HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation today to improve elevator safety standards in Pennsylvania, according to the bill’s sponsor Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20).

“Eight years ago, Luzerne County Correctional Officer Kris Moules tragically lost his life in the line of duty after a violent confrontation with an inmate led to both of them being thrown against a faulty elevator door and plunging down the shaft,” said Baker. “This incident hits close to home for me, as Kris was not just a dedicated officer but also a close friend of my son – a talented young man whose life was cut short far too soon.”

In response to this heartbreaking event, corrective measures were introduced through Act 68 of 2018, which established the Elevator Safety Board to address critical issues surrounding elevator construction, maintenance and inspection. However, despite this initial progress, Pennsylvania’s elevator code has remained outdated since 2002. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has revised the national elevator code seven times since then, yet Pennsylvania still adheres to standards that no longer reflect current safety practices. The Elevator Safety Board submitted its recommendations to update these codes to the Department of Labor and Industry in late 2020, but the agency has not acted.

Senate Bill 1230 requires the Department of Labor and Industry to adopt an updated safety code, effective July 1, 2025. Prior to adoption, the Elevator Safety Board may recommend modifications based upon its professional expertise and industry experience. The legislation establishes timely benchmarks, making sure these necessary upgrades will not be delayed further and public safety will prevail. 

“After Kris’s passing, his mother, Kitty Moules, looked me in the eye and said, ‘Please make sure people are safe and Kris’s death was not in vain.’ I made a promise to her that I intend to uphold – one that reflects the expectations of a community that lost a bright young man to unforeseen dangers,” said Baker.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Wilson

HARRISBURG – Today, the Pennsylvania General Assembly gave final approval on legislation by Sens. Pat Stefano (R-32) and Jay Costa (D-43) that would allow magisterial district judges to grant Pennsylvania drivers who are unable to pay the fees and fines of their suspended license the option to pursue community service as a payment alternative. This initiative would only apply to drivers whose suspension resulted from routine violations.

“The ability to drive is essential in rural Pennsylvania,” Stefano said. “This legislation will empower drivers struggling to escape the prison of debt, created by fines and fees from traffic violations, to get back on the road so they can continue to contribute to our local communities.”

Senate Bill 1118 would also allow those who currently have suspended licenses – due to inability to pay certain fines and fees – to be provided with the option of community service if a judge sees fit. The community service payment alternative could additionally apply to suspensions related to driving with a suspended license.

“Today is a great day for justice reform in Pennsylvania,” said Costa. “This bipartisan legislation stands to make an enormous difference in the lives of low-income drivers who cannot afford the fines to reinstate suspended licenses. By allowing judges to assign community service instead of financial penalties for drivers already struggling to make ends meet, we can ensure workers get to jobs, patients get to doctor’s appointments, kids get to school and families can live their lives. I look forward to seeing this legislation put to work in our communities.”

During the bill’s passage in the House of Representatives, a variety of amendments were added to the legislation for structural changes. Alterations to the bill included increasing the response time for an individual to receive notice of a license suspension and reducing the soon-to-be law’s effective date from 26 to 18 months.

“This has been many years in the making. Sen. Costa and I first introduced this legislation more than four years ago, following a study that showed that failure to pay fines and fees and failure to appear in court are the two most common reasons for a license suspension among young drivers,” Stefano said. “I’m happy to see this initiative finally come to fruition.”

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for enactment.

CONTACT:     Amanda Cuteri, (Stefano’s office), 717-787-7175
                        Savannah Thorpe, (Costa’s office), 717-787-7683

HARRISBURG – Just two days after the one-year anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel, the state Senate Education Committee today approved a bill introduced by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) that would require schools in Pennsylvania to teach students about the Holocaust.

“Students need to know the history of the Holocaust so they don’t ignorantly believe the antisemitism we are witnessing is something new,” Mastriano said. “Ignorance is the fertilizer of fear and hate.”

Mastriano’s Senate Bill 1100 would require Pennsylvania schools to teach students about the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations. Schools also would have to post texts and course information online.

Mastriano saw a renewed need for the bill in the wake of the Hamas attack against Israel, which led to new and increased acts of antisemitism on university campuses and in society.

Many Jewish students reported feeling unsafe and intimidated on university and college campuses. Synagogues and other Jewish organizations faced vandalism and other threats.

The legislation would direct the State Board of Education to conduct a study analyzing the number of schools currently offering instruction about the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations, and the curriculum they use.

It then directs the State Board of Education to adopt a regulation requiring schools to offer the instruction.

“We cannot afford for Pennsylvania students to be ignorant about history and the ways it is impacting the events we see live on our television screens and read about in the news,” Mastriano said. “The purveyors of prejudice and bigotry prey on uninformed people who have not studied history. Knowledge is one of the simplest antidotes for ignorance.”

Senate Bill 1100 now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Constituents of the 33^rd Senatorial District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Don Beishl
717-787-4651

HARRISBURG – Legislation introduced by Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) to create a standard protocol in response to a tick being removed from a student during the school day is headed to the governor to be signed into law, after the state House approved it today.

“Ticks carry transmittable diseases that can threaten the long-term health and wellbeing of our children, if not detected early enough” Brooks said. “This is an especially pronounced threat in Pennsylvania due to our large tick population.”

Senate Bill 232 would require schools to notify a parent or guardian in writing if a tick is removed from a student, in addition to providing information on the symptoms of Lyme disease.

The legislation also requires the school to preserve the tick for the parent or guardian, and to provide information on how to mail it to the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania at East Stroudsburg University for free testing, if the parent or guardian chooses to do so.  If not, the school can send the tick to the Tick Lab for free testing, and upon receiving the results, will provide them to the parent or guardian. 

The school may not make a copy of the results, nor include any information regarding the results in the child’s school medical record.  They may notate the diseases present in the tick, with no identifying or personal information of the child, for purposes of compiling data as to what diseases are present in the ticks on and around the school’s property.

“The critical information available by testing a tick found on a child can help medical professionals make important decisions that may protect the child from possible neurological impairment, joint pain, irregular heartbeat and other chronic conditions associated with diseases transmitted by ticks,” Brooks said. “Many people primarily focus on Lyme Disease since we lead the country in Lyme cases, however there are many other tick-related diseases that have been found in Pennsylvania that can cause significant health problems. In addition to this legislation, I would like to remind everyone that the process is simple for anyone who finds a tick on themselves, a family member or pet, that they can place it in a zip-locked bag and send it to the tick lab and have it tested free of charge.”

Pennsylvanians can learn more about how to submit a tick sample and the test results that are often necessary for doctors to pursue treatment at TickLab.org.

Approximately one in four cases of Lyme occur in children, with children ages five to nine being at the greatest risk for contracting Lyme and other tickborne illnesses.

Brooks’ bill, which previously was approved by the Senate, now heads to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro to be signed into law.

CONTACT: Adam Gingrich, 717-787-1322

HARRISBURG — Legislation to modernize and expand access to sign language interpreters has been approved by both the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, according to the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Devlin Robinson (R-37) and John Kane (D-9). The bill updates state law to better serve the growing needs of Pennsylvania’s deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing communities.

The original law was enacted in 2004 and designed to supplement provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which did not specify interpreter qualifications. Senate Bill 1274 modernizes these requirements by creating new pathways for certification, addressing outdated standards and streamlining the criteria for interpreter registration.

“By expanding certification opportunities and updating the qualifications for interpreters, this bill will help more people pursue careers in sign language interpretation,” said Robinson. “This will increase accessibility for those who rely on these vital services. I’m thankful for the broad, bipartisan support this legislation has received.”

The bill’s key provisions include recognizing additional certification programs, allowing alternative qualifications to a traditional bachelor’s degree, and resolving inconsistencies in the existing certification process, making it easier for interpreters and service providers to navigate.

“This marks a pivotal step toward a more inclusive Pennsylvania,” said Kane. “By modernizing our approach to sign language interpretation, we’re ensuring our deaf, hard-of-hearing and deafblind communities receive the high-quality services they deserve. This bill demonstrates our commitment to enhancing accessibility, creating new opportunities for interpreters, and fostering fairness and inclusivity throughout our commonwealth.”

Senate Bill 1274 is supported by advocacy organizations and individuals across the commonwealth. It now heads to the governor for his signature.

CONTACTS:
Eric Kratz (Robinson)
Andrew Henderson (Kane)

HARRISBURG – Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, announced his Senate Bill 1338 received unanimous support today from the committee. The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration. 

“Unmanned Aircraft Systems or drones present a significant opportunity for our region by way of economic development, workforce and education,” said Langerholc. “As we have made significant strides in this area, this legislation is the next step forward.”

This bold vision is within reach thanks to the integral leadership of Cambria County’s Department of Emergency Services, John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, Nulton Aviation Services, Saint Francis University and many more. A federal grant was recently awarded to build a network of sensors for Cambria County’s first responders to air-drop emergency medical supplies.

“My legislation will establish an interstate compact with states leading the discovery of UAS, such as Alaska, and integrate the Commonwealth in a long-range relationship for UAS safety, testing, training and education,” Langerholc said.

VIDEO: Sen. Langerholc urges committee passage of Senate Bill 1338. 

CONTACT: Gwenn Dando, 717-787-5400

HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-5) and Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18) to combat “deepfake” images of minors and child sexual abuse materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI) received final legislative approval and is set for enactment into law.

Senate Bill 1213 addresses the alarming rise in AI-generated deepfake sexual images of children and non-consenting adults. Currently, Pennsylvania law makes it illegal to share intimate images without consent but does not clearly address the use of AI deepfake technology for this purpose. This gap in our law leaves many vulnerable to a new form of digital abuse.

The bill also prohibits AI from being utilized to generate child sexual abuse material, previously referred to as “child pornography,” which is not currently prohibited under law. With the changes contained in SB 1213, law enforcement will now have the ability to prosecute individuals who generate and disseminate these types of child sexual abuse materials.

“AI technology can be used for good or evil, and Pennsylvania needs a law to target depraved people who use it to create sexual images of people who did not give their consent, along with child sexual abuse materials,” said Pennycuick, who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. “This bipartisan legislation sends the message that this insidious use of AI will not be tolerated in Pennsylvania.”

In August, police in Lancaster County launched an investigation into a case of artificially generated nude photos that use the faces of more than 20 female teenage students. The district attorney said that in some cases charges can’t be filed because the images don’t involve actual children. Senate Bill 1213 would close that loophole.

“With the passage of Senate Bill 1213, we are one step closer to protecting Pennsylvanians—especially our children—from the harmful misuse of AI technology,” said Dillon. “This bill addresses a gap in our laws, ensuring that AI-generated sexual images without consent are treated as the serious violations they are. I’m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues, Senators Pennycuick and Boscola, to see this vital legislation move forward.” 

“I applaud the bipartisanship that got this bill across the finish line,” said Boscola. “In passing this legislation, we have taken a big leap forward in stemming the use of AI technology for exploitive, vile ends. I am grateful for the hard work of my colleagues in getting this done.”

The bill originally passed the Senate in June, was amended by the House of Representatives, and received final Senate approval today. It will now be sent to the governor to be signed into law.

CONTACTS: 

Matt Szuchyt (Sen. Pennycuick)
215-541-2388
mszuchyt@pasen.gov 

Amanda Applegate (Sen. Dillon)
215-281-2539
amanda.applegate@pasenate.com

Meghan Lago (Sen. Boscola)
610-868-8667
meghan.lago@pasenate.com