PRINTER'S NO. 654
No. 619 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, CESSAR, DAIKELER, ARTY, NOYE, REBER,
CLYMER, COHEN, E. Z. TAYLOR AND PISTELLA, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of May 21, 1937 (P.L.774, No.211), entitled "An
2 act to facilitate vehicular traffic between the eastern and
3 western sections of the Commonwealth by providing for the
4 construction, operation and maintenance of a turnpike from a
5 point at or near Middlesex in Cumberland County to a point at
6 or near Irwin in Westmoreland County; providing for the
7 creation of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and
8 conferring powers and imposing duties on said commission;
9 authorizing the issuance of turnpike revenue bonds of the
10 Commonwealth, payable solely from tolls, to pay the cost of
11 such turnpike; providing that no debt of the Commonwealth
12 shall be incurred in the exercise of any of the powers
13 granted by this act; providing for the collection of tolls
14 for the payment of such bonds and for the cost of
15 maintenance, operation and repair of the turnpike; making
16 such bonds exempt from taxation; constituting such bonds
17 legal investments in certain instances; prescribing
18 conditions upon which such turnpike shall become free;
19 providing for condemnation; granting certain powers and
20 authority to municipal subdivisions and agencies of the
21 Commonwealth to cooperate with the commission; and
22 authorizing the issuance of turnpike revenue refunding
23 bonds," providing for a panel of review, monitor and aid in
24 improving ambulance service available to travelers of the
25 Pennsylvania Turnpike.
26 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
27 hereby enacts as follows:
28 Section 1. The act of May 21, 1937 (P.L.774, No.211),
29 referred to as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Act, is
1 amended by adding a section to read:
2 Section 5.2. (a) The commission, in consultation with the
3 Department of Health, shall establish a panel whose composition
4 and size shall be determined by the commission.
5 (b) The panel shall review and monitor ambulance service
6 available to travelers of the turnpike and advise the commission
7 as to the following objectives:
8 (1) Achieving the capability of approximately ten-minute
9 maximum response time by ambulance service to every location on
10 the turnpike under ordinary driving conditions.
11 (2) Assuring that every ambulance responding to an emergency
12 incident on the turnpike is staffed by at least one emergency
13 medical technician.
14 (3) Assuring that every ambulance responding to an emergency
15 incident on the turnpike complies with Federal Specification No.
16 KKK-A-1822 as amended and updated.
17 (4) Assuring that every ambulance responding to an emergency
18 incident on the turnpike carries the minimum essential equipment
19 for ambulances recommended by the American College of Surgeons,
20 Department of Transportation and Department of Health and light
21 rescue extrication equipment recommended by the Department of
22 Health.
23 (c) The panel may accomplish the objectives set forth in
24 subsection (b) by reviewing the ambulance services provided by
25 the commission, or that available from professional and
26 volunteer service in areas adjacent to the turnpike.
27 (d) The panel may establish reasonable trial periods to
28 evaluate and compare potential services in particular areas of
29 the turnpike. The panel may implement off-pike services to
30 completely replace existing commission services, as such off-
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1 pike services, in the panel's determination, meet the above
2 objectives.
3 (e) The panel may remain convened to evaluate the changing
4 availability and quality of service.
5 (f) The panel may assure that emergency vehicles while on an
6 emergency call and while displaying audible and visual signals
7 as required by 75 Pa.C.S. § 4571 (relating to visual and audible
8 signals on emergency vehicles), shall be granted immediate
9 entrance to and exit from any turnpike or highway under the
10 supervision and control of the commission, and that no such
11 emergency vehicle shall be required to stop at a toll booth or
12 for any other reason except on order of a member of the
13 Pennsylvania State Police for a legitimate law enforcement
14 function.
15 Section 2. Nothing herein shall supersede, waive, exempt or
16 supplement the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8332 (relating to
17 nonmedical good samaritan civil immunity). The immunity from
18 liability provided by said section 8332 shall continue to apply
19 during and following any action taken by the panel.
20 Section 3. The panel shall implement the objectives set
21 forth in section 5.2 (b)(2), (3) and (4) within one year from
22 the effective date of this act.
23 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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