PRINTER'S NO. 137
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
159
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY REGAN, VOGEL, ARGALL, AUMENT, BAKER, BARTOLOTTA,
BROOKS, BROWNE, DiSANTO, DUSH, GORDNER, HUTCHINSON,
LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, MARTIN, MASTRIANO, MENSCH, PHILLIPS-
HILL, PITTMAN, ROBINSON, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SCHWANK,
STEFANO, TOMLINSON, J. WARD, K. WARD, YUDICHAK, YAW AND
CORMAN, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
FEBRUARY 2, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for medals
honoring fire personnel.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 21 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER F
MEDALS HONORING FIRE PERSONNEL
Sec.
2191. Establishment of program.
2192. Medal procedure.
2193. Form of medals.
§ 2191. Establishment of program.
A program is established for the Governor to recognize and
decorate fire personnel in this Commonwealth who have
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demonstrated bravery, sacrifice or other exceptionally
meritorious conduct in the line of duty. The State Fire
Commissioner shall assist the Governor in the administration of
the program by establishing the qualifications, protocol and
other rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this
subchapter.
§ 2192. Medal procedure.
(a) Nominees.--A member of a fire company may be nominated
for a medal under this subchapter.
(b) Application.--An application that nominates a member of
a fire company for a medal may be submitted to the State Fire
Commissioner by the Governor, a member of the General Assembly
or the chief executive of a municipality or fire company.
(c) Review and issuance of medals.--The State Fire
Commissioner shall review an application's veracity and
conformance to the criteria of the program and notify the
Governor of the applications that are in compliance. The final
decision to issue a medal under this subchapter shall rest with
the Governor. The Governor may delegate to the Lieutenant
Governor or a member of the General Assembly the act of
presenting a medal.
§ 2193. Form of medals.
(a) General rule.--The medals authorized under the program
shall be in the following forms:
(1) Red Star of Valor, which may be awarded to members
of a fire company who have shown exceptional gallantry,
heroism and bravery in the face of life-threatening
circumstances above and beyond the call of duty.
(2) Red Heart, which may be issued to members of a fire
company injured in the line of duty.
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(3) Medal of Ultimate Sacrifice, which shall be issued
posthumously to members of a fire company who have fallen in
the line of duty.
(b) Design.--The design of each medal shall be approved by
the State Fire Commissioner. Each medal shall be cast in bronze
or other metal, and the design shall incorporate the seal of the
Commonwealth.
(c) Cost.--The cost of a medal shall be paid by the fire
company by which the member of the fire company is or was
employed or volunteered. The family of a medal recipient may
request a second medal and may receive the medal upon payment to
the Office of the State Fire Commissioner of the cost of the
medal.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Fire company." A volunteer fire company, a municipal fire
company or a combined volunteer and municipal fire company
located in this Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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