Sen. Nick Miller

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates new criminal offenses for unlawfully possessing a dwelling and fraudulently selling or leasing residential property, while also establishing a civil process for removing unauthorized occupants. Under the new laws, individuals who enter or stay in a home with the intent to commit a crime, or those who cause significant damage to a property, could face felony charges. The bill also defines specific terms like "squatter" and "holdover tenant" to clarify who is considered an unauthorized occupant. To facilitate removal, property owners can submit a sworn affidavit to law enforcement detailing that an unauthorized person is living on their property without legal rights or family ties. If the affidavit meets all required criteria, law enforcement may remove the individual, though the property owner faces potential legal liability for making false statements in the document.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines by adding a specific crime to the list of Tier II sexual offenses. It directly affects sports officials, volunteers, and employees of nonprofit associations who commit sexual assault under the state's penal code. By including this act in the tier system, the legislation ensures that convictions for these offenses carry the same sentencing weight as other crimes currently classified at that level. The change becomes effective immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally recognizes October 2024 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 18, 2024, as National Mammography Day within Pennsylvania. The bill aims to raise public awareness about breast cancer and encourages residents to discuss screening options with their doctors, specifically urging women over 40 to get annual mammograms. It highlights the importance of early detection to improve survival rates but does not create new laws or allocate funding. The measure serves as a symbolic gesture to promote health information rather than implementing concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Elderly Immunization Act to include individuals at higher risk for certain diseases. It changes the name of the law to the Elderly and High Risk Immunization Act and expands eligibility for pneumococcal vaccines to people aged 65 and older while lowering the age threshold for influenza vaccines to 50 and older. The legislation also makes minor editorial adjustments to the existing text and will become effective 60 days after signing.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 2024 as "Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) Month" in Pennsylvania to highlight the state's long-standing program that helps older adults age in their own homes rather than nursing facilities. The resolution acknowledges the program's role in coordinating medical, social, and supportive services for seniors with chronic care needs through a network of community centers. It also directs copies of the document to the nine organizations currently providing LIFE services across the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates the week of September 16 through 20, 2024, as "Safe2Say Something Week" across Pennsylvania to highlight the state's Safe2Say Program. The program, managed by the Office of Attorney General and Sandy Hook Promise, provides an anonymous way for students, staff, and community members to report threatening behavior or mental health concerns. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has received over 146,000 reports, with recent data showing it is the most frequently used school safety reporting system in the nation. The resolution serves to recognize the program's success in addressing issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, and suicidal ideation without altering any existing laws or operational procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish a funding mechanism for students enrolled in career and technical education programs. It directs the state to provide additional payments to school districts, area career and technical schools, and charter schools based on the number of eligible students they serve. The law specifies how these payments are calculated using enrollment data fixed as of June before each school year begins. Although the text references historical school years, the bill was recently reintroduced to update this funding provision for current and future education budgets.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to create a digital system for tracking continuing education for state-licensed professionals. The system will allow licensing boards to verify that individuals like doctors, nurses, and contractors have completed their required training before renewing their licenses. It must connect professionals, staff, and education providers while collecting specific details such as license numbers and expiration dates. The bureau is mandated to develop a plan within 60 days and have the system fully operational within 18 months, after which all license renewals must use it. Existing rules allowing for hardship waivers or penalties for non-compliance remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act to formally define genetic testing and establish the scope of practice for genetic counselors. It authorizes genetic counselors to identify, order, and coordinate genetic tests as part of client assessments while requiring them to maintain detailed medical and counseling records. The legislation explicitly limits their role by stating they cannot diagnose, manage, or treat genetic diseases or other medical conditions. Once passed, these changes will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public, private, and parochial school buildings in Pennsylvania to be tested for radon gas starting in the 2025-2026 school year. If a building's radon levels reach four picocuries per liter or higher, the school must take steps to reduce those levels and retest until they drop below that threshold. The law also mandates that new schools be built using radon-resistant construction techniques and requires regular retesting every five years for safe buildings or every two years for those with elevated levels. Additionally, schools must report testing results and mitigation plans to parents, teachers, and various state agencies within sixty days of receiving the data.