Sen. Michele Brooks

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 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 allows parents of six-year-old children newly entering school in Pennsylvania to request a one-year waiver from compulsory attendance if the child has a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder and is receiving intensive early intervention services. To qualify, parents must provide medical documentation of the diagnosis and proof that the child will continue to receive these specialized services for the duration of the waiver. If approved, the Department of Education notifies the local school district, and the child remains eligible for early intervention services while exempt from regular school attendance. The law also ensures that parents can re-enroll their child in kindergarten or first grade at any point during the waiver year and clarifies that no compensatory education is owed for time spent outside the school system.

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 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 summarySB 1244 modifies Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to require employees to pay a portion of unemployment insurance contributions for the first time. Under this change, five percent of wages earned between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2028, must be deposited into the Reemployment Fund if paid by December 31, 2028. This bill directly affects employers and employees by shifting some financial responsibility for unemployment benefits from solely employers to a shared arrangement. The legislation is designed to fund reemployment programs while maintaining the existing structure for employer contributions and other state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a State Advisory Board to guide the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The board will include members representing various groups, such as pediatric physicians and breastfeeding experts, to ensure diverse perspectives in their work. Its primary purpose is to increase awareness of breastfeeding services and improve access to WIC-authorized stores for program participants. By adding specific roles focused on nutrition and lactation support, the legislation aims to strengthen the program's ability to assist eligible families.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates June 2024 as "Dairy Month" to honor Pennsylvania's dairy industry, which supports over 47,000 jobs and generates billions in economic activity. The measure aims to raise awareness about the state's dairy farmers and their families, who operate more than 468,000 cows and produce roughly 10 billion pounds of milk annually. It encourages the public to recognize the value of local dairy products and promotes the purchase of dairy goods produced within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for disabled veterans seeking a real estate tax exemption in Pennsylvania. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that applicants earning $75,000 or less annually need the tax break, while explicitly excluding federal disability benefits from their income calculation. Additionally, the law requires the state commission to automatically adjust this income threshold every two years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to clarify when workers are eligible for benefits and to define specific situations where they are not. It establishes a one-week waiting period for most claims but excludes workers whose unemployment is caused by a labor dispute, except in cases of lockouts. The legislation also updates the rules for voluntary job separation, ensuring that employees are not penalized for leaving work due to union membership requirements, military family relocations, or certain training programs. Additionally, it refines the criteria for determining if a worker left their job without a valid reason while maintaining protections against unfair dismissal conditions.