Sen. Judy Ward

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and achievements of the late Henry George Hager III, a former Pennsylvania state senator and Senate leader. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and friends following his passing. The document outlines his career highlights, including his service as a district attorney, his tenure as Senate President pro tempore, and his leadership roles at the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires vehicle owners in Pennsylvania to certify that they have the necessary financial responsibility to register or renew their vehicles, with the Department of Transportation refusing registration if this certification is missing or false. It establishes an online verification system where insurers must share policy data to allow the Department and law enforcement to instantly confirm coverage status without relying solely on physical cards. While owners can still present traditional proof, the law mandates that insurers notify the Department within ten days if a policy is canceled, and it creates a defense against penalties if a driver can prove they had valid insurance within five days of a violation. Additionally, the bill sets specific technical and security standards for the new digital system, requiring it to be accessible by authorized entities and capable of interfacing with existing state databases.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Vital Statistics Law to allow licensed practical nurses working in hospice care to officially pronounce death under specific conditions. To qualify, the patient must be under hospice care with a valid Do Not Resuscitate order, and the nurse must complete required training on assessing vital signs and postmortem care. The law clarifies that while nurses can declare death based on the cessation of breathing and heartbeat, they cannot determine the cause of death, which remains the responsibility of physicians or coroners. Additionally, the bill expands fee waivers for certified copies of death records to include a broader range of military personnel, veterans, and their dependents.

Maddy summaryThis law allows first-class townships to use up to one mill of their property tax revenue to pay salaries and benefits for fire suppression employees. The township board of commissioners can choose to set aside half of this tax revenue for these purposes, though they have the option to waive this limit if needed. This change directly affects the financial management of fire services in these specific municipalities by providing a dedicated funding source.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows second-class townships to levy a special annual tax of up to three mills to fund fire protection services. The revenue can be used to buy and maintain fire equipment, build facilities for housing it, support local and outside fire companies, and train personnel. Townships may use up to one mill of this tax to pay salaries and benefits for their own fire suppression employees, though they can choose to waive this limit. If a township wants to collect more than three mills in taxes for these purposes, the plan must be approved by a vote of the township's residents.

Maddy summaryThis law allows Pennsylvania boroughs to collect a special tax of up to three mills to fund fire protection services, including purchasing equipment, building firehouses, and hiring firefighters. The bill permits boroughs to use up to one mill of these funds for paying firefighter salaries and benefits, though the local council can choose to waive this limit. If a borough wants to set the tax rate higher than three mills, it must first ask the voters to approve the increase through an election.

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 Pennsylvania bill modifies the state's tax code to improve how corporations and other entities can resolve tax disputes with the Department of Revenue. It establishes a formal settlement conference process where neutral officers, who must be experienced attorneys or accountants, facilitate negotiations between taxpayers and the state to reach voluntary agreements. The legislation also allows the tax board to extend deadlines for filing appeals under certain conditions and mandates that these settlement discussions remain private and confidential. By creating specific procedures for compromise settlements and requiring timely reporting to the General Assembly, the bill aims to streamline the administrative review of tax issues.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill officially establishes Vietnam War Veterans Day as a state observance to be held annually on March 29. The legislation directs the Governor to issue a yearly proclamation encouraging public schools and educational institutions to hold events that honor the service and sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, while explicitly stating that participation in these events cannot be mandatory. By adding this designation to the state statutes, the bill ensures that the contributions of those who served during the Vietnam Conflict are formally recognized within Pennsylvania, aligning the state with the existing federal observance.

Maddy summarySB 1237 amends the Underground Utility Line Protection Law to update specific dates and strengthen enforcement measures for protecting underground infrastructure. The bill sets a new expiration date of April 30, 2018, for a particular clause and requires project owners to issue compliance orders immediately rather than waiting 60 days. These changes apply to facility owners, designers, excavators, and project owners who must adhere to the updated damage prevention rules. By tightening the timeline for compliance orders, the legislation aims to ensure faster responses to potential threats against underground utility lines.