Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

HB 926 requires healthcare facilities to establish violence prevention committees to address workplace violence. These committees must develop safety plans, and facilities must report violent incidents to the Department of Labor and Industry. The Department gains authority to enforce compliance, impose fines, and issue administrative penalties for violations. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and all healthcare workplaces covered under state labor regulations.

HB 2027 creates a new "Public Sector Workplace Safety Equipment Account" within Pennsylvania's General Fund to purchase safety equipment for state employees in high-risk jobs. It directs the Secretary of the Budget to transfer up to $3.8 million in unspent funds from previous years (for agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction) to this account by October 1, 2025. The funds will specifically cover lift kits for healthcare workers handling patients and postural support devices for construction workers, targeting state agencies operating nursing facilities, disability care facilities, and highway construction projects. The bill requires transparency through public notices and committee notifications before any transfer occurs.