Tracking List Report (4 lists)

(PN 628) Amends the Donated Food Limited Liability Act, further providing for donor immunity. Removes wording relating to “charitable or religious organization.” Expands the current immunity from civil and criminal liability to explicitly apply to the donation of food that has exceeded the manufacturer’s recommended label code date but is still fit for human consumption. Effective immediately.

(PN 632) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), in forgery and fraudulent practices, providing for the offense of benefit transfer device fraud. Defines benefit transfer device fraud as an unauthorized alien possessing or using a benefit transfer device. Provides for separate offenses and grading. Provides definitions for “benefit transfer device” and “unauthorized alien.” Effective in 60 days.

(PN 1882) Amends the Public School Code, in school health services, further providing for health services, for reports and for interagency coordinating council for child health, nutrition and physical education; and, in terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education. Provides for student confidentiality. Exempts a student from height and weight measurement if the student’s parent or legal guardian requests an exemption in writing. Directs school districts to provide notification to the student’s parent or guardian regarding the procedure to request an exemption. Permits student measurements to be tracked into a growth pattern. Asserts that a school district may not deliver a student's body mass index (BMI) to either the student or the student’s parent or legal guardian unless requested by the parent or legal guardian. Directs school districts to report measurements to the Secretary of Health in a manner that protects confidentiality. Includes the Department of Human Services (DHS) secretary as a member of the Interagency Coordinating Council for Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Education. Requires the council to include recommendations from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) education program. Mandates the final report to be available on the websites of DHS, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (PDE) and Department of Agriculture (PDA). Directs that in the academic instruction on personal health, nutrition and physical fitness, the calculation of BMI is prohibited and any instruction that requires the collection of a student’s height and weight measurement information shall be conducted in a manner that protects student confidentiality. Effective immediately. (Prior PN: 1648, 695) (PN 1648) Amends the Public School Code, in school health services, further providing for health services, for reports and for interagency coordinating council for child health, nutrition and physical education. Provides for student confidentiality. Exempts a student from height and weight measurement if the student’s parent or guardian requests an exemption in writing. Directs school districts to provide notification to the student’s parent or guardian regarding the procedure to request an exemption. Permits student measurements to be calculated into a body mass index (BMI). Asserts that a school district may not deliver a student's BMI to either the student or the student’s parent or guardian unless requested by the parent or guardian. Directs school districts to report measurements to the Secretary of Health in a manner that protects confidentiality. Includes the Department of Human Services (DHS) secretary as a member of the Interagency Coordinating Council for Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Education. Requires the council to include recommendations from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) education program. Mandates the final report to be available on the websites of DHS, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (PDE) and Department of Agriculture (PDA). Effective immediately. (Prior PN: 695) (PN 695) Amends the Public School Code, in school health services, further providing for health services, for reports and for interagency coordinating council for child health, nutrition and physical education. Provides for student confidentiality. Exempts a student from height and weight measurement if the student’s parent or guardian requests an exemption in writing. Does not permit height and weight measurements to be calculated and reported as body mass index (BMI) and asserts that they may only be reported as aggregate information from a scientifically drawn sample of students in a manner that protects student confidentiality. Includes the Department of Human Services (DHS) secretary as a member of the interagency Coordinating Council for Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Education. Requires council to include recommendations from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) education program. Mandates the final report to be available on the websites of DHS, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (PDE) and Department of Agriculture (PDA). Effective immediately. 

(PN 2575) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, adding a section to provide for the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to administer quarterly checks on income and employment records and monthly checks for death certificates of recipients of medical assistance and SNAP benefits. Adds considerations to support economic self-sufficiency for subsidized childcare copayments. Provides that copayments shall be in accordance with federal and state law, based on a family’s annual income, rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Provides that a minimum copayment should not be applied to special populations determined by DHS. Mandates a family’s annual copayment shall be no less than 3% and not more than 7% of a family’s income, which is at or below 235% of the federal poverty income guidelines and between 7% and 12% of a family’s income if the income exceeds 235% but not more than 300% of the federal poverty income guidelines. Provides for eligibility for subsidized childcare. Provides that a family’s annual income cannot exceed 235% of the federal poverty income guidelines at an initial determination and cannot exceed 235% if federal poverty income guidelines or 85% of the state median income at redetermination. Establishes exceptions for redetermination if a family’s income does not exceed 300% of federal poverty income guidelines or 85% of state median income, no less than $25 million of appropriated funds to DHS for child-care services, a temporary change in parent or caretaker status as working or attending a job training or educational program or an increase in income not exceed 85% of the state median income. Directs DHS to provide a report on the transition to chip-enabled access cards for SNAP benefits. Details the contents of the report and the instructions for the distribution of the report. Mandates DHS to provide an annual written report to the chairpersons and minority chairpersons of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Human Services Committee. Specifies the information to be included in the annual report to the extent permitted by federal law, with data available and accessible to DHS without a change or update to an information system or database. Provides for the suspension of medical assistance benefits for the period of a recipient’s incarceration. Directs DHS to conduct a study alongside the Department of Aging and the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on the use of a brokerage model to provide nonemergency medical transportation services to medical assistance recipients. Details the contents of the study and subsequent report, which should be completed no later than 180 days from the effective date of the subsection and establishes the recipients of the study. Provides for the abrogation of regulatory requirements for the payment of outpatient behavioral health services within the physical confines of behavioral health clinic facilities. Directs DHS to provide an annual review of the financial costs, distribution, and utilization of benefits under SNAP. Provides for the contents of the annual SNAP report and the dispersion of the report. Requires DHS to publish the report within 30 days of its completion on its publicly accessible website. Directs DHS to develop and implement updates to the SNAP payment distribution schedule in consultation with an advisory committee if recommendations are made in the annual report. Provides that if the implementation of changes results in costs, DHS should pay for the costs using funding available from the Enterprise and Technology restricted account. Mandates DHS to transmit updates to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication and ensure that the updated distribution schedule is posted on its publicly accessible website. Effective immediately. (Prior PN: 1332, 756) (PN 1332) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, adding a section to provide for the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to analyze SNAP payment distribution schedules based on caseloads and census data and to prepare a report on whether changes are needed to the payment distribution schedule within 12 months of the effective date and every five years thereafter. Specifies to whom DHS shall submit a copy of the report within 15 days of the completion of the report. Requires DHS to post the report on its website within 30 days of the completion of the report. Mandates DHS to develop and implement updates to the payment distribution schedule based on the analysis after consultation with an advisory committee, if changes are needed. Directs DHS to transmit the proposed updates in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin before the updates are submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for approval. Requires DHS to ensure that the updated distribution schedule is posted on its website upon federal approval. Effective in 60 days. (Prior PN: 756) (PN 756) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, adding a section to provide for the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a study of Pennsylvania’s SNAP payment distribution schedules by analyzing caseloads, U.S. Census data and other states that issue payments over more than 10 days. Further directs DHS to develop SNAP payment schedules that work effectively and efficiently for all Pennsylvanians. Effective in 60 days.

(PN 788) Amends Title 3 (Agriculture), providing for the Fresh Food Financing Initiative; establishing the Fresh Food Financing Initiative Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture (PDA). Provides definitions. Mandates that the program be administered by PDA. Directs the department to develop and establish program guidelines and eligibility criteria. Directs that the program will promote local agricultural products by placing priority on projects producing, aggregating, sourcing or selling Pennsylvania agricultural commodities. Provides that grants for capital projects must be matched by private money in an amount equal to the state grant. Asserts that no more than 10% of the funding may be reserved for administrative and operational costs. Provides criteria for eligible applicants. Provides for eligible uses. Directs the department to devise, award and administer grants to eligible applicants. Directs the department to establish standards and requirements. Provides for limitation on grants. Permits the department to promulgate rules and regulations. Provides that the account is established in the General Fund. Provides for supplements to the account from outside sources. Effective in 60 days.

Aims to establish the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.

Requires state agencies to have live phone services available on their public lines.

Requires Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be distributed according to a single schedule across the entire state.

Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the feasibility of requiring food waste recycling for businesses based on the Commonwealth’s current infrastructure. Includes recommendations for how to improve access to food waste recycling in Pennsylvania.  

Codifies the current medical assistance application assistance in state law and expands it to other state and federal benefit programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), home heating assistance, long-term living services, and subsidized childcare. 

Expands the current immunity from civil and criminal liability to explicitly apply to the donation of food that has exceeded the manufacturer’s recommended label code date, but is still fit for human consumption

Requires authorized users for EBT cards to sign the same rights and responsibilities agreements as those who are eligible for benefits. 

Resolution to urge the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to work together to conduct a statewide study of cafeteria services in every school district and set nutritional and quantity standards for school breakfasts and lunches.

Aims to require the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report regarding how the department can improve its outreach and application processes and also remove other barriers for consumers to access nutritious foods through the SNAP program.

Aims to create the Child and Adult Care Food Program Supplement.

Eliminates school BMI screenings. 

Establishes the Keystone Fresh Act to provide state level investment that will increase the quantity and variety of local products that are sold to and served in Pennsylvania schools.

Resolution urging all state agencies to use diacritical marks on official state documents by July 1, 2027. 

Aims to provide free school meals – breakfast and lunch -- to all K-12 students. 

Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on the impact of benefits cliffs in Pennsylvania.

Establishes the Keystone Fresh Act to provide state level investment that will increase the quantity and variety of local products that are sold to and served in Pennsylvania schools.

Aims to amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and outlines benefit transfer device fraud offenses and grading for unauthorized use of ACCESS cards.

Directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a study of Pennsylvania’s SNAP payment distribution schedules by analyzing caseloads, U.S. Census data and other states that issue payments over more than 10 days, and further directs DHS to develop SNAP payment schedules.

Aims to amend the Public Welfare Code, requiring that a person who is currently receiving or applying for assistance will participate in the Assistance Recipient Identification Program.

Considers re-establishing the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative to provide grants for the construction, rehabilitation or expansion of grocery stores, farmers markets and other healthy food retail establishments in low- to moderate-income areas.

Aims to require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to work with the General Assembly to ensure an efficient transition to chip-enabled EBT cards. 

Aims to provide free meals to students in grades K-12, but also eliminate the school meal debt.  

Designates the month of September 2025 as Healthy Hunger-Free Kids month.  

(PN 682) Resolution urging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to collaborate on conducting a statewide study of school cafeteria services provided to every school district.

(PN 40) Amends the Human Services Code, in fiscal provisions relating to public assistance, adding a section to provide for the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Requires the department to develop and implement guidelines that require each county assistance office to distribute SNAP benefits on a monthly basis using a uniform 20-day distribution schedule within one year of the effective date. Allows the department to implement a tiered distribution schedule. Provides that the guidelines under this section shall utilize a method that is uniform throughout this commonwealth. Effective immediately.

(PN 57) The Office of Inspector General Complement Increase Act provides for a pilot program to increase the complement of Office of Inspector General employees and for report to the General Assembly. Directs the pilot program to investigate fraud, waste, misconduct and abuse claims from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health for a minimum of two years. Provides a minimum 50% increase of employees in the Office of the Inspector General. Requires a report to the General Assembly no later than one year after hiring additional employees. Provides for contents of report. Requires the report be submitted to the Appropriations Committee of the House and Senate, the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the Human Services Committee of the House. Directs the report to be public record. Effective immediately.

(PN 105) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for uniformity in administration of assistance and regulations as to assistance to insert that the department shall check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against recipients of medical assistance and benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on a monthly basis. Effective in 60 days.

(PN 106) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for uniformity in administration of assistance and regulations as to assistance to add that the department shall check, on a quarterly basis, income and employment records held by the Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) against recipients of medical assistance and benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Effective in 60 days.

(PN 107) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reports to General Assembly. Adds that the department shall issue an annual report on how many applicants reported lottery winnings of $600 or more, how many of those applicants were denied assistance due to lottery winnings of $600 or more and any potential gaps in communication encountered between the Department of Human Services and County Assistance Offices which may have resulted in the failed reporting of winnings over $600 to the chairpersons and minority chairpersons of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Human Services Committee. Effective in 60 days.

(PN 164) Amends Title 3 (Agriculture), adding a part to provide for food security and a chapter providing for the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Provides definitions and establishes the Fresh Food Financing Initiative program. Provides for the administration of the program, program management, and program priorities. Specifies that regional anchor supermarkets, grocery stores, retail food establishments and farmers markets may receive grants. Provides that grants in an amount not exceeding 15% of the funding for any of the established project classes shall be awarded to qualifying applicants selected to receive the awards for capital projects. Requires a grant awarded to a regional anchor supermarket under the program to be matched by private funds in an amount equal to the grant. Provides for administrative or operational costs. Outlines grant funding eligibility, including eligible applicants and eligible uses. Provides for application review and approval, standards and requirements, and disposition of grants. Establishes the Fresh Food Financing Initiative Restricted Account in the General Fund to be exclusively used for the program. Permits grants be awarded to the extent that money is appropriated by the General Assembly. Accepts other revenue, including federal appropriations, for deposit into the restricted account for the sole purpose of awarding grants and administering the program. Effective immediately.

(PN 1868) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for false statements, investigations and penalty. Elaborates on the parameters for an offense. Establishes the grading for the offense. Provides for the determination of the degree of an offense, directing a court to include a conviction occurring before the sentencing of the present violation, for an offense under this section, an offense substantially similar to an offense under this section or under the prior law of the commonwealth or a similar offense under the laws of any other state or of the United States. Strikes the consideration of acceptance of accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) or other form of preliminary disposition from the list to determine whether an offense is a first or subsequent offense. Outlines the ineligibility for an applicant or a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Defines “reencoder” and “scanning device.” Effective in 60 days. (Prior PN: 308, 1800, 1833) (PN 1833) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for false statements, investigations and penalty. Elaborates on the parameters for an offense. Establishes the grading for the offense. Provides for the determination of the degree of an offense, directing a court to include a conviction, acceptance of accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) or other form of preliminary disposition, occurring before the sentencing of the present violation, for an offense under this section, an offense substantially similar to an offense under this section or under the prior las of the commonwealth or a similar offense under the states of any other state or of the United States. Outlines the ineligibility for an applicant or a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Defines “reencoder” and “scanning device.” Effective in 60 days. (Prior PN: 308, 1800) (PN 1800) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for false statements, investigations and penalty. Elaborates the parameters for an offense. Establishes the grading for the offense. Provides for the determination of the degree of an offense, directing a court to include a conviction, acceptance of accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) or other form of preliminary disposition, occurring before the sentencing of the present violation, for an offense under this section, an offense substantially similar to an offense under this section or under the prior las of the commonwealth or a similar offense under the states of any other state or of the United States. Outlines the ineligibility for an applicant or a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Effective in 60 days. (Prior PN: 308) (PN 308) Amends the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for false statements, investigations and penalty. Adds that any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud produces, uses or traffics in, has control or custody of or possesses one or more counterfeit access devices that replicate the payment card information of a person receiving assistance, commits a crime and shall be ineligible to receive cash assistance permanently from the date of a conviction. Provides a schedule to grade the crime. Effective in 60 days.

Expands the current no-cost breakfast program to include lunch.

Increases penalties for convicted offenders who steal assistance dollars from SNAP recipients, through an illegal act referred to as "SNAP Skimming".

Establishes a uniform, statewide time period for the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Codifies the Fresh Food Financing Initiative within the commonwealth that aims to expand access to fresh food in underserved communities by providing grants to improve equipment, technology, and resources.

Provides additional funds to help assist the Office of Inspector General in identifying fraud.

Aims to  improve the SNAP program by  Finding an organization that will administer the program under certain specifications and will give preference to retailers and markets who sell PA-grown agricultural products, supporting local farmers and small businesses. Increasing the funds available for Food Bucks program beyond private funding and the federal USDA grant (Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program). Providing no less than forty cents to a SNAP recipient for every one dollar of SNAP benefits redeemed on targeted food items including fruits and vegetables and other healthy options. Expanding nutrition incentives to the entire state, increasing the number of fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP recipients.

Exercises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) option in Pennsylvania by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to opt into the federal option for both custodial and non-custodial parents alike.

Aims to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits aren’t being spent on those who are no longer living by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to check death certificates with the Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics against its recipients of Medical Assistance (MA) and SNAP benefits; requires DHS to check wage records by employers and the Department of Revenue against recipients of MA and SNAP benefits; and ensures that DHS is accurately following the Public Assistance Integrity Act.