Sen. Cris Dush

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates the legal definition of an abandoned vehicle and establishes a new reporting process for private property owners. It clarifies that vehicles left on private property without consent for more than 24 hours are considered abandoned, while also setting specific timeframes for vehicles on salvage yards and wholesale auctions. Under the new rules, property owners and authorized dealers must file a report with local police before removing or processing these vehicles to legally clear titles and sell them. The legislation also outlines how wholesale auctions can handle unclaimed vehicles, including limits on storage fees and procedures for issuing branded titles to indicate the vehicle's history.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to require the Department of Labor and Industry to create a State Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council. The council must produce an annual report by March 1st that evaluates the financial health of the unemployment fund and offers recommendations to improve its solvency. The report will include detailed statistics on unemployment rates, job losses, and various categories of workers, such as those discouraged from seeking employment or working part-time due to economic reasons. These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly and made available on the department's public website. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Uniform Commercial Code to modernize commercial laws for emerging technologies, primarily affecting businesses, banks, and individuals involved in electronic transactions. It introduces new rules for handling digital assets like electronic documents of title, digital payment records, and electronic chattel paper, while also clarifying how security interests are created and prioritized in these digital contexts. The legislation expands definitions for contracts and sales to include digital formats and establishes specific procedures for controlling and perfecting rights over electronic records. Additionally, the bill makes editorial changes to powers of attorney and includes a transition period to help entities adjust to these new legal standards.

Maddy summaryThis law updates regulations for cemetery companies in Pennsylvania by clarifying which organizations are exempt from certain financial and registration requirements. Specifically, it allows churches, religious groups, fraternal organizations, and municipalities to avoid making initial deposits and skipping state registration steps that other commercial cemetery companies must follow. The bill also requires all other cemetery operators to file an affidavit confirming they are complying with state rules. These changes take effect 60 days after the law is signed into action.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Breach of Personal Information Notification Act to clarify how different types of organizations must handle data security incidents. It specifically adds an exemption for entities already regulated under the state's insurance data security laws, meaning they do not need to follow the notification rules in this updated act. The change ensures that insurance companies are not required to provide duplicate breach notifications under this specific legislation. This update streamlines compliance requirements by avoiding overlapping rules for the insurance sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public School Code to update how schools handle incidents involving weapons and to clarify definitions of school entities and property. It requires school districts to notify parents and guardians of students and employees located on any building sharing a campus with the incident site, unless local policies dictate otherwise. The legislation also mandates that schools inform specific employees assigned to the student involved in an incident, provided such notification complies with federal privacy laws. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of school property to include public grounds, school-sponsored activities, and transportation vehicles used for school purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Cosmetology Law to create a new "limited license" specifically for natural hair braiders, allowing them to operate legally without a full cosmetology license. It defines natural hair braiding as techniques that create tension on hair roots, such as twisting or weaving, while explicitly excluding the use of dyes or chemical treatments. Under the new rules, individuals can obtain this specialized license by completing three hundred hours of training or by proving three years of prior practice, and they are permitted to work in licensed salons. The legislation also clarifies that practicing cosmetology without a license remains illegal and establishes specific sanitary and educational requirements for schools and teachers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's military statutes to update the legal description of Fort Indiantown Gap and creates a new fund to support service members, veterans, and their families. The primary mechanism involves revising a specific section of the Department of Military Affairs code to reflect current information about the base. Additionally, the legislation establishes a dedicated financial resource intended to provide assistance to military personnel and their dependents. The bill focuses on administrative updates and the creation of a support fund without detailing specific funding amounts or eligibility criteria in the provided text.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stand with Israel Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state retirement funds and the State Treasurer from boycotting or divesting from Israel. It also bars state funding for any higher education institution that engages in such boycotts or divestment actions. The law defines these actions as financial penalties against the Israeli government or its commercial activities and applies to direct and indirect investments, while exempting certain individual employee savings plans. Compliance with the law must still follow existing fiduciary duties and prudent investing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parental consent before schools can offer specific types of virtual mental health services to students. It defines these services as online peer support groups, counseling from non-licensed individuals, and behavioral health support provided by artificial intelligence. The law also clarifies that it does not protect unlicensed individuals from legal penalties if they provide services outside of their professional scope. While the bill establishes these consent rules, it does not change the list of licensed professionals who can currently provide mental health care.