THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MARSHALL, BAKER, BOBACK, BRADFORD, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DAVIS, ELLIS, EVERETT, FARRY, FLECK, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HESS, HORNAMAN, KAVULICH, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MURT, MYERS, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PEIFER, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, SCAVELLO, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 8, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 8, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing an emergency medical services memorial flag; and

imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services

Council and the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in the

Department of Health.

WHEREAS, The provision of an emergency medical services

memorial flag is a small but important act by Commonwealth

government to signify its thanks and recognition for the

sacrifice of a life in service to the citizens of this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly enacts this legislation on

behalf of all Commonwealth citizens to honor emergency medical

services personnel who have died in the line of duty.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Emergency medical services memorial flag.

(a)  Establishment.--An emergency medical services memorial

flag is established for this Commonwealth.

(b)  Description.--The flag established in subsection (a)

shall be created by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in

the Department of Health in cooperation with the Pennsylvania

Emergency Health Services Council.

Section 2.  Use of flag.

The emergency medical services memorial flag may be displayed

over emergency medical service memorials, emergency medical

service funeral processions and from the poles of any public

ground or political subdivision for a period of not more than

seven days after the death of a member of any emergency medical

service, and as further directed by the Director of Emergency

Medical Services in the Department of Health.

Section 3.  Agency responsibility.

The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of

Health shall maintain the official flag and have the

responsibility to implement the provisions of this act and

oversee the production, acquisition and distribution of the

flag.

Section 4.  Limitation.

Authorized utilization of the emergency medical services

memorial flag by the Commonwealth or an entity of the

Commonwealth shall not constitute a presumption of eligibility

or be admissible as evidence for a claim under the act of June

24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law

Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.