Sen. Scott Hutchinson

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates how charter schools receive funding for special education students and clarifies which existing laws apply to them. For the 2023-2024 school year and beyond, the law sets specific multipliers based on the cost of a student's education to determine how much money charter schools get for special education needs, while also requiring schools to document these costs and return any overpayments to local school districts. Additionally, the bill explicitly lists numerous state laws that charter schools and cyber charter schools must follow, covering areas such as student rights, drug and alcohol programs, and anti-hazing rules. These changes take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow the removal of citations issued to liquor store and restaurant owners for failing to follow COVID-19 safety rules. It specifically targets violations of health orders, quarantine guidelines, and other pandemic-related directives that occurred while the state's disaster emergency proclamation was active in 2020. Under the new provision, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board must erase these penalties and notify the affected businesses within 30 days of the bill's effective date, ensuring no fines are charged for these past infractions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the expiration date for Pennsylvania's fire and emergency medical services grant programs from 2034 to 2029. It repeals specific provisions related to temporary COVID-19 recovery grants and establishes new rules for how these funds are awarded and reported annually. The legislation directly affects fire companies and emergency medical services organizations by defining the timeline for their financial support and requiring them to submit yearly reports on the use of funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Veterans Mental Health Services Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide mental health care for state veterans. The program is designed for eligible veterans who have either exhausted their federal benefits from the Veterans Administration or are currently in an acute mental health crisis. Under the new program, eligible veterans can receive up to five reimbursed therapy sessions per year from participating health care providers, with the option for additional sessions if deemed necessary and approved by the department. To qualify, veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must provide identification and a declaration form confirming their eligibility status before receiving treatment. The department is also required to publish a list of participating providers online and submit annual reports detailing the number of participants, providers, and sessions provided to state legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's eminent domain laws to require government agencies to provide property owners with at least 30 days of written notice before filing a condemnation declaration. The notice must include specific details about the proposed project, contact information for agency representatives, and an explanation of the legal process, including how just compensation is determined and how owners can challenge the taking. Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies post this notice on their websites and at their main offices within 24 hours of issuing it to the property owner. These changes directly affect property owners, mortgage holders, and lienholders by ensuring they receive advance information and guidance before their property is taken for public use.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to impose stricter rules on pharmacy benefit managers and the pharmacies that work with them. The legislation prohibits PBMs from forcing pharmacies to accept lower reimbursement rates to join their networks, banning retroactive money take-backs, and outlawing hidden fees or practices that steer patients toward specific pharmacies solely for cost savings. Additionally, it requires PBMs to respond to pharmacy network requests within 30 days, mandates quarterly reporting on drug rebates, and tasks a state department with regulating PBMs and ensuring pharmacies are reimbursed at least the cost of the drugs they dispense.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates June 2024 as "Dairy Month" to honor Pennsylvania's dairy industry, which supports over 47,000 jobs and generates billions in economic activity. The measure aims to raise awareness about the state's dairy farmers and their families, who operate more than 468,000 cows and produce roughly 10 billion pounds of milk annually. It encourages the public to recognize the value of local dairy products and promotes the purchase of dairy goods produced within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Pennsylvania calculates taxes on shares held by banks and trust companies, specifically regarding the treatment of United States government debt. It establishes that new rules for determining taxable amounts apply only to shares held after December 31, 2024, and taxes due after March 14, 2025. The legislation also ensures that these changes do not affect tax calculations or refunds for periods before those dates, preserving the previous legal standards for earlier years.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Nurse Aide Resident Abuse Prevention Training Act to update requirements for individuals working in long-term care facilities. It allows students and graduates of nursing programs that meet specific standards to qualify as nurse aides if they pass a competency exam, while also clarifying that training must be established by a facility rather than just enrolled in by an individual. The legislation sets different effective dates for various new sections, with some provisions taking effect in 30 days, others in 60 days, and the remainder in one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Pennsylvania public schools award academic credit for students who work at congregate care facilities. It lowers the required number of work hours from 350 to 250 and allows schools to use existing programs to manage these credits instead of creating new ones. The law also clarifies that schools must approve each student's application and ensure all requirements are met before granting the credit. Additionally, the bill updates terminology to refer to "school districts" rather than "public schools" in specific sections.