearms, ammunition, and licenses to law enforcement or transfer them to eligible buyers within a specific timeframe, with stricter requirements for those subject to abuse protection orders. The legislation also introduces new penalties for failing to comply with these surrender orders and for knowingly accepting or returning weapons to prohibited individuals before a court order allows it. Additionally, the bill outlines duties for the Office of Attorney General and establishes procedures for handling firearms in community and municipal courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's corporate tax code to create a specific tax deduction for medical cannabis businesses, allowing them to claim ordinary business expenses that were not deducted on their federal tax returns. It also updates the procedures for taxpayers to request tax reassessments and board reviews, extending the deadline for these petitions to 90 days for corporate taxes instead of the standard 60 days. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new settlement conference process where independent attorneys appointed by the tax board can help resolve disputes between taxpayers and the Department of Revenue. These changes directly affect medical marijuana organizations and other corporations subject to state net income tax by altering how they calculate deductions and how they appeal tax assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Underground Utility Line Protection Law by adding specific definitions and clarifying the responsibilities of facility owners, designers, excavators, and project owners. It also establishes duties for damage prevention committees, outlines procedures for issuing compliance orders, and sets administrative penalties for violations. Additionally, the legislation provides a legal mechanism for recovering penalties or forfeitures and includes provisions for the act's expiration.

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.