PRINTER'S NO. 1537
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1157
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TALLMAN, THOMAS, MILLARD, SAINATO, DRISCOLL,
COHEN, READSHAW, SCHREIBER, O'NEILL, MURT, VEREB, FARINA,
D. COSTA, TAYLOR, RADER, FARRY, JOZWIAK, KINSEY, SCHWEYER,
HELM, GILLESPIE, TOOHIL AND WATSON, MAY 12, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MAY 12, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 28, 1935 (P.L.477, No.193), entitled,
as amended, "An act providing for the payment of the salary,
medical and hospital expenses of members of the State Police
Force, of the enforcement officers and investigators employed
by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and the parole
agents, enforcement officers and investigators of the
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Capitol Police
officers, correction employes employed by the Department of
Corrections whose principal duty is the care, custody and
control of inmates, psychiatric security aides employed by
the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of
Corrections whose principal duty is the care, custody, and
control of the criminally insane, drug enforcement agents of
the Office of Attorney General whose principal duty is the
enforcement of the drug laws of the Commonwealth, special
agents of the Office of Attorney General whose principal duty
is the enforcement of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth,
members of the Delaware River Port Authority Police and of
policemen, firemen and park guards by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, the Delaware River Port Authority, counties,
cities, boroughs, towns and townships, and sheriffs and
deputy sheriffs who are injured or contract certain diseases
in the performance of their duty; and providing that absence
during such injury shall not reduce any usual sick leave
period," providing for the care of police animals injured in
the line of duty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
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Section 1. The act of June 28, 1935 (P.L.477, No.193),
referred to as the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law,
is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 2.1. (a) A police animal shall be provided
veterinary and medical care for any injury suffered in the
performance of its duties. Veterinary and medical care includes,
but is not limited to, ambulatory care, including an air
ambulance, on-going care and medical devices. In no event shall
the use of an air ambulance for a police animal take precedence
over a human similarly situated at the time the air ambulance is
needed, unless the air ambulance is already engaged in transport
of the police animal.
(b) The term "police animal" shall have the same meaning as
provided in 18 Pa.C.S. ยง 5511.2 (relating to police animals).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 30 days.
20150HB1157PN1537 - 2 -
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