Sen. Carolyn Comitta

Maddy summarySB 86 would allow undocumented students who attended a Pennsylvania high school (public, nonpublic, charter, or cyber charter) for at least two years and graduated to pay in-state tuition at Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities, instead of higher out-of-state rates. It requires institutions to report these admissions to the state and ensures eligible students qualify for state financial aid through PHEAA without needing to provide Social Security numbers. The bill creates an alternative application process for financial aid that excludes Social Security number requirements for these students.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of January 19-26, 2025, as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Week" in Pennsylvania. It urges all Pennsylvanians to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence, equality, and civil rights during this week and throughout the year. The bill does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes and commemorates Dr. King’s impact through a state-level observance.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates November 14, 2024, as "World Diabetes Day" throughout Pennsylvania. The bill includes a statement encouraging residents to increase awareness of diabetes and the need for related education and services. It does not change any laws, allocate funding, or alter government programs, as its sole function is to recognize an international health observance.

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 city classification system by establishing four new classes based on population size, ranging from first class cities with over one million residents to third class cities with fewer than 250,000. It replaces the old 1895 law and requires that a city's classification only change after two consecutive federal censuses show a sustained population shift, preventing changes due to temporary fluctuations. For cities with home rule or optional charters, any change in classification requires a vote by the city's electors to amend their charter. The new rules take effect on January 1 following the next municipal election that occurs at least 180 days after the Governor certifies the change.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Architects Licensure Law to formally include interior design services under the state's regulatory framework. It establishes an Architects Licensure Board with specific representation for architects, public members, and certified interior designers to oversee licensing, examinations, and disciplinary actions. The legislation defines what constitutes the practice of architecture versus interior design services and sets requirements for individual licensure, firm registration, and continuing education. Additionally, it creates a certification path for interior designers and outlines procedures for handling complaints and penalties related to unauthorized practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws regarding driver's license suspensions and fines to offer more options for people who cannot pay court costs. It allows magisterial district judges to place drivers with suspended licenses into alternative programs that help them regain their driving privileges without waiving the original conviction or reducing fines. Additionally, the law now requires courts to hold a hearing before suspending a license solely because a person cannot pay fines, costs, or restitution, ensuring that inability to pay does not automatically result in a suspension. The legislation also extends the maximum suspension period for driving while a license is suspended from one year to 26 months and clarifies that victim compensation costs cannot be waived under these new provisions.

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 bill expands workers' compensation coverage to include post-traumatic stress injuries for emergency medical services personnel responding to specific traumatic events. It defines a qualifying traumatic event as incidents involving serious injury or death, threats to life, mass casualties, or crime scene investigations, and extends the time limit for filing claims to one year after the injury occurs. The legislation also sets a maximum benefit period of 104 weeks for these stress-related injuries and allows treatment by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. By updating the state's Workers' Compensation Act, the law ensures that EMS workers who suffer from psychological trauma related to their duties can receive financial and medical support.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes state regulations that previously limited how often local governments could restrict rodeos and similar events. Specifically, it repeals a section of the Fiscal Code that allowed municipalities to exempt ticketed rodeos from certain ordinances for up to 12 days per year. The change directly affects local governments and rodeo organizers by eliminating the legal framework that granted these specific exemptions. Once enacted, the bill takes effect immediately, leaving the regulation of such events to other applicable local laws.