Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summarySB 562 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change how benefits are calculated for workers at educational institutions between academic terms. It removes the requirement that individuals must have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work at the same institution during the next academic year to qualify for benefits. This directly affects teachers, staff, and other employees at schools or colleges who work between academic terms. The change applies to services performed on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring benefits are payable regardless of return assurances, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 73) designates the week of April 14-20, 2025, as "National Osteopathic Medicine Week" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the contributions of doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), who provide patient-centered care focusing on the whole person, and highlights Pennsylvania's role as a national leader in osteopathic medicine (with 10,078 DOs and three osteopathic medical colleges). The resolution encourages Pennsylvanians to support public awareness of osteopathic medicine but does not create new laws, funding, or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 548, the Fair Workweek Employment Standards Act, requires large retail, hospitality, and food services employers (those with 250+ employees across 20+ locations) to provide written advance notice of work schedules to employees. It mandates that employers give a good-faith estimate of weekly hours at hire, revise estimates for significant schedule changes, and notify employees of schedule changes at least seven days in advance. Employees gain the right to request schedule adjustments, though employers may deny requests for lawful reasons. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor and Industry to enforce these standards and impose penalties for violations.

Maddy summarySB 549 (Pennsylvania) limits public access to eviction court records to protect tenants. It creates "limited access eviction files" that cannot be shared online or with most individuals, except under specific conditions like when a case is less than seven years old with a final judgment for the landlord, or for parties directly involved in the case. Tenant screening services and consumer reporting agencies are barred from using these records in reports or considering them for rental decisions. The law automatically restricts access after seven years, when a judgment is satisfied (e.g., tenant pays rent or moves out), or if a court vacates a judgment. This directly affects tenants (by preventing old eviction history from impacting housing), landlords (requiring them to notify courts of satisfied judgments), and tenant screening companies (prohibiting use of these records).

Maddy summarySB 537 would require Pennsylvania's Medicaid program to reimburse providers for custom orthotics (like braces) and prosthetics (like artificial limbs) at rates no lower than the current Medicare fee schedule. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients needing these medical devices and the healthcare providers who supply them. The bill mandates that the state update its reimbursement rates quarterly to match Medicare's current rates for all applicable codes. This policy aligns Pennsylvania's Medicaid payments more closely with federal Medicare standards for these specific medical equipment items.

Maddy summarySB 347 prohibits clinics or establishments from knowingly providing space for individuals to use controlled substances illegally under Pennsylvania law. It creates criminal penalties, including up to 20 years in prison or $500,000 in fines (up to $2 million for non-individuals), and civil penalties of up to $250,000 for violations. The law grants district attorneys and the Attorney General authority to investigate and prosecute these violations, with strict limits on challenging the Attorney General's role. It specifically exempts medical marijuana use under Pennsylvania’s existing Medical Marijuana Act (2016) and lawful prescription practices. The bill amends Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance Act to clarify these prohibitions and penalties.

Maddy summarySB 96 amends Pennsylvania's assault laws to clarify and strengthen penalties for "terroristic threats," specifically targeting threats that cause fear or disrupt public spaces. It directly affects schools, universities, and public facilities by requiring convicted offenders to pay restitution covering actual emergency response costs, including fire/police services, unused food, and staff wages during evacuations. The law specifies that threats causing school/university disruptions or targeting educational institutions carry felony penalties, while other threats are misdemeanors. This policy change shifts focus from solely punishing the threat to compensating communities for real costs incurred during responses.

Maddy summarySB 113 establishes new rules for investigating misconduct by Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (e.g., prison staff, forensic facility workers). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their right to legal counsel, prohibits using polygraph tests or threatening job loss to compel statements, and mandates paid suspensions during investigations unless criminal charges are filed. The bill ensures union contracts cannot weaken these protections and prohibits retaliation against employees exercising these rights. It also clarifies that investigations must follow specific procedures to protect employee rights during disciplinary processes.

Maddy summarySB 538 requires the Joint State Government Commission to study driver income, traffic congestion, safety, and service access for ride-hailing companies (like Uber or Lyft) in Pennsylvania. The study will collect detailed data from companies on ride specifics, driver availability, and earnings, with a report due within 12 months. Based on this report, the Public Utility Commission may later establish minimum payments for drivers and minimum fare rates for rides, excluding taxes and fees. This bill directly affects ride-hailing companies, drivers, and passengers by potentially setting new compensation and pricing standards.

Maddy summarySB 532 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to establish clear rules for private parking lots. It allows lot owners to set their own parking fees and violation charges, requires visible signage stating the lot is private and listing all fees, and mandates that unpaid charges must be invoiced within 10 business days (via mail or visible placement on the vehicle). The bill also permits lot owners to access limited vehicle registration information (name and address) from the state to send these invoices, under strict conditions to prevent misuse of personal data. This creates standardized billing practices while protecting personal information through defined safeguards.