SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 771, 2953 PRINTER'S NO. 3981
No. 689 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, WALKO, TIGUE, SEMMEL, B. SMITH, PLATTS,
RUBLEY, M. N. WRIGHT, SHANER, BROWNE, BAKER, GEIST, STURLA,
SATHER, RAMOS, ITKIN, STERN, BARD, BOSCOLA, FARGO, FORCIER,
EGOLF, E. Z. TAYLOR, ROSS AND CALTAGIRONE, MARCH 10, 1997
SENATOR GREENLEAF, JUDICIARY, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED,
OCTOBER 6, 1998
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for obstructing emergency
3 services.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 5112. Obstructing emergency services.
9 (a) Offense defined.--A person commits a summary offense <--
10 MISDEMEANOR OF THE THIRD DEGREE if he knowingly impedes, <--
11 obstructs or interferes with emergency services personnel
12 providing emergency medical services to an injured victim or
13 performing RESCUE OR firefighting activities. <--
14 (b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
15 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
16 subsection:
1 "Emergency medical services." The services utilized in
2 responding to the needs of an individual for immediate medical
3 care in order to prevent loss of life or the aggravation of
4 physiological or psychological illness or injury.
5 "Emergency services personnel." Police, firefighters, <--
6 licensed physicians, registered nurses, emergency medical
7 technicians and technician-paramedics and first responders.
8 "EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL." A PERSON, INCLUDING A <--
9 TRAINED VOLUNTEER OR A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
10 STATES OR THE NATIONAL GUARD, WHOSE OFFICIAL OR ASSIGNED
11 RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE PERFORMING OR DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE
12 PERFORMANCE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL OR RESCUE SERVICES OR
13 FIREFIGHTING.
14 "RESCUE." THE ACT OF EXTRICATING PERSONS FROM ENTRAPMENT OR
15 DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHICH POSE THE IMMINENT THREAT OF DEATH OR
16 SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.
17 SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
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