PRINTER'S NO. 435
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.453
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BENHAM, D. MILLER, HILL-EVANS, HARKINS, HANBIDGE,
KENYATTA, KHAN, VENKAT, DEASY, SCHLOSSBERG, GIRAL, PROBST,
BOROWSKI, OTTEN, MAYES, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, DONAHUE AND
HOHENSTEIN, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further
providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further
providing for definitions relating to intrastate mutual aid ;
and, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress
management, further providing for definitions .
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7102 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
§ 7102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this part shall
have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Telecommunicator." As follows:
(1) An individual employed by a public safety answering
point or PSAP, as defined in section 5302 (relating to
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18 definitions), whose primary responsibility is to receive,
process, transmit or dispatch emergency and nonemergency
calls for emergency medical, fire and rescue, law enforcement
or other public safety services via telephone, radio or other
communication device.
(2) The term includes a call taker, emergency dispatcher
and supervisor.
* * *
Section 2. The definition of "emergency responder" in
section 7332 of Title 35 is amended to read:
§ 7332. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Emergency responder." An individual in the public or
private sector who has special skills, qualifications, training,
knowledge or experience, whether or not the person possesses a
license, certificate, permit or other official recognition for
the skills, qualifications, training, knowledge or experience,
that would benefit a participating political subdivision in
responding to an authorized mutual aid request or participating
in an authorized drill or exercise. The term shall include a law
enforcement officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical
services worker, a telecommunicator, a physician, nurse or other
public health worker, an emergency management official, a
coroner or medical examiner, a State-certified hazardous
materials team member, a public works worker, a building
inspector, an architect, an engineer or other design
professional or a person with specialized equipment operations
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30 skills or training or with any other skills needed to provide
aid in a declared emergency.
* * *
Section 3. The definition of "emergency responder" in
section 75A01 of Title 35 is amended to read:
§ 75A01. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Emergency responder." Any of the following:
(1) A current or former certified emergency medical
services provider, current or former member of an emergency
medical services agency, fire company or rescue company.
(2) A peace officer.
(3) A [911 dispatcher] telecommunicator.
(4) A coroner or medical examiner who responds in an
official capacity to an emergency.
(5) A corrections officer.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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