Sen. Chris Gebhard

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania law to allow police officers at Fort Indiantown Gap to keep their certification without retaking the full exam. Under the new rules, these officers can maintain their status if they finish required training and either already hold an active certificate or previously held one that expired within the last two years while working at the base. The legislation applies specifically to installation police officers at this military facility and does not affect other law enforcement agencies. It will become effective 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and legacy of former Pennsylvania state legislator Noah W. Wenger, who passed away in February 2024. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences and acknowledges his long career in public service, including his instrumental role in creating the state's farmland preservation law. The bill also directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to Wenger's family as a tribute to his contributions to his community and the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows private vendors to sell custom-designed vehicle license plates in Pennsylvania through online or in-person auctions. The law requires these vendors to offer specific premium designs, such as those with black, gold, or carbon fiber backgrounds, while keeping the plates the property of the state department. Any money earned from these sales that exceeds the cost of running the auctions must be used to recruit, train, or equip Pennsylvania State Police Cadets. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these custom plates can only be resold at auction if the original owner passes away.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Pennsylvania's Department of General Services to create a plan for selling three specific state-owned properties in White Haven, Hamburg, and Polk. The required plan must outline a three-year timeline for transferring ownership, detail past sales discussions, and estimate future costs for maintenance, demolition, and necessary repairs. The department is mandated to submit this comprehensive report to the Senate and House State Government Committees within six months of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's hunting laws to create a new permit for regulated hunting grounds, allowing landowners to manage wildlife on their property. Under the new rules, permit holders can remove birds killed on their land without traditional tagging, provided they attach a label with their contact information and details about the birds. The label must stay on the package or container until the birds are either returned to the landowner's address or prepared for eating. This change directly affects individuals who hold these specific permits and alters how they must document harvested game.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill cancels existing rules that governed the state's CO2 Budget Trading Program, a system designed to manage carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade mechanism. By repealing the specific regulations found in the state's administrative code, the legislation effectively ends the current framework for trading carbon allowances and managing emission limits. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, removing the legal basis for the program's operations without altering the underlying concept of the trading system itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to help eligible students attend participating nonpublic schools. To qualify, a student must be a Pennsylvania resident living in a household with income below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines and reside within the attendance boundary of a school designated as low-achieving. The program creates scholarship accounts that parents can use to pay for tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at approved private schools. Additionally, the bill requires school districts with low-achieving schools to notify parents about the program and provide lists of designated schools.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates September 2024 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to highlight the impact of pediatric cancer on the state's youth and families. The bill does not create new laws or change funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise public awareness about the disease and the state's existing support systems. It acknowledges Pennsylvania's role as a leader in pediatric care by recognizing its seven Children's Oncology Group hospitals and the millions of dollars already allocated to research. The resolution encourages residents to join the fight against the disease and honors the patients, families, and medical professionals involved in the cause.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires corrections officers to staff overwatch towers at Pennsylvania prisons whenever inmates are moving outdoors. The law defines an overwatch tower as a tall structure used for supervising inmates and mandates that these towers be manned during such movements, unless the tower is located in an area where supervision is impossible. The changes apply to all correctional institutions in the state and will take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires emergency dispatch centers in Pennsylvania to maintain updated lists of veterinary clinics, hospital emergency departments, and similar facilities capable of treating injured police animals. The primary goal is to ensure that when a law enforcement animal is hurt, dispatchers have the necessary contact information to arrange for its timely transport and medical care. By mandating these records be kept accurate, the legislation aims to streamline the response process for injured service animals without changing existing laws about their care or compensation.