Rep. Scott Conklin

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 bill creates the Public Utility Credit Act to require public utilities in Pennsylvania to report customer credit information. It defines public utilities to include companies providing electricity, gas, water, transportation, and communications services, while excluding private cooperatives and certain internal building systems. The legislation mandates that these utilities maintain credit records and share them with other providers to help assess a customer's ability to pay for services. By establishing these reporting duties, the bill aims to improve credit assessment for utility accounts across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify lease rules and introduce a rent reporting system for residential properties. It maintains the existing distinction that leases of three years or less can be oral, while requiring written contracts for any lease term longer than three years. Additionally, the legislation establishes a voluntary program where landlords can report on-time rent payments to consumer reporting agencies, such as credit bureaus, to help tenants build credit history. Landlords participating in a specific building credit program must provide written notice to tenants about the option to report their rent payments. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for lease agreements and offer tenants a potential way to improve their credit profiles through consistent rent payments.

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 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 Pennsylvania insurance regulations to clarify how dental insurers and their vendors must handle fees associated with electronic payments and credit cards. It requires these entities to inform patients that such fees may apply to their payments and to provide clear instructions on how to find the exact fee amounts. The law explicitly excludes fees charged by financial institutions or merchant servicers selected by the dentist from these notification requirements. Additionally, the bill defines specific types of payment processing entities, such as payment settlement entities and merchant acquiring entities, to ensure clarity in regulatory compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's driver licensing laws to better support minors and homeless youth. For minors, it requires a signed certification from a parent or guardian confirming that the driver has completed 65 hours of supervised practice, including specific amounts of night and bad weather driving, before taking their license test. The legislation also allows homeless children and youth to use temporary addresses like schools or shelters when applying for licenses and exempts them from paying the associated fees. Additionally, it clarifies that the adults who sign these certifications are not legally liable for the minor's driving behavior.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding abandoned and unclaimed property to improve how the state finds original owners. It requires the Treasury Department to work with state agencies like the Department of Revenue and the Department of State to share data and verify owner information at least once a year. These changes aim to make the process of locating owners more efficient by formalizing cooperation between different government departments. The legislation also includes provisions for handling income earned after property is paid out and establishes penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a School Meal Debt Fund and creates new rules to ensure all students in Pennsylvania public schools can access meals regardless of their ability to pay. It requires schools to provide meals to any student who requests one unless a parent has explicitly asked for them to be withheld, and it mandates that schools help families apply for free or reduced-price meal programs if a student owes money. The legislation strictly prohibits schools from stigmatizing students with debt by using wristbands, denying participation in activities, or threatening legal action, while also banning the use of collections agencies or credit reporting to recover unpaid meal costs. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Revenue to share confidential household income data with schools to better determine eligibility for federal assistance and to identify students who need help paying off meal debts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of Child Advocate within Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to protect the interests of children. The Governor will appoint a Child Advocate who must have at least six years of relevant experience and a bachelor's degree, and the office will operate independently of the department regarding decision-making. The Advocate and their staff are required to complete specific trainings on topics like trauma-informed care and crisis intervention, and they are designated as mandated reporters for suspected child abuse. Additionally, the bill defines the scope of child health, safety, and well-being programs, which include preventing abuse, providing foster care, and offering early intervention services.