HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed eight bills into law on Monday.
All of the bills passed with bipartisan support. They include amendments that target abandoned boats, update the state’s existing military and pharmaceutical laws and prepare for hosting the FIFA World Cup and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
House Bill 103
House Bill 102, sponsored by Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny County), amends Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to address and increase penalties for at-risk, derelict and abandoned boats.
Under the legislation, local law enforcement can investigate abandoned boats in their jurisdiction. Additionally, boat owners are financially responsible for the removal of abandoned boats, have 30 days to claim ownership of an abandoned boat and face a summary offense for abandoning a boat. A first offense comes with a $500 fine, which increases after additional offenses.
The legislation takes effect in 180 days.
House Bill 309
House Bill 309, sponsored by Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria County), prepares Pennsylvania for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Countries from around the world will send their teams to Philadelphia next year, and this includes team physicians.
The bill amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to allow team doctors traveling internationally with their club or national team to treat their own players on site during games without needing a Pennsylvania medical license. Such protections previously only extended to out-of-state doctors.
The legislation takes effect immediately.
House Bill 354
House bill 354, sponsored by Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia County), establishes guidelines for a program called “What is Your Pennsylvania Story?”
The legislation instructs the PA Department of Education to develop education materials ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States that will encourage students to share their personal experiences and connections to both Pennsylvania and the United States.
The act takes effect in 30 days.
House Bill 799
House Bill 799, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Deasy (D-Allegheny County), amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for veterans’ benefits and services workplace posting; and making an editorial change.
Under the legislation employers in Pennsylvania must display a poster stating:
- Contact and website information for the PA Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
- Information and contacts for a range of Federal and State benefits and services for veterans and veterans’ families
- Contact information for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Crisis Line
- Contact information for county directors of veterans affairs
The legislation applies to employers with more than 50 full-time employees. It takes effect in 90 days.
House Bill 865
House Bill 865, sponsored by Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny County), amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes in Educational Assistance Program.
The amendments provide defections, eligibility requirements and recoupment of grant payments.
In Military Family Education Program, it provides definitions, eligibility, limitations and recoupment of Military Family Education Program grant payments. A noticeable change is clarifying that a National Guard member is eligible for an additional MFEP assistance grant for additional dependents each time the member re-enlists.
The legislation takes effect in 60 days.
Senate Bill 90
Senate Bill 90, sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin/Adams counties), amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for curriculum, training and education certification management system.
Specifically, the legislation allows firefighters to take an entry level test for each of the four required training modules fore firefighter certification.
Currently, firefighters must complete all four modules before taking a cumulative test. This legislation keeps that as an option.
This legislation takes effect in six months.
Senate Bill 95
Senate Bill 95, sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County), amends the Pharmacy Act, further providing for definitions, for licensing of pharmacists and for unlawful acts; and providing for price disclosure.
It permanently permits Emergency Medical Services providers to leave a dose package of life-saving naloxone with the on-scene caregiver of a patient who overdosed on opioids and was revived by the EMS, providing a standing prescription has been issued by the Department of Health. There is a current standing order for the Commonwealth.
The bill exempts providers from liability or an obligation to stock or distribute naloxone to a family member, friend or individual.
The legislation also requires pharmacists in Pennsylvania to provide:
- The current pharmacy retail price of the brand-name drug and any generically equivalent drug available at the pharmacy upon request
- The consumer’s cost-sharing amount of the brand-name
drug and any generically equivalent drug available at the
pharmacy upon request - Information on where to apply for health coverage through the Commonwealth’s official health insurance exchange upon request
- A disclaimer about the consumer’s healthcare choices
Parts of the legislation takes effect in 60 days while other parts take effect in one year.
Senate Bill 649
Senate Bill 649, sponsored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks/Montgomery), amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices, to establish an offense for digital forgery.
Under the legislation, a person is guilty of digital forgery if they:
- Generates or creates and distribute a forged digital likeness as genuine with intent to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge and intent the person is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone
- Know or reasonably should know the visual representation or audio recording is a forged digital likeness with intent to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge and intent the person is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone
A person who commits the crime is guilty of a first degree misdemeanor. They are guilty of a third degree felony if they break the law through involvement in a scheme to defraud, coerce or commit theft of monetary assets or property.
The legislation goes into effect in 60 days.
The governor has not yet signed House Bill 1431 into law, which passed last month. It would repeal Sunday hunting bans in the state.
The governor’s office said he plans to sign it in the coming days.
