Sen. Maria Collett

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates October 2024 as "National Disability Employment Awareness Month" within Pennsylvania. The bill serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the importance of employment opportunities for the state's approximately 2.7 million adults with disabilities. It does not create new laws or alter existing regulations but rather encourages employers, schools, and community groups to promote inclusive hiring practices and the value of workers with disabilities. By adopting this theme, the Senate aims to raise awareness about the goal of providing good jobs and full participation for all Pennsylvanians.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates August 2024 as "Civic Health Month" throughout Pennsylvania to highlight the connection between voting and community well-being. The measure does not create new laws or change government procedures but serves as a symbolic declaration to encourage civic participation. It aims to raise awareness that engaging in elections can help shape policies related to health, housing, and transportation, which are critical for individual and community health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Child Internet Protection Act to update terminology and clarify definitions regarding harmful online content in public schools and libraries. It requires school boards and public library governing bodies to adopt acceptable-use policies within 180 days that mandate the use of filtering software or specific online servers to block access to obscenity, child sexual abuse material, and other content harmful to minors. The legislation also grants public libraries immunity from civil liability if approved filtering tools fail to block such material, ensuring they can enforce these safety measures without fear of lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to ensure that medical assistance covers payments for custom orthotics and prosthetics. It requires the state department to set reimbursement rates for these items at a level no lower than the current federal Medicare fee schedule. Additionally, the law mandates that all specific codes for these custom devices be included in the state's medical assistance program. The changes are designed to align state coverage with federal standards for durable medical equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Consumer Data Privacy Act to protect the personal information of Pennsylvania residents by setting specific rules for businesses that collect and use consumer data. It defines who must comply as "controllers," which are companies doing business in the state with over $10 million in annual revenue, those selling consumer data for half their income, or those handling data from at least 50,000 consumers. The law requires these companies to obtain clear, affirmative consent from individuals before processing their data and prohibits deceptive design tactics known as dark patterns that trick users into sharing information. Additionally, the act outlines strict penalties for violations and grants consumers the right to know how their data is used, particularly in high-risk situations like targeted advertising or automated decision-making.

Maddy summarySB 1171 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained nonmedical school employees to voluntarily administer emergency anti-seizure medication to students with epilepsy when a licensed nurse is not present. The bill requires that this participation be entirely voluntary, ensuring schools cannot force staff to provide medical assistance, and mandates that training be provided by licensed health care professionals. Additionally, the legislation outlines a process where parents can request these services, prompting schools to inform families about their rights to create a 504 plan or individualized education program to address the student's unique needs. By defining specific medications and establishing clear guidelines for training and consent, the measure aims to ensure the safety of students with seizures while respecting the professional boundaries of school staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new paid family and medical leave program in Pennsylvania, allowing eligible employees to take time off work with wage replacement for specific personal and family reasons. The program is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, which will manage the Family and Medical Leave Fund financed by employer contributions, while also offering an option for employers to use private insurance plans instead. Eligible workers can receive benefits for various needs, including caring for a sick family member, bonding with a new child, or addressing violence against vulnerable adults, with protections ensuring their jobs remain secure during leave. The legislation includes provisions for self-employed individuals to opt into the program, sets rules for benefit amounts and duration, and creates an advisory board to oversee the initiative.

Maddy summaryThis law updates the state's Real Estate Tax Sale Law to clarify how properties are handled after tax auctions. It specifically directs that properties acquired by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency should be treated in a certain way, though the provided text cuts off before detailing the full scope of this instruction. Additionally, the bill establishes a county-level fund dedicated to demolition and rehabilitation projects related to these tax sale properties. The legislation was signed into law in July 2024 and becomes effective upon approval by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates state laws to clarify which inmates are ineligible for early release programs, specifically short sentence parole and certain parole eligibility rules. It directly affects prisoners convicted of specific serious offenses, such as incest, open lewdness, and crimes involving child sexual abuse material, by ensuring they cannot access these accelerated release options. The legislation also standardizes the term "child sexual abuse material" throughout the statutes to replace older references to "child pornography." Additionally, the bill makes minor editorial changes to correct references within the legal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's insurance laws to require health insurance policies to cover medically necessary telemedicine services provided by participating network providers. It explicitly prohibits insurers from denying coverage or reimbursement solely because a service is delivered remotely via video, audio, or asynchronous methods. The legislation also prevents contracts from conditioning reimbursement on the use of specific proprietary technology or vendors, ensuring providers can use various telemedicine tools. By defining terms like telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, the law standardizes how these services are treated under existing insurance plans and managed care programs.