SB 980 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies and providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

1122 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

9801624 2025THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY YAW,OF MILLER,PENNSYLVANIA MALONE,SENATE TARTAGLIONE,BILL SCHWANK,Session PENNYCUICK,of STEFANO,No. J.

WARD,980 CULVER2025 INTRODUCED BY YAW, MILLER, MALONE, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, STREET AND VOGEL,SANTARSIERO, AUGUST 25, 20252025OGEL, REFERREDROBINSON, TOFARRY, SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AUGUSTAS 25,AMENDED, 2025APRIL 21, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, FURTHER <-- PROVIDING FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES AND providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting emergencyprotective medicalequipment; services companies, further providing for award of grants;

in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants;

Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated <-- Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:

SECTION 1.

SECTION 7364(A)(3) OF TITLE 35 OF THE <-- PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:

§ 7364.

ASSISTANCE TO FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS COMPANIES.

(A) GENERAL RULE.--THE OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED, UPON APPLICATION OF ANY FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY, TO MAKE LOANS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

* * * (3) PURCHASING PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT.

NO FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY SHALL RECEIVE A LOAN FOR PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

EACH FIRE COMPANY OR EMS COMPANY MAY APPLY FOR A LOAN FOR A MOBILE AND PORTABLE RADIO UNIT FOR EACH EXISTING SERVICEABLE APPARATUS EQUIPMENT, AMBULANCE OR RESCUE VEHICLE.

RADIO EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A FREQUENCY OR FREQUENCIES LICENSED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOR FIREFIGHTING OR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PURPOSES.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OBTAINED THROUGH LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER MUST MEET STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

A NOTARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHALL BE FILED AND LOANS UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROTECTIVE, ACCESSORY OR COMMUNICATIVE EQUIPMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED [$25,000] $100,000.

* * * SECTION 2.

TITLE 35 IS AMENDED BY ADDING SECTIONS TO READ:

(a) Firefighting foam management.-- (1) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning July 1, 2026,2026 2027, a manufacturer may not manufacture or <-- knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use in this Commonwealth, class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.

(2) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning January 1, 2027,2027 2028, a person, including a firefighting <-- entity, may not use class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in this Commonwealth.

(3) This subsection shall not apply to the manufacture, 20250SB0980PN1624 - 2 - sale, distribution or use of class B firefighting foam for which the inclusion of a PFAS chemical is required by Federal law, including 14 CFR 139.317 (relating to aircraft rescue and firefighting:

If a Federal requirement to include a PFAS chemical in class B firefighting foam is revoked after July 1, 2025,2025 JANUARY 1, <-- 2027, this subsection shall not apply for one year after the requirement is revoked.

The commissioner shall maintain a list <-- of vendors authorized to remove and incur liability in the transport and removal of the class B firefighting foam 20250SB0980PN1122 - 2 - containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.

(3) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL <-- SERVICES, MAINTAIN A LIST OF VENDORS AUTHORIZED TO REMOVE AND 20250SB0980PN1624 - 3 - INCUR LIABILITY IN THE TRANSPORT AND REMOVAL OF THE CLASS B FIREFIGHTING FOAM CONTAINING AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED PFAS CHEMICAL.

20250SB0980PN1624 - 4 - "Manufacturer." A person that manufactures, imports or distributes firefighting foam.

20250SB0980PN1122 - 3 - § 7391.

(c) Violations.-- (1) A manufacturer shall be subject to a civil penalty 20250SB0980PN1624 - 5 - not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

20250SB0980PN1122 - 4 - (2) Money collected under paragraph (1) shall be transferred to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner for the Fire Company Grant Program and the Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.

Section 2.2 3.

Section 7813(a) of Title 35 is amended by <-- adding paragraphs to read:

* * * (8) Disposal, transportation, storage and destruction of any unexpended stock of class B firefighting foam containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical in compliance with section 7390(b)(2) (relating to protection against PFAS 20250SB0980PN1624 - 6 - chemicals).

(9) Purchase or acquisition of class B firefighting foam 20250SB0980PN1122 - 5 - that does not contain an intentionally added PFAS chemical.

* * * Section 3.3 4.

<-- (1) The addition of 35 Pa.C.S.

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