Sen. Lynda Culver

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 designates a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 72 in Swatara Township as the Senator David J. Arnold, Jr., Memorial Bridge to honor his service. The legislation officially names the structure after the late state senator, who previously served as Lebanon County's district attorney and later as a state senator. To implement this change, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for drivers traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to update rules for the rural jobs and investment tax credit program. It establishes two categories of investment authority based on when they were issued and sets specific spending limits of $50 million for each category. The legislation also defines what counts as a rural growth investment, clarifies how businesses can claim tax credits over several years, and adds stricter limits on how much a single rural business can receive to prevent concentration of funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes minor adjustments to Pennsylvania's vehicle laws, specifically targeting rules regarding racing on highways and the handling of impounded vehicles. It seeks to remove the word "intentional" from a specific provision, clarify language about controlled or uncontrolled substances, and change the authority responsible for certain vehicle matters from municipalities to counties. These changes aim to refine how traffic enforcement and penalties are applied without altering the fundamental structure of the state's vehicle code.

Maddy summarySB 1267 updates the fees charged to constables and deputy constables in Pennsylvania for various legal services. The bill directly affects these law enforcement officers, the courts that employ them, and the individuals or entities required to pay for their services. It increases the cost for specific actions, such as serving legal documents, transporting defendants, and providing courtroom security, while also adjusting compensation for holding defendants and fingerprinting. Additionally, the legislation clarifies how surcharges are applied in criminal and civil cases and establishes rules for reimbursing travel expenses based on IRS rates.

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 Senate Resolution directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to study how post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury affect service members, veterans, and their families within the criminal justice system. The study specifically examines individuals involved in Veterans Treatment Courts and expands the scope to include those enrolled in these programs for up to 15 years. By mandating this comprehensive review, the bill aims to gather data on the unique challenges faced by this population rather than changing laws or sentencing guidelines.

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 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.