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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=16054
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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 18, 2014 02:40 PM
From: Senator Christine M. Tartaglione
To: All Senate members
Subject: Co-Sponsorship of Legislation: Providing Paramedics with Heart and Lung Act Benefits
 
In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation, formerly S.B. 1483 of 2013-2014, that would amend the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law (also known as the Heart and Lung Act) by including emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the definition of firefighter. This would ensure paramedics employed by a fire department receive benefits under this act, if they are injured on the job.

Currently, the City of Philadelphia would like to prevent paramedics from receiving benefits under the Heart and Lung Act; however, according to a 2011 Commonwealth Court decision, paramedics working for fire companies are to be considered firefighters for purposes of Collective Bargaining. Specifically, the court stated that paramedics have an integral role in firefighting operations. They respond to emergency situations with firefighters, receive the same or similar training as firefighters and perform job duties of equal danger to that of firefighters. For these reasons, paramedics should receive the same benefits as firefighters, as well.

Not only do paramedics and firefighters provide critical, life-saving services every day, but also, they place their own lives at risk by doing so. For their courageous actions and dedication, paramedics and firefighters deserve our support and gratitude. Moreover, they deserve and have earned the right to receive equal benefits under the Heart and Lung Act when they become injured at work. I hope you will join me in standing up for Pennsylvania’s paramedics by co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.



Introduced as SB267