Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 569: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act, further providing for title of act; and adding provisions relating to coroners.

HB 569 amends Pennsylvania's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to expand eligibility for death benefits. It explicitly includes coroners (and medical examiners) as covered personnel and adds a presumption that fatal heart attacks or strokes occurring during duty or within 24 hours of physical training/emergency response are work-related. This change directly affects surviving spouses, children, or parents of coroners, firefighters, ambulance/rescue personnel, law enforcement officers, and National Guard members who die in the line of duty. The bill updates the act's definition of "coroner" and ensures benefits are granted for these new circumstances.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands death benefits to include coroners and presumes work-related incidents for emergency personnel, strengthening survivor protections under employment benefits.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 804: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for medical devices.

SB 804 amends Pennsylvania's health and safety laws to ban the intentional addition of DEHP and certain ortho-phthalates (like BBP, DBP, DINP) in medical devices. It specifically targets intravenous (IV) solution containers (like IV bags) and IV tubing used in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The bill prohibits manufacturers from adding these chemicals to medical devices if they serve a functional purpose, requiring notice of such additions. This affects device manufacturers and healthcare facilities purchasing these products, directly changing manufacturing standards for common medical equipment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans DEHP and ortho-phthalates in medical devices (IV bags/tubing) to protect patient safety, directly advancing healthcare protection standards.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans DEHP/orthophthalates in IV devices, reducing chemical exposure risks for healthcare workers and improving workplace safety standards.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 52: An Act providing for health care insurance coverage protections, for duties of the Insurance Department and the Insurance Commissioner, for regulations, for enforcement and for penalties.

This bill bans health insurers in Pennsylvania from setting annual or lifetime dollar limits on essential medical services (like hospital care, surgery, and emergency treatment), affecting both in-network and out-of-network providers. It applies to individual and group health insurance policies, directly protecting enrollees from coverage caps on core benefits. Insurers must comply with these limits, with enforcement including fines up to $5,000 per violation. The law takes effect for policies filed with the Insurance Department after its effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans annual/lifetime coverage limits on essential services (hospital, surgery, emergency care), protecting enrollees from caps with enforcement fines.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans insurance coverage caps on essential medical services, directly protecting workers' health benefits under employment standards as core employment benefits are covered.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 195: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for Mental Health Workforce Retention Program; and making an appropriation.

HB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M annually from General Fund for mental health workforce grants, exempts grants from income tax, funding essential public service and providing tax relief per bill's appropriation and tax exemption language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $5,000 tax-exempt grants to mental health workers for retention, directly funding workforce stability under Mental Health Workforce Retention Program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides $5,000 retention grants to mental health workers with tax exemption, directly supporting workforce stability and employment in a specific sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax State Budget

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 375: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in school health services, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to automatic external defibrillators, providing for AED and CPR instruction and procedure, establishing the Automated External Defibrillator Program and providing for availability and specifications of automated external defibrillators.

SB 375 repeals a requirement that schools provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for staff every three years. Instead, it mandates that Pennsylvania schools obtain and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) - heart rhythm shock devices - by requiring 2.5% of annual school safety funding to be used for purchasing AEDs and related training. The bill establishes an AED program requiring school staff to complete AED and CPR training through approved organizations like the American Heart Association, and it defines AEDs as portable devices that restore heart rhythm during cardiac arrest. This law directly affects all public and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania, shifting focus from mandatory staff CPR training to AED availability and use.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs and staff training for school safety, enhancing health protocols within education infrastructure per bill's focus on school safety and health services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates AED/CPR training for school staff, directly enhancing workplace safety - a core Labor & Employment focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Professional Licensing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 812: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Protecting Hospital Workers from Workplace Violence Grant Program and the Protecting Hospital Workers from Workplace Violence Grant Fund; providing for duties of Department of Health; and making a transfer.

HB 812 establishes a grant program to fund security improvements protecting hospital and emergency care workers from workplace violence. It directly affects hospitals and freestanding emergency medical facilities in Pennsylvania, which can apply for grants to implement violence prevention projects. The bill requires applicants to submit detailed plans with timelines, budgets, and measurable goals for reducing verbal/physical violence, with priority given to innovative, sustainable approaches. The Department of Health will administer the program, accept applications starting March 1, 2025, and manage the dedicated grant fund.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes grant program funding security improvements for hospital workers, directly supporting healthcare facility safety under Health and Safety statutes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds security grants to prevent workplace violence against hospital workers, directly strengthening workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2025

HB 191: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; and, in school health services, repealing provisions relating to automatic external defibrillators and providing for AED and CPR instruction and procedure, for Automated External Defibrillator Program and for availability and specifications of automated external defibrillators.

HB 191 updates Pennsylvania's school safety requirements by replacing outdated rules about CPR and defibrillator training. It repeals old teacher certification requirements for CPR instruction and school health service rules about automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill now mandates new CPR and AED training for school staff, sets specific standards for AED availability and placement in schools, and establishes an official AED program. This directly affects public schools, teachers, and school health personnel by requiring updated emergency response protocols. The bill focuses on modernizing school health safety procedures rather than changing other aspects of education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR/AED training for staff and sets AED standards, strengthening school safety protocols without funding changes.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates CPR/AED training and AED standards for school staff, directly improving workplace safety for educators and school personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers Professional Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 28, 2025

SB 581: An Act amending the act of December 19, 1975 (P.L.604, No.173), entitled "An act to facilitate the use of electronic funds transfer systems by providing that credits to accounts in financial institutions designated by recipients shall satisfy legal requirements for payments by cash or checks," further providing for electronic funds transfers, for consumer protections and for payroll card accounts.

SB 581 updates Pennsylvania's 1975 electronic payment law to clarify rules for payroll cards and direct deposit. It requires employers to give employees 45 days' notice before eliminating cash/check payment options, with clear disclosure of all choices (including direct deposit) and deadlines to select a payment method at least 7 days before payday. If employees don’t choose, employers may use a payroll card they designate but must provide free access to wages (including two in-network ATM withdrawals weekly) and disclose all fees upfront. The law also prohibits payroll cards charging overdraft fees and mandates employers to honor requests to switch to direct deposit within 14 days. It directly affects Pennsylvania employees and employers using electronic wage payments.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 45-day notice for payment changes, clear disclosure of options, and free ATM access to prevent payroll card fees, protecting workers' wage access and choice.95% confidence

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signed · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 797: An Act amending the act of May 25, 1933 (P.L.1050, No.242), referred to as the Second Class City Firemen Relief Law, further providing for requirements of membership, for married persons and pensions to surviving spouses and for eligibility of surviving spouses.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Second Class City Firemen Relief Law to update pension eligibility rules for surviving spouses of fire department members. It modifies membership requirements for married firefighters and adjusts how pensions are calculated and provided to surviving spouses after a member's death. The changes directly affect married firefighters employed in second-class cities and their spouses who may qualify for pension benefits under this law. The bill focuses on clarifying and adjusting existing pension provisions rather than creating new benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends pension eligibility rules for surviving spouses of firefighters, clarifying and maintaining benefit access under employment-related retirement law.85% confidence

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 27: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for surgical smoke evacuation systems.

HB 27 amends the Health Care Facilities Act to require hospitals and surgical clinics to install systems that remove smoke generated during certain medical procedures. This directly affects healthcare facilities performing surgeries where smoke is produced, such as those using lasers or electrosurgery. The bill mandates these evacuation systems as part of facility licensing standards under the existing 1979 law. The change focuses on improving air quality and safety for both patients and medical staff during operations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates surgical smoke evacuation systems in healthcare facilities to improve air quality, directly reducing a specific indoor pollutant (surgical smoke) under pollution control, aligning with environmental topic's pollution control focus.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems to improve air quality and safety for patients/staff, directly enhancing healthcare facility safety standards under existing law.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems in healthcare facilities, directly improving workplace safety for medical staff per bill summary's focus on safety for 'medical...' personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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