Sen. Maria Collett

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates the week of November 13 through 19, 2024, as "Transgender Awareness Week" and November 20, 2024, as "Transgender Day of Remembrance" throughout Pennsylvania. The measure aims to raise public awareness about the challenges faced by the transgender community and to honor individuals who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. By officially recognizing these dates, the resolution encourages the public to participate in educational events and vigils that highlight both the experiences of transgender people and the need to address ongoing violence. This action does not change laws or policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of these observances within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act to expand the group of people covered to include those who are deafblind and to clarify definitions for services like video remote interpreting. It requires individuals providing these services to be state-registered by the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with specific exceptions for volunteers, students, religious settings, and short-term visitors. The legislation also outlines how the office must review educational programs and establishes a process for provisional registration, ensuring that the state maintains oversight while allowing for necessary flexibility in various contexts.

Maddy summaryThis law updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to broaden the definition of "school district" to include various types of schools, such as charter schools and cyber charters. It specifically changes how schools handle tick-borne disease testing results by requiring them to provide original reports to parents while prohibiting the creation of copies or inclusion of these results in student medical records. Additionally, the bill allows schools to record disease types in a separate, anonymous log to track health trends on school property without linking the data to individual students.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates November 2024 as "Good Samaritan Law Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to highlight the state's existing immunity protections for individuals who call 911 during drug overdoses. The bill encourages all branches of state and local government to promote awareness of Act 139 of 2014, which allows people to seek emergency medical help without fear of facing criminal charges. By increasing public knowledge of this law, the measure aims to encourage more people to seek immediate assistance during medical emergencies, potentially saving lives.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as "Diwali Day" in Pennsylvania. The legislation recognizes the festival as a day of thanksgiving and reflection celebrated by millions of people worldwide and within the state. While the date is formally acknowledged, the law explicitly clarifies that employers are not required to treat it as a paid legal holiday or provide special leave. The act takes effect immediately upon approval by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals to publicly display their prices for medical items and services on their websites to help patients understand costs before receiving care. It mandates that hospitals publish detailed lists of charges, including standard rates, negotiated prices with insurance plans, and discounted cash prices, in both digital and printable formats. Additionally, the legislation prohibits hospitals from taking collection actions, such as sending debt to collectors, against patients if the hospital fails to comply with these price transparency rules. These measures directly affect hospitals and their patients by increasing financial clarity and holding facilities accountable for maintaining accessible pricing information.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes October 12, 2024, as "Period Action Day" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise awareness about period poverty and the challenges faced by menstruating individuals who cannot afford hygiene products. The resolution highlights the need to destigmatize menstruation and acknowledges the work of activists addressing access issues in schools and public facilities. While it does not change laws or allocate funds, it urges the state to pass legislation ensuring free access to period products for those in need.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to streamline how juvenile criminal records are sealed and removed from public view. It requires probation officers to automatically notify courts when a young person's record becomes eligible for expungement based on specific timeframes and good behavior. The law establishes clear waiting periods, such as two years for misdemeanor cases and five years for felony cases, after which records can be erased if the individual has not committed new offenses. Additionally, the bill mandates that fingerprints and photos be destroyed if a court finds a juvenile did not commit the alleged acts. These changes aim to simplify the process for clearing juvenile records while maintaining strict criteria to ensure public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws regarding juvenile justice by clarifying how courts handle the placement and supervision of delinquent children. It requires judges to hold mandatory review hearings at least every three months for youth in out-of-home placements to ensure they are receiving necessary treatment and that their placement is still appropriate. The legislation also allows courts to order restitution from a child's earnings, provided the work is paid at minimum wage and up to 75% of those earnings go toward paying for damages. Additionally, the bill permits restitution orders to remain in effect beyond the maximum time a juvenile could be confined, ensuring victims can still be compensated even after a child's commitment period ends.

Maddy summaryThis law updates regulations for assisted living residences and personal care homes in Pennsylvania to allow them to hire certified medication aides. It requires these aides to complete a specific training program that covers medication administration and mandates that their names be added to the state Nurse Aide Registry. The Department of Health is tasked with overseeing these training requirements and maintaining the registry to ensure compliance.