PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1880
PRINTER'S NO. 1999
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1246
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY REGAN, VOGEL, ARNOLD, PHILLIPS-HILL, STREET,
MARTIN, KILLION, BAKER, SCHWANK, BREWSTER, YUDICHAK, J. WARD,
MASTRIANO, SCAVELLO, BROWNE, IOVINO AND BLAKE,
AUGUST 14, 2020
SENATOR REGAN, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS
AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for medals
honoring law enforcement officers.
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 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
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 law enforcement officers in this Commonwealth who have
demonstrated bravery, sacrifice or other exceptionally
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meritorious conduct in the line of duty. The Municipal Police
Officers' Education and Training Commission established in
Subchapter D (relating to municipal police education and
training) 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 the Pennsylvania State Police ,
SHERIFF, AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S. § 6102 (RELATING TO
DEFINITIONS), OR DEPUTY SHERIFF or a police officer of a police
department as defined in section 2162 (relating to definitions)
may be nominated for a medal under this subchapter.
(b) Application.--An application that nominates a law
enforcement officer for a medal may be submitted to the
Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission by
the Governor, a member of the General Assembly, the Commissioner
of Pennsylvania State Police, a county sheriff or the chief
executive of a municipality or police department.
(c) Review and issuance of medals.--The Municipal Police
Officers' Education and Training Commission 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) Blue Star of Valor, which may be awarded to law
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enforcement officers who have shown exceptional gallantry,
heroism and bravery in the face of life-threatening
circumstances above and beyond the call of duty.
(2) Blue Heart, which may be issued to law enforcement
officers injured in the line of duty.
(3) Medal of Ultimate Sacrifice, which shall be issued
posthumously to law enforcement officers who have fallen in
the line of duty.
(b) Design.--The design of each medal shall be approved by
the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training
Commission. 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
Pennsylvania State Police , COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT or the
police department by which the law enforcement officer is or was
employed. The family of a medal recipient may request a second
medal and may receive the medal upon payment to the Municipal
Police Officers' Education and Training Commission of the cost
of the medal.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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