Sen. Frank Farry

Maddy summarySB 343 expands protections for public transportation workers by adding them to the list of protected individuals under Pennsylvania's aggravated assault law. The bill amends Section 2702 of the Crimes and Offenses statute to specifically include "an employee of an agency, company or other entity engaged in public transportation" as a person shielded from assault while performing job duties. Assaults against these workers during employment now qualify as a first-degree felony under the revised statute, raising the penalty level. This change directly affects public transit employees (like bus drivers or train staff) and ensures their safety is prioritized through stricter criminal penalties.

Maddy summarySB 342 creates the Pennsylvania Family and Medical Leave Act, providing eligible employees with up to six weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sibling, grandparent, or grandchild with a certified terminal illness. This applies only when the family member has no living spouse, children over 17, or parents under 65. The law builds on federal family leave protections but adds specific eligibility conditions for these family relationships. Employers must post a summary of the law, and employees can file complaints with the Department of Labor if denied leave under these provisions.

Maddy summarySB 358 creates Pennsylvania's Green Alert System, a new program to help locate missing veterans at risk due to service-connected health issues. The system requires the Pennsylvania State Police, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to activate alerts when law enforcement confirms a missing veteran has physical or mental health conditions (like PTSD, TBI, or substance use disorders) related to military service. It expands existing immunity protections to cover people assisting during Green Alert notifications, similar to current Amber Alert and MEPAS rules. This directly affects veterans with military-related health risks, law enforcement agencies requesting alerts, and the public receiving notifications.

Maddy summarySB 318 requires most health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover postacute neurorehabilitation services for individuals with acquired brain injuries. This includes specific therapies like cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral treatment, community reintegration, and day rehabilitation programs, as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. Insurers cannot impose arbitrary limits on the number of covered days or apply stricter deductibles/copays for these services than for other covered benefits. The law applies to group/individual health plans but excludes accident-only, dental, vision, Medicare supplements, and certain other limited policies.

Maddy summarySB 257 requires hotels, motels, inns, and similar lodging establishments that use fossil-fuel heaters, fireplaces, or have attached garages to install and maintain operational carbon monoxide alarms near those hazards in all affected units. Owners must ensure alarms are centrally located, approved per existing standards, and properly maintained, including battery replacement. Failure to comply is a summary offense punishable by a fine of up to $50. The law applies immediately to all qualifying lodging establishments, excluding college dorms but covering most short-term rental properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to install approved carbon monoxide alarms in student dormitories that use fossil fuel heaters (like gas or wood) or have attached garages. Specifically, alarms must be placed near heating sources and in every housing unit on the same floor, meeting national safety standards (ANSI/UL2034 or similar). Dormitory operators must maintain these alarms and replace batteries, with willful failure to comply punishable by a $50 fine. The law applies to all institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania, including public universities, community colleges, and private schools.

Maddy summarySB 259 requires all public and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania that use fossil fuel-based heating (like gas or oil) or have attached garages to install and maintain safety-approved carbon monoxide alarms in every classroom on the same level as those heat sources. Schools must meet specific safety standards for the alarms, such as being certified to ANSI/UL standards or clearly distinguishing CO alerts from smoke alarms. The bill mandates installation within 18 months of the law’s effective date and requires schools to cover maintenance, battery replacements, or repairs. Failure to comply results in a $50 fine for willful non-compliance.

Maddy summarySB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish rules for calculating health insurance cost-sharing. It requires insurers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to include all out-of-pocket payments made by insured individuals (or others on their behalf) when determining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles or copays. The law applies to health insurance policies issued, renewed, or entered into after its effective date, but excludes dental, vision, workers' compensation, and similar coverage types. This change directly affects health insurers, PBMs, and policyholders by standardizing how cost-sharing is calculated under health plans.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.

Maddy summarySB 210 creates a new offense for interfering with public transit operators (like bus drivers or conductors) while they are performing their duties. It prohibits actions that cause serious injury or death to operators (felony first degree), lesser injury (felony third degree), or create fear of harm. The law applies to any public transit vehicle, including buses, trains, and streetcars, and covers both direct harm to operators and harm to passengers caused by the interference. Penalties range from serious felony charges for severe cases to lesser felonies for less severe violations.