SB 158 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for medals honoring law enforcement officers, for medals honoring fire personnel and for medals honoring emergency medical services personnel.

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WARD, K.

WARD, YAW, YUDICHAK AND CORMAN, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 SENATOR STEFANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for medals honoring law enforcement officers, FOR MEDALS HONORING FIRE <-- PERSONNEL AND FOR MEDALS HONORING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.

Chapter 21 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter <-- SUBCHAPTERS to read:

<-- SUBCHAPTER F MEDALS HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS Sec.

20210SB0158PN0140 - 2 - (a) General rule.--The medals authorized under the program shall be in the following forms:

20210SB0158PN0136 - 2 - (1) Blue Star of Valor, which may be awarded to law enforcement officers who have shown exceptional gallantry, heroism and bravery in the face of life-threatening circumstances above and beyond the call of duty.

SUBCHAPTER G <-- MEDALS HONORING FIRE PERSONNEL SEC.

2194.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

2195.

MEDAL PROCEDURE.

2196.

FORM OF MEDALS.

§ 2194.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

A PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RECOGNIZE AND 20210SB0158PN0140 - 3 - DECORATE FIRE PERSONNEL IN THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED BRAVERY, SACRIFICE OR OTHER EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS CONDUCT IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER 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.

§ 2195.

MEDAL PROCEDURE.

(A) NOMINEES.--A MEMBER OF A FIRE COMPANY MAY BE NOMINATED FOR A MEDAL UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER.

(B) APPLICATION.--AN APPLICATION THAT NOMINATES A MEMBER OF A FIRE COMPANY FOR A MEDAL MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER BY THE GOVERNOR, A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF A MUNICIPALITY OR FIRE COMPANY.

(C) REVIEW AND ISSUANCE OF MEDALS.--THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER 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.

§ 2196.

FORM OF MEDALS.

(A) GENERAL RULE.--THE MEDALS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL BE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

(1) RED STAR OF VALOR, WHICH MAY BE AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF A FIRE COMPANY WHO HAVE SHOWN EXCEPTIONAL GALLANTRY, HEROISM AND BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

(2) RED HEART, WHICH MAY BE ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF A FIRE 20210SB0158PN0140 - 4 - COMPANY INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

(3) MEDAL OF ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, WHICH SHALL BE ISSUED POSTHUMOUSLY TO MEMBERS OF A FIRE COMPANY WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

(B) DESIGN.--THE DESIGN OF EACH MEDAL SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER.

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 FIRE COMPANY BY WHICH THE MEMBER OF THE FIRE COMPANY IS OR WAS EMPLOYED OR VOLUNTEERED.

THE FAMILY OF A MEDAL RECIPIENT MAY REQUEST A SECOND MEDAL AND MAY RECEIVE THE MEDAL UPON PAYMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER OF THE COST OF THE MEDAL.

(D) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"FIRE COMPANY." A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, A MUNICIPAL FIRE COMPANY OR A COMBINED VOLUNTEER AND MUNICIPAL FIRE COMPANY LOCATED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.