PRINTER'S NO. 918
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
816
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, HARKINS, HILL-EVANS, MARKOSEK, McNEILL,
MILLARD, PASHINSKI AND SAINATO, MARCH 14, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 14, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in other required equipment, providing for heat
detection devices in emergency vehicles.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 4574. Heat detection devices in emergency vehicles.
(a) General rule.--Any emergency vehicle transporting a K-9
officer shall be equipped with a heat detection device.
(b) Heat detection device.--A heat detection device
installed in an emergency vehicle transporting a K-9 officer
shall, at a minimum:
(1) alert the vehicle operator that the vehicle has a
cabin temperature that is unsafe for the K-9 officer by
utilizing the horn, sirens and lights; and
(2) automatically roll down two windows when the vehicle
reaches an unsafe cabin temperature.
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(c) Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
regulations governing the type, function, installation,
temperature limits and use of heat detection devices, taking
into consideration different requirements for different classes
or types of vehicles. The department shall have the authority to
regulate the performance of heat detection devices on a vehicle.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection:
"Heat detection device." An apparatus that measures the
temperature inside a vehicle passenger space, alerts the vehicle
operator of unsafe temperatures inside the vehicle and activates
vehicle electromechanical systems in order to cool the vehicle
to a safe temperature.
"K-9 officer." A dog used by the Pennsylvania State Police,
a police department established by a metropolitan transportation
authority operating under 74 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to
metropolitan transportation authorities), a police department
established under the act of April 6, 1956 (1955 P.L.1414,
No.465), known as the Second Class County Port Authority Act,
the Capitol Police, the Department of Corrections, a county
facility or office or a municipal police department, fire
department, search and rescue unit or agency or handler under
the supervision of the department, search and rescue unit or
agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the
department, search and rescue unit or agency, whether the animal
is on duty or not on duty. The term shall include, but not be
limited to, an accelerant detection dog, bomb detection dog,
narcotic detection dog, search and rescue dog and tracking
animal.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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