On June 10, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1018, making it Act 23 of 2024 (the “Act”). The Act will increase protections for child victims and witnesses in agency administrative proceedings. Senator Timothy P. Kearney sponsored Act 23, stating that it will “fix a serious oversight in our state agency administrative procedure that allows child abusers to confront and … [Read more...] about Act 23 of 2024: Pennsylvania Law Reforms Administrative Procedures to Protect Children
Office of Open Records Issues First Determination Regarding FOIA Buddy RTKL Requests
On June, 2024, the Office of Open Records issued a determination in the matter of Frank Curry and FOIA Buddy v. South Western School District that a request made via the FOIA Buddy website was properly denied as an anonymous request. School entities have been receiving Right To Know Law (RTKL) requests in recent months that were made through the FOIA Buddy website. The broad nature … [Read more...] about Office of Open Records Issues First Determination Regarding FOIA Buddy RTKL Requests
Louisiana Law Requires Ten Commandments Be Displayed in Public Classrooms: Blurring the Separation Between Church and State?
This week, the Louisiana Governor signed a new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. What will this mean for public schools nationwide? Louisiana Law On June 19, 2024, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill No. 71, which requires that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all Louisiana public classrooms. The law provides that “the nature of the … [Read more...] about Louisiana Law Requires Ten Commandments Be Displayed in Public Classrooms: Blurring the Separation Between Church and State?
Lawsuits Filed Concerning LGBTQ+ Student Athletes Under the Changes to Title IX
In April, the United States Department of Education released its Final Rule of Title IX regulations. The Final Rule is set to take effect on August 1st, 2024, but several states have filed lawsuits looking to challenge the new Title IX Final Rule. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. … [Read more...] about Lawsuits Filed Concerning LGBTQ+ Student Athletes Under the Changes to Title IX
Family Building FEHB Fairness Act Proposed to U.S. Congress
On April 25, 2023, Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) and Representative Gerald E. Connolly, (VA) introduced the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (the “Act”) to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. In this issue of KingSpry’s heARTbeat blog, Adoption and ART Practice Chair, Dorota Gasienica-Kozak, Esq., reviews the proposed Family Building FEHB Fairness Act … [Read more...] about Family Building FEHB Fairness Act Proposed to U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress to Expand Access to Healthcare for Veterans & Families
Senator Patty Murray (WA) and Representative Rick Larsen (WA) introduced the Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023 (the “Act”) to the United States Senate and House of Representatives on September 14, 2023, respectively. The Act intends to reform federal law to improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to members of … [Read more...] about U.S. Congress to Expand Access to Healthcare for Veterans & Families
