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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/23/2024 07:34 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=10281
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 20, 2012 01:24 PM
From: Representative Dom Costa
To: All House members
Subject: Theft of Controlled Substances by Emergency Responders
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce two pieces of legislation that would require the dismissal of emergency responders from employment for the conviction of an offense related to the theft of a controlled substance.


Document #1

Introduced as HB813

Description: I plan to introduce legislation that will amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to require the dismissal of an emergency medical technician (EMT) or emergency medical technician-paramedic from employment for the conviction of an offense related to the theft of a controlled substance. 
 
During emergencies, EMTs and paramedics are dispatched to respond to emergency scenes to provide life-saving treatment to victims.  The rapid response and expert knowledge of EMTs and paramedics is essential to saving lives and minimizing injuries.  At the same time, because EMTs and paramedics are often responsible for the custody and administration of controlled substances in their daily work, it is of paramount importance that our responders maintain records that are clean from serious drug offenses 
 
To address this issue, my legislation amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, by adding Section 8143 (Dismissal).  This legislation would require an emergency medical technician or emergency medical technician-paramedic to be dismissed from employment upon the conviction of acquiring, obtaining, or possessing a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. 
 

Document #2

Introduced as HB812

Description: In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will amend The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to require the dismissal of police officers and firefighters from employment for the conviction of an offense related to the theft of a controlled substance. 
 
Children and emergency victims look upon police officers and firefighters as role models, and most actions of emergency responders are heroic.  However, scandalous acts of stealing controlled substances are inexcusable, especially since police officers and firefighters are provided with accessibility to controlled substances.  It is my belief, as a State Representative, that we must restrict these individuals from returning a distinguishable career as a police officer or firefighter for the conviction of such offenses. 
 
To address this issue, my legislation amends The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act by including two additional provisions in the law, Sections 23.1 (Police Officer Dismissal) and 23.2 (Firefighter Dismissal).  This legislation would require police officers and firefighters to be dismissed from employment for the conviction of acquiring, obtaining, or possessing controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.