Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to deny payments for medical claims that violate specific federal funding limits on services provided to minors. It mandates that the department and the Office of Attorney General investigate any suspected violations of these payment restrictions by healthcare facilities or practitioners. If a provider is found to have knowingly submitted non-compliant claims, the bill allows for the suspension of their eligibility to receive state funds and requires them to repay between two and three times the amount of the invalid claim. Additionally, the legislation imposes penalties for failing to produce records or cooperate with investigations into these compliance issues.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 357 repeals Pennsylvania's requirement for a license to carry a firearm, removing Section 6106 which previously mandated licenses for concealed carry. It requires counties to provide free lockers for checking firearms at court facilities and updates rules for convicted persons to relinquish firearms and licenses. The bill also repeals Philadelphia-specific restrictions on carrying firearms on public streets and revises provisions related to firearms in vehicles and hunting. These changes primarily affect firearm owners, law enforcement, and court facility users by altering licensing, carrying, and storage requirements. The bill makes technical amendments across multiple statutes but does not create new licensing requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Alice's Law, strengthens protections for older adults in Pennsylvania by creating a statewide registry to track individuals who have abused or neglected elderly people. It requires facilities to immediately remove employees from duty if they are accused of abuse and to terminate staff members who appear on the new registry. The legislation also clarifies rules for reporting suspected abuse, ensuring that reports are sent to both the department and the coroner while maintaining confidentiality for the identity of the person who made the report. Additionally, the bill expands immunity for agencies and workers acting in good faith and increases administrative fines for facility owners or administrators who fail to comply with these new reporting and safety requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and universities in Pennsylvania to explicitly label their athletic teams as male, female, or coed, while prohibiting female teams from allowing male participation. It protects schools from facing complaints or investigations for maintaining separate sports for girls and allows students to sue for damages if they are harmed by violations of these labeling and separation rules. The law also permits schools to sue if they are penalized by outside organizations for following these guidelines, and it applies to all public education and higher education institutions in the state.
Maddy summarySB 993 amends Pennsylvania laws to clarify and expand local government authority over veterans' memorials. It directly affects boroughs, third-class cities, and counties by requiring them to maintain, repair, and preserve existing memorials for war veterans, not just erect new ones. The bill specifies that these local governments must manage memorials on public property, including completing repairs and ensuring their upkeep, while also updating related corporate power provisions. This focuses on practical maintenance rather than new memorial construction.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 481 amends Pennsylvania vehicle law to allow certain milk haulers to operate on highways during inclement weather and declared emergencies. This bill permits combination vehicles and farm vehicles transporting milk products to travel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even when other vehicles might be restricted due to weather or emergency declarations. It requires these licensed milk haulers to display a specific decal issued by the Pennsylvania Milk Board, for which a fee will be charged to cover administrative costs. The bill also clarifies existing provisions related to permits for milk hauling during the manufacturing process.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act to clarify and expand the types of properties eligible for tax exemptions in economically depressed areas. It specifically broadens the definition of "deteriorated property" to include industrial, commercial, and other business properties, as well as government-owned sites like schools that are located in designated distressed zones or have been ordered vacated or demolished. The legislation also introduces new definitions for terms such as "converted residential portion" and "mixed-use building" to better guide local governments in identifying eligible sites. Under the updated rules, local taxing authorities must hold a public hearing to establish the boundaries of these deteriorated areas before granting tax relief for improvements or new construction within them.
Maddy summarySB 835 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to display the U.S. flag on or near school buildings during school hours in normal weather, and to purchase flags if they do not already have them. School boards must also display the POW/MIA flag alongside the U.S. flag where practical. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate these specific flag display practices in all public schools. It directly affects all Pennsylvania public school districts by establishing clear requirements for flag placement.
Maddy summarySB 1277 amends Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act to update how local governments can offer property tax exemptions for deteriorated buildings and new construction in economically depressed areas. The bill clarifies definitions to include various types of distressed properties, such as those ordered vacated or demolished, and expands the scope to cover mixed-use and converted residential structures. It also establishes a public registry for these exemptions and requires local authorities to hold at least one public hearing before designating specific areas as deteriorated. Ultimately, the legislation provides a standardized framework for municipalities to implement tax relief aimed at revitalizing struggling neighborhoods.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's ABLE Act to help disabled veterans keep their real estate tax exemptions. It allows money deposited into an ABLE savings account to be ignored when calculating whether a veteran meets the financial need requirements for this tax break. The change ensures that contributions made to these special savings accounts do not count as annual income for eligibility purposes. This policy will apply to tax determinations made on or after January 1, 2027.