Sen. Patty Kim

Maddy summarySB 627 requires law enforcement agencies, jails, and other entities responsible for individuals in custody to report deaths monthly to Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency. It also mandates that death certificates include a notation indicating if the death occurred in custody. Failure to report incurs a $1,000 daily penalty, and the Commission must submit annual compliance reports to the legislature. The bill establishes a Deaths in Custody Review Panel to analyze deaths and recommend prevention strategies.

Maddy summarySB 579 adds music therapy as a licensed profession under Pennsylvania's existing Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act. It requires individuals practicing music therapy to obtain a license to use the title "licensed professional music therapist" and defines the scope of practice, including clinical music interventions like improvisation and songwriting for therapeutic goals. The bill directly affects music therapists seeking to legally represent their credentials in Pennsylvania, while excluding students, supervised practitioners, and those not claiming to be licensed therapists. Key provisions clarify what constitutes "practice of music therapy" and establish the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Music Therapists to oversee licensing. This bill does not change employment requirements for government or nonprofit agencies.

Maddy summarySB 565 adds two new supplemental retirement annuities for eligible Pennsylvania state employees. Starting July 2025, retirees who retired before July 2, 2001 (and meet specific service criteria) receive a one-time percentage-based supplement (4.5% to 14% of their July 2025 payment, depending on retirement date). Starting July 2026, eligible retirees receive an annual inflation-adjusted supplement tied to the CPI-U index (capped between 1% and 7% of their monthly payment). The Commonwealth funds both supplements over 10 years, with school districts not liable for the costs. This directly affects current retirees, not new hires or active employees.

Maddy summarySB 512 repeals specific valuation rules for water and wastewater utility acquisitions in Pennsylvania. It removes a detailed process requiring both buyer and seller to hire separate appraisers, use three valuation methods, and submit appraisals to the Public Utility Commission for approval. This change directly affects water/wastewater utilities involved in voluntary sales to public utilities or entities, as it eliminates the prior requirement for formal valuation procedures during transactions. The bill does not create new rules but removes existing regulatory steps for determining asset value in these acquisitions.

Maddy summarySB 548, the Fair Workweek Employment Standards Act, requires large retail, hospitality, and food services employers (those with 250+ employees across 20+ locations) to provide written advance notice of work schedules to employees. It mandates that employers give a good-faith estimate of weekly hours at hire, revise estimates for significant schedule changes, and notify employees of schedule changes at least seven days in advance. Employees gain the right to request schedule adjustments, though employers may deny requests for lawful reasons. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor and Industry to enforce these standards and impose penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically designates April 2025 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It recognizes the national observance and highlights statistics on sexual violence (e.g., 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the U.S. experience rape, 81% of women report sexual harassment). The resolution aims to raise community awareness and support for survivors, aligning with the theme "Together We Act, United We Change." As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges the issue for the state.

Maddy summarySB 131 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace Pennsylvania’s current Legislative Reapportionment Commission with an 11-member Independent Redistricting Commission. The new commission would be composed of four members from the largest political party, four from the second-largest, and three unaffiliated voters, all required to have voted in recent statewide elections and meet strict eligibility rules (e.g., no current officeholders, lobbyists, or campaign staff). This change directly affects how the state redraws congressional and legislative district boundaries after each federal census, aiming to reduce partisan influence in the process. The bill also specifies redistricting criteria but does not detail specific geographic or population standards. As a proposed constitutional amendment, it remains in committee and has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 52), not a law. It designates April 14-18, 2025, as "Local Government Week" and April 16, 2025, as "Local Government Day" in Pennsylvania. The resolution recognizes the role of Pennsylvania's local governments - including counties, cities, townships, boroughs, school districts, and authorities - in providing essential services like roads, public safety, education, and utilities to over 12 million residents. It has no binding effect or policy changes; it solely serves to honor local officials and staff.

Maddy summarySR 31 is a ceremonial resolution designating January 22-26, 2025, as "Gun Violence Survivors Week" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes individuals impacted by gun violence - including those wounded, threatened, or witnessing such incidents - and acknowledges the trauma and unmet needs they face, such as mental health support and financial assistance. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but expresses state support for survivors and highlights the work of organizations like the EMIR Healing Center and Moms Demand Action. It is purely symbolic, aiming to raise awareness and show empathy for survivors across the Commonwealth.

Maddy summarySB 328 authorizes Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services, with Governor approval, to sell approximately 2.857 acres of land and buildings in Harrisburg to the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority (SRTA) for fair market value, as determined by appraisal. The property, located in Harrisburg’s City Center district, must be conveyed via special warranty deed, with proceeds deposited into the state General Fund. A key restriction prohibits the SRTA from using the land for licensed facilities (e.g., nursing homes) under Pennsylvania law, or ownership reverts to the state. This is a straightforward property transfer bill with no new policy mandates.