S0248B1128A02550 MSP:AAS 10/06/21 #90 A02550
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL NO. 248
Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE MALONEY
Printer's No. 1128
Amend Bill, page 1, by inserting between lines 15 and 16
15. First Responders Recognition
Amend Bill, page 6, by inserting between lines 16 and 17
CHAPTER 15
FIRST RESPONDERS RECOGNITION
Sec.
1501. Definitions (Reserved).
1502. First Responders Day.
§ 1501. Definitions (Reserved).
§ 1502. First Responders Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Our first responders, who are police, fire,
emergency medical service (EMS) and public health personnel,
work selflessly on behalf of the people of this Commonwealth,
regardless of the risk or hazard, and truly are citizens
serving the community.
(2) Most Pennsylvanians have benefited in some way from
the courageous service of first responders across this
Commonwealth.
(3) First responders carry out the critical role of
protecting and ensuring public safety in emergency
situations.
(4) The men and women who bravely serve as first
responders have found themselves on the front lines of
homeland defense in the war against terrorism.
(5) First responders are called upon in the event of
natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding
and pandemics.
(6) More than 100,000 first responders perform these
crucial services in this Commonwealth.
(7) Approximately 30,000 sworn police officers from
State, city and county law enforcement agencies protect lives
and property, detect and prevent crimes, uphold the law and
ensure justice.
(8) Tens of thousands of firefighters, including
approximately 50,000 volunteers and 10,000 career
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firefighters, provide fire suppression, EMS, search and
rescue, hazardous materials response, terrorism response and
critical fire prevention and safety education.
(9) Approximately 60,000 emergency services
professionals in this Commonwealth respond to and treat a
variety of life-threatening emergencies, from cardiac and
respiratory arrest to traumatic injuries.
(10) First responders make personal sacrifices to
protect our communities, as witnessed in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and of the natural
destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Sandy.
They are called every day to protect individuals and property
in cities and towns across this Commonwealth.
(11) Many law enforcement officers die in the line of
duty in the United States each year, including nine killed in
2020 in Pennsylvania alone.
(12) More than 100 firefighters are killed in the line
of duty across the United States each year and thousands more
are injured.
(13) EMS answers more than 20 million patient calls
every year, and many medics are injured on the job, have been
assaulted by patients or have been exposed to infectious
diseases.
(14) EMS personnel in the United States have a fatality
rate of more than twice the national average for all other
workers.
(15) Thousands of first responders have made the
ultimate sacrifice.
(16) These men and women, by their dedicated
professionalism, have earned our gratitude and respect.
(b) First Responders Day.--The following apply:
(1) September 27 of each year is designated as "First
Responders Day."
(2) The Governor shall issue annually a proclamation
calling upon all public schools and educational institutions
to observe "First Responders Day" and to conduct exercises
recognizing the contributions and remembering the sacrifices
that first responders have made.
(3) "First Responders Day" may not be a paid holiday or
a day that school districts close.
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