Sen. Cris Dush

Maddy summarySB 155 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to check death certificates monthly against recipients of medical assistance and SNAP benefits. This administrative change directly affects individuals receiving these programs by ensuring payments stop promptly upon a recipient's death. The bill adds a specific monthly verification process to the Human Services Code, aiming to prevent overpayments without altering benefit eligibility or amounts. It does not change program rules or funding but standardizes how recipient eligibility is verified.

Maddy summarySB 156 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to verify recipients' income and employment records quarterly against data held by the Department of Labor and Industry. This applies directly to individuals receiving medical assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill adds this uniform verification process to the Human Services Code to standardize how eligibility is confirmed.

Maddy summarySB 183 requires food establishments that bottle water for human consumption to comply with federal food safety standards (21 CFR) instead of Pennsylvania’s state rules. It prohibits additional state labeling requirements beyond federal mandates and ensures bottled water products follow only federal recall procedures. The bill shifts enforcement authority for bottled water safety exclusively to federal agencies, overriding conflicting state regulations. This directly affects local water bottlers and beverage producers operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 177 amends Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law by updating the definition of "public body" to explicitly include state courts (like the Supreme Court), the General Assembly, and judicial agencies. This clarifies which government entities are covered under the law, ensuring employees reporting violations can seek protection when working with these specific bodies. The change directly affects state and local government employees who report suspected legal violations, making the scope of protected entities more precise. It is a procedural update to definitions, not a new protection or penalty.

Maddy summarySB 159 amends Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board Act to clarify definitions and limit the scope of board reviews for environmental permit appeals. It defines key terms like "record of decision" (the complete set of documents the department used when approving or denying a permit) and adds a rule that appeals to the Environmental Hearing Board must be limited to that record alone. This means applicants cannot present new evidence during appeals, and must prove the department made a mistake in its decision using only the existing record. The bill directly affects permit applicants, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Environmental Hearing Board by streamlining appeal procedures.

Maddy summarySB 174 requires oil and gas companies planning projects causing five or more acres of earth disturbance to obtain erosion and sediment control permits from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection or a conservation district before starting work. The bill sets strict timelines: standard permit reviews must be completed within 43 business days (or 14 days for applications signed by licensed professionals), with detailed reporting on application status required quarterly. It imposes a $500 administrative fee plus $100 per disturbed acre and mandates annual evaluations of the permitting process. The law excludes certain sensitive projects, like those in high-quality watersheds or floodplains, from the expedited review option. This directly affects large-scale oil and gas development operations across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 84 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career centers) to conduct detailed facility condition assessments every seven years, starting in 2026. These assessments must cover building structural components, mechanical systems, safety features (like secure vestibules and escape routes), environmental hazards (asbestos, lead), and projected maintenance costs for seven years and facility improvements for five years. Schools that complete the assessments receive a 2% funding boost for grants, while those that fail to comply lose eligibility for certain state funding under the Fiscal Code and school construction programs. The bill defines key terms like "maintenance costs" and "total project costs" to standardize reporting requirements for facility management.

Maddy summarySB 103 updates Pennsylvania's domestic violence protection order process to better involve noncustodial parents in custody decisions. It adds a definition clarifying "noncustodial parent" as a biological parent not living with or sharing custody of a minor child. Key provisions require courts to consider risks to children when awarding temporary custody or visitation, and allow courts to award custody to noncustodial parents if abuse is proven. The bill also mandates law enforcement to maintain a statewide registry of protection orders and ensures noncustodial parents receive notices about hearings, orders, and offender releases. These changes directly affect abuse victims, noncustodial parents, and courts handling domestic violence cases.

Maddy summarySB 94 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to clarify how income is defined for senior citizens' property tax and rent rebate eligibility. It specifically allows seniors who were eligible for the rebate as of December 31, 2012, to retain their eligibility if their household income exceeds the limit solely due to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, but this exception expires on December 31, 2016. The bill updates the definition of "income" to include specific rules for counting Social Security benefits, excluding Medicare, and applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026. This directly affects low-income seniors in Pennsylvania who rely on these rebates.

Maddy summarySB 79 extends the time limit for prosecutors to file criminal charges for certain serious offenses in Pennsylvania from the standard timeframe to five years after the crime occurs. It directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases involving specific major crimes, such as attempted murder, drug delivery resulting in death, aggravated assault, robbery, insurance fraud, and other listed offenses. The bill amends Pennsylvania's statute of limitations by adding these offenses to the "major offenses" category requiring prosecution within five years. This change applies to all offenses listed in the bill, including violent crimes, property crimes, and financial fraud, and takes effect 60 days after enactment.