PRINTER'S NO. 1646
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1463
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BENHAM, D. MILLER, MADDEN, PROBST, HILL-EVANS,
DELLOSO AND SANCHEZ, JUNE 21, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JUNE 21, 2023
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 for definitions relating to Fire and Emergency Medical
Services Loan Program; in volunteer firefighters, further
providing for definitions relating to fire relief
association; in emergency responder mental wellness and
stress management, further providing for definitions; in
grants to fire companies and emergency medical services
companies, further providing for definitions; and, in
incentives for municipal volunteers of fire companies and
nonprofit emergency medical services agencies, 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 definitions 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:
* * *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
"Airport fire company." A fire company that does all of the
following:
(1) Is associated with an airport.
(2) Has a mutual aid agreement with a neighboring
municipality.
(3) Has responded to at least 15 fire or rescue
emergency calls annually to neighboring fire companies as
provided in documentation requested by the State Fire
Commissioner.
* * *
"Emergency medical services company" or "EMS company." A
career, nonprofit or volunteer emergency medical services
agency, as defined in section 8103 (relating to definitions).
* * *
"Fire company." As follows:
(1) A volunteer fire company, a municipal fire company
or a combined volunteer and municipal fire company located in
this Commonwealth.
(2) The term includes an airport fire company.
"Firefighter." A member of a fire company.
"First responder." Any of the following public servants:
(1) An emergency medical services provider or EMS
provider, as defined in section 8103 (relating to
definitions).
(2) A firefighter.
(3) A telecommunicator.
* * *
"Municipal fire company." A municipal-owned fire department
or other municipal-owned firefighting service.
* * *
20230HB1463PN1646 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
"Telecommunicator." As follows:
(1) An individual employed by a public safety answering
point or PSAP, as defined in section 5302 (relating to
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.
"Volunteer fire company." As follows:
(1) A nonprofit chartered corporation, association or
organization located in this Commonwealth that:
(i) Provides fire protection or rescue services.
(ii) May offer other voluntary emergency services
within this Commonwealth.
(2) Voluntary emergency services provided by a volunteer
fire company may include voluntary ambulance and voluntary
rescue services.
"Volunteer rescue service." A nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth that provides rescue services in this Commonwealth.
* * *
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:
* * *
20230HB1463PN1646 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
"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
skills or training or with any other skills needed to provide
aid in a declared emergency.
* * *
Section 3. The definitions of "emergency medical services
company" or "EMS company," "fire company," "volunteer fire
company" and "volunteer rescue service" in section 7363 of Title
35, amended February 10, 2022 (P.L.41, No.10), are amended to
read:
§ 7363. 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 medical services company" or "EMS company." A
career, nonprofit or volunteer emergency medical services
20230HB1463PN1646 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
company.]
* * *
["Fire company." A volunteer nonprofit chartered fire
company or municipal-owned fire company or department.]
* * *
["Volunteer fire company." Any nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth which provides fire protection services and other
voluntary emergency services within this Commonwealth. Voluntary
emergency services provided by a volunteer fire company may
include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue services.
"Volunteer rescue service." Any nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth which provides rescue services in this
Commonwealth.]
Section 4. The definitions of "fire company" and "volunteer
fire company" in section 7412 of Title 35 are amended to read:
§ 7412. 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:
* * *
["Fire company." A volunteer fire company, a municipal fire
company or a combined volunteer and municipal fire company
located in this Commonwealth.]
* * *
["Volunteer fire company." As defined in section 7802
(relating to definitions).]
* * *
Section 5. The definition of "emergency responder" in
20230HB1463PN1646 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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]
first responder.
(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 6. The definitions of "airport fire company,"
"emergency medical services company" or "EMS company," "fire
company," "volunteer fire company" and "volunteer rescue
company" in section 7802 of Title 35 are amended to read:
§ 7802. 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:
* * *
["Airport fire company." A fire company that does all of the
following:
(1) Is associated with an airport.
(2) Has a mutual aid agreement with a neighboring
20230HB1463PN1646 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
municipality.
(3) Has responded to at least 15 fire or rescue
emergency calls annually to neighboring fire companies as
provided in documentation requested by the State Fire
Commissioner.]
* * *
["Emergency medical services company" or "EMS company." A
career or volunteer emergency medical services company.]
* * *
["Fire company." A volunteer fire company, a municipal fire
company or a combined volunteer and municipal fire company
located in this Commonwealth. The term includes an airport fire
company.]
* * *
["Volunteer fire company." A nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth which provides fire protection or rescue services
and which may offer other voluntary emergency services within
this Commonwealth. Voluntary emergency services provided by a
volunteer fire company may include voluntary ambulance and
voluntary rescue services.
"Volunteer rescue company." A nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth that provides rescue services as part of the
response to fires or vehicle accidents within this
Commonwealth.]
Section 7. The definition of "volunteer fire company" in
section 79A03 of Title 35 is amended to read:
§ 79A03. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
20230HB1463PN1646 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
["Volunteer fire company." A nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth that provides fire protection services and may
offer other voluntary emergency services within this
Commonwealth.]
* * *
Section 8. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20230HB1463PN1646 - 8 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10