SB 466 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for powers and duties and for curriculum, training and education certification management system; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants to fire companies and for award of grants to emergency medical services companies and providing for expiration of authority; and making a repeal.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

418 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

485466 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFBROOKS, PENNSYLVANIAMASTRIANO, SENATEDUSH, BILLKANE, SessionFARRY, CULVER, HUTCHINSON, COSTA, STEFANO, FONTANA AND SANTARSIERO, MARCH 18, 2025 REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 18, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of No.the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for curriculum, training and education certification management system.

466 2025 INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, MASTRIANO, DUSH, KANE, FARRY, CULVER, HUTCHINSON, COSTA, STEFANO, FONTANA AND SANTARSIERO, MARCH 18, 2025 SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS AMENDED, MARCH 26, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further certification management system.

POWERS AND DUTIES AND FOR <-- CURRICULUM, TRAINING AND EDUCATION CERTIFICATION MANAGEMENT <-- SYSTEM;

IN GRANTS TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMPANIES, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR AWARD OF GRANTS TO FIRE COMPANIES AND FOR AWARD OF GRANTS TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMPANIES AND PROVIDING FOR EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY;

AND MAKING A REPEAL.

Section 7383.1(b) of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

SECTION 1.

SECTION 7313 OF TITLE 35 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A PARAGRAPH TO READ:

§ 7313.

POWERS AND DUTIES.

THE AGENCY SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:

* * * (22) PROVIDE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS OF ALL GRANTS AWARDED BY THE AGENCY FROM FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE OR RELIEF FUNDS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEFENSE FUNDS, AVIAN FLU/PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS OR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FUNDS TO THE CHAIRPERSON AND MINORITY CHAIRPERSON OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE CHAIRPERSON AND MINORITY CHAIRPERSON OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE REPORTS SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ENTITY RECEIVING GRANT MONEY FROM THE AGENCY ENTITIES THAT RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM FUNDS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH, INCLUDING THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH ENTITY, THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT, THE DATE OF ISSUANCE AND THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT.

REPORTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY AUGUST 20 FOR GRANTS AWARDED DURING THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30 AND BY FEBRUARY 20 FOR GRANTS AWARDED DURING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 31.

SECTION 2.

SECTIONS 7383.1(B), 7813(C) AND 7823(C) OF TITLE 35 ARE AMENDED TO READ:

(4) An individual who successfully completes fire suppression training as a condition of employment may provide a letter or certificate stating the number of hours of 20250SB0466PN0485 - 2 - training completed, which is signed by the individual who conducted the training, to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner FOR APPROVAL to count towards the required <-- number of hours of instruction needed to obtain a Firefighter I certification.

<--20250SB0466PN0418 §- 7813.2 -

AWARD OF GRANTS.

<-- * * * (C) TIME FOR FILING APPLICATION AND DEPARTMENT ACTION.-- (1) BY SEPTEMBER 8 OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE APPLICATIONS AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER TO:

(I) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II), THE FIRE CHIEF AND PRESIDENT OF EVERY FIRE COMPANY;

OR (II) IN THE CASE OF A MUNICIPAL FIRE COMPANY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

(2) (I) FIRE COMPANIES SEEKING GRANTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER SHALL SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER AND THE MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THE FIRE COMPANIES ARE LOCATED.

[THE] (II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPHS (III) AND (IV):

(A) THE APPLICATION PERIOD SHALL REMAIN OPEN FOR 45 DAYS EACH YEAR.

(B) THE AGENCY SHALL ACT TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE APPLICATIONS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE EACH YEAR.

(C) APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER 20250SB0466PN0485 - 3 - THE CLOSE OF THE APPLICATION PERIOD EACH YEAR SHALL BE DEEMED APPROVED.

(III) UPON REQUEST BY A FIRE COMPANY, THE COMMISSIONER MAY EXTEND THE APPLICATION PERIOD UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (II) FOR UP TO 45 ADDITIONAL DAYS IF THE FIRE COMPANY DEMONSTRATES HARDSHIP OR UNDUE BURDEN THAT PREVENTS THE FIRE COMPANY FROM SUBMITTING A COMPLETED APPLICATION WITHIN THE APPLICATION PERIOD AND IF THE FIRE COMPANY REQUESTS THE EXTENSION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE END OF THE APPLICATION PERIOD.

THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE SOLE DISCRETION TO DETERMINE WHETHER A FIRE COMPANY HAS DEMONSTRATED HARDSHIP OR UNDUE BURDEN UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.

(IV) UPON REQUEST BY A FIRE COMPANY, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL EXTEND THE PERIOD TO SUBMIT REQUIRED REPORTS FOR 15 ADDITIONAL DAYS.

A FIRE COMPANY MAY ONLY MAKE A REQUEST UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.

* * * § 7823.

AWARD OF GRANTS.

* * * (C) TIME FOR FILING APPLICATION AND DEPARTMENT ACTION.-- (1) BY SEPTEMBER 8 OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE APPLICATIONS AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER TO THE PRESIDENT OR LEAD OFFICER OF EVERY EMS COMPANY IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

(2) (I) EMS COMPANIES SEEKING GRANTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER SHALL SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER.

[THE] (II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (III):

20250SB0466PN0485 - 4 - (A) THE APPLICATION PERIOD SHALL REMAIN OPEN FOR 45 DAYS EACH YEAR.

(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ACT TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE APPLICATIONS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE EACH YEAR.