Sen. Amanda Cappelletti

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's funding rules for sustainable transportation projects, specifically affecting local organizations that receive state financial assistance. It establishes a new deposit requirement into the fund, mandating that 6.15% of certain tax revenues be contributed monthly to support these programs. The legislation also adjusts how funding increases are calculated over time, capping annual growth at 20% for most years while allowing for higher increases starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Additionally, it sets a minimum requirement for local matching funds, ensuring that communities contribute at least 15% of project costs, with a provision to pause these increases between 2024 and 2029.

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 Senate Resolution designates October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout Pennsylvania to highlight the prevalence and impact of domestic violence. The measure recognizes that the issue affects individuals from all backgrounds and notes specific barriers faced by marginalized groups, such as undocumented people, those with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community. While the bill does not create new laws or funding, it formally acknowledges the severity of the problem by citing statistics on victimization rates and the need for support services. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to two local domestic violence organizations, Laurel House and the Domestic Abuse Project, to promote awareness during the designated month.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Professional Nursing Law to create a new program allowing certified registered nurse practitioners to work independently in rural areas without needing a written agreement with a physician. To qualify, a nurse practitioner must hold a current license, have no recent disciplinary actions, and demonstrate at least three years of prior practice experience involving over 3,600 hours. Once approved, eligible practitioners can prescribe treatments and manage patient care solely based on their nursing expertise, provided they continue to meet biennial renewal requirements and complete specific continuing education on patient safety. The legislation also clarifies that these nurses must identify themselves clearly to patients and refer cases beyond their scope of practice, while removing legal liability for collaborating physicians when the nurse practices under this new program.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates September 22, 2024, as "World Rhino Day" within the state of Pennsylvania. The measure aims to raise public awareness about the global efforts to protect all five species of rhinos from extinction, which is primarily threatened by poaching for their horns. By recognizing this date, the Senate intends to highlight the dangers of the illegal wildlife trade and the importance of conservation work, without changing any laws or government operations.

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 amends Pennsylvania state laws to formally recognize veterans of the Korean Armed Forces. It updates the legal text to include a specific provision stating that these veterans must have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under federal benefits for allied forces. The change ensures that service records and documents from these veterans are handled with the same official status as other recognized allied service members.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act to clarify how the state secretary can delegate regulatory duties to designated employees. It establishes that pesticide regulations are a statewide matter, preventing local governments from creating conflicting rules about the sale, transport, or general use of these products. However, it allows municipalities with a population density of at least 300 people per square mile to pass ordinances restricting outdoor pesticide applications by commercial applicators on private property, while explicitly excluding agricultural, public, and aerial applications from these local restrictions. The Department of Community and Economic Development is also tasked with creating a sample ordinance to help localities implement these new powers.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's domestic relations laws to restrict financial support in cases where one spouse has been convicted of a personal injury crime against the other. Under the new rules, a victim of such a crime would generally be ineligible to receive spousal support or temporary alimony unless a court determines that denying it would cause a significant unfairness. To decide if an exception applies, judges must examine whether there is a history of harassment or existing protection orders involving the parties. Additionally, the law allows the injured party to recover any money they paid to the convicted spouse after the offense but before the conviction was finalized. These changes apply to legal cases that begin after the bill becomes effective 60 days later.