Sen. John Kane

Maddy summarySB 312 requires electricity customers who don’t sign a new contract with their current supplier before their existing agreement ends to automatically switch back to their local utility company (the default service provider) and pay the default rate. This directly affects residential and business electricity customers who fail to proactively choose a new supplier. The bill mandates that utility companies implement this automatic transition within 60 days of the law taking effect, as directed by the state utility commission. It clarifies the process for customers whose contracts expire without renewal, without changing electricity rates or creating new programs.

Maddy summarySB 355 prohibits using computer programs to buy tickets for resale or circumvent online ticket sales limits, targeting scalpers who use bots. It directly affects ticket resellers using automated tools and protects venues, artists, and ticket platforms (defined as "operators" or "rights holders") from financial harm. The law allows these affected parties to sue violators for $500 per ticket sold illegally, plus legal fees. Key provisions ban automated ticket purchasing, bypassing sales restrictions, and disabling security systems on ticket sites. The bill amends Pennsylvania's consumer protection law to address deceptive ticket resale practices.

Maddy summarySB 341 strengthens Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law by expanding the definition of "employer" to include the Commonwealth, local governments, and public authorities, ensuring all public and private employers are covered. It requires the Department of Labor to collect and report quarterly data on wage violations, unpaid wages, and investigations to lawmakers and the public, and mandates quarterly reviews of "high violation industries" (those with 25+ violations in two years). The bill increases penalties for wage theft to $2,000 per violation or triple unpaid wages, whichever is greater, and adds stronger protections against employer retaliation for workers who file complaints or cooperate with investigations. These changes directly affect all employers in Pennsylvania and workers owed unpaid wages.

Maddy summarySB 321, the Mandatory Severance for Mass Layoffs Act, requires employers with 50+ employees to provide severance pay and advance notice when shutting down a facility, transferring operations, or laying off 50+ workers within 30 days. It mandates 90 days' notice (or federal requirements if longer) to employees, the state labor department, and local officials before such events. Severance pay equals one week of average pay per full year of employment, with an additional four weeks if notice is shorter than required. This applies to most full-time employees but excludes managers, temporary workers, and part-timers working under 20 hours weekly.

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 346 establishes workplace health and safety standards specifically for public employees in Pennsylvania, including state, county, city, school, and local government workers. It creates the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board to handle disputes, requires employers to provide hazard-free workplaces, and authorizes workplace inspections. The bill extends protections similar to federal OSHA standards (which currently cover private-sector workers) to public employees who are not already covered by federal rules. Key provisions include employer duties to eliminate recognized hazards, requirements for written hazard disclosures, and penalties for violations.

Maddy summarySB 338 requires water and wastewater utilities in Pennsylvania to hold a ratepayer vote before selling systems valued at $1 million or more, with the commission blocking approval if a majority disapproves. It creates a "water ratepayer bill of rights" mandating annual reports showing acquisition costs, rate changes, and subsidies for former municipal customers, plus annual water source notifications. The bill directly affects residential ratepayers and water utilities, requiring transparency about privatization impacts and service changes. Key provisions include mandatory public voting on utility sales, detailed annual reporting on acquisition costs, and requirements for notifying customers about water sources and land access rights.

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 353 designates March 13 as K9 Veterans Day in Pennsylvania, recognizing military working dogs' service. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Pennsylvanians to observe this day, commemorating the date the U.S. military began actively recruiting canine forces in 1942. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents through the Governor's official observance. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no additional funding or program requirements.

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.