Rep. Aaron Bernstine

Maddy summaryHB 957 amends Pennsylvania's invasion of privacy law to increase penalties for repeated violations and require convicted individuals to destroy related recordings. It upgrades the offense to a third-degree felony if there are multiple violations (previously a second-degree felony), while single violations remain a first-degree misdemeanor. The bill also adds a new requirement that anyone convicted under this law must delete or destroy all associated recordings (photos, videos, etc.) they possess; failing to do so becomes a separate third-degree felony. This directly affects individuals convicted of privacy violations involving recorded media, such as secretly filming or sharing intimate images without consent. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 685 requires Pennsylvania schools to accept U.S. currency as payment for admission to school-sponsored activities, such as athletic events, assemblies, or field trips. It applies to all school entities, including public school districts, charter schools, and private schools participating in school activities. The bill mandates that cash must be accepted when fees are charged, while allowing schools to also accept other payment methods like credit cards. It defines "cash" as U.S. coins and paper money recognized as legal tender and clarifies that schools may refuse payments in large denominations that exceed the fee amount.

Maddy summaryHB 941 amends Pennsylvania law to set a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting certain major offenses, meaning prosecutors must file charges within five years of the crime's commission. It specifically applies to offenses like attempted murder (without actual murder), conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, burglary, fraud, robbery, and witness intimidation, among others listed in the bill. The bill does not change the crimes themselves but establishes a uniform five-year deadline for initiating prosecutions for these specific offenses. This change affects prosecutors who must file charges within this timeframe and defendants who may face charges within the new window. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 927 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania that would prohibit the state from issuing driver's licenses or similar vehicle operation permits to individuals without lawful presence in the United States. This would directly affect non-citizens residing in Pennsylvania without legal immigration status, preventing them from obtaining or renewing driver's licenses under this policy. The amendment requires approval by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and subsequent voter approval at the next applicable election, as outlined in Section 2 of the resolution. If adopted, it would change the state constitution to mandate legal immigration status as a prerequisite for license issuance.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's House Resolution 125 is a petition to Congress requesting an Article V constitutional convention to propose amendments focused on three specific areas: imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and setting term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution specifies that any convention must be limited to these topics only, cannot consider changes to the Bill of Rights, and requires two-thirds of states to apply for the same purpose before Congress acts. It details Pennsylvania's delegate selection process (five members chosen by the legislature with voting rules) and includes conditions like Congress only setting the convention's time/place, states having equal voting power, and delegates disqualifying if accepting gifts. The resolution explicitly recommends ratification of any amendments through state legislatures rather than conventions.

Maddy summaryHB 896 requires Pennsylvania courts to impose the death penalty on defendants convicted of first-degree murder who are documented as undocumented migrants under U.S. immigration law (defined as violating 8 U.S.C. Ch. 12). The bill amends sentencing procedures to mandate this specific penalty after the court records the defendant's undocumented status, replacing standard sentencing considerations. It directly affects individuals facing first-degree murder charges who lack legal immigration status in the U.S.

Maddy summaryHB 897 requires Pennsylvania state agencies to prioritize purchasing "American-made" supplies, defined as goods assembled within the United States. The bill adds this definition to procurement rules and mandates agencies to incorporate prioritization into their buying policies. If an agency determines a supply isn’t American-made or unavailable in sufficient quantities, it must publish the decision in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, allowing 30 days for objections with evidence. Affirmed determinations exempt specific supplies from the prioritization requirement.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill requires hotels and lodgings with at least 150 rooms to verify the work authorization status of all employees through the federal E-Verify system and maintain verification records for at least three years or the duration of employment. The law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring individuals who lack legal permission to work in the United States and applies to staffing agencies supplying workers to the hotel industry. The Department of Labor and Industry will be tasked with investigating complaints about violations, conducting inspections of employer records, and interviewing relevant personnel. Employers who violate the prohibition face penalties, while individuals who knowingly submit false information in complaints could face criminal charges.

Maddy summaryHB 885 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to clarify wholesale sales rules for state liquor stores and expand storage options for beverage manufacturers. It updates Section 305(b) to require a 10% wholesale discount for eligible licensees (like restaurants and hotels) and establishes discount cards for verified buyers, while allowing pickup discounts at warehouses. The bill also amends Section 431(a.2) to increase manufacturers' storage licenses from two to five per facility, enabling them to store, repackage, and distribute malt/brewed beverages at off-site locations under board regulations. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania Liquor Stores, licensed businesses purchasing wholesale, and malt/brewed beverage manufacturers. The bill takes effect in 60 days.

Maddy summaryHB 854 requires school board members to recuse themselves from voting on collective bargaining agreements if their spouse, romantic partner, or household member is part of the bargaining unit covered by that agreement. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish this conflict-of-interest rule, directly affecting school board members during contract negotiations. Key provisions mandate automatic recusal for board members with personal ties to the employees covered by the agreement being voted on. The rule takes effect 60 days after enactment, aiming to prevent potential bias in negotiations.