Pennsylvania Governor signs six bills into law; Here’s what they are
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – On Wednesday Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed six bills into law.
HB 358 created the Keystone First Responder Award recognizing public servants who are either killed or suffer a career-ending injury in the line of duty.
“Every day first responders in Pennsylvania answer the call to protect people and/or property, often risking their own safety,” said the bill’s sponsored Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh). “This award will honor and commemorate emergency responders who have made profound commitments while performing their duties as law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, coroners, or 911 dispatchers.
Eligible first responders include EMS, firefighters, rescue company employees, peace officers, 911 dispatchers, a coroner or medical examiner, corrections officers, federal law enforcement officers, or an emergency management coordinator.
HB 917 creates an arbitration system option for families to resolve disputes instead of going to court.
“This will help to save families time, money, and stress in addition to reducing the burden on our legal system and saving taxpayer money,’ said the bill’s sponsors Representative Melissa L. Shusterman (D-Chester) and Rep. Tina M. Davis (D-Bucks).
SB 709 increases the penalty for killing bald or golden eagles in Pennsylvania. In addition to other penalties, someone convicted of killing a bald or golden eagle would face a summary offense punishable by a $2,000 fine. Previously the law limited fines to nothing less than $2,000.
“My legislation will deter the killing of these emblematic creatures in Pennsylvania,” said State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) last year.
SB 979 allows the Department of Agriculture to “require a dealer, agent or person that offers a domestic animal, commercial feed or pet food for sale to the public to provide a posted notice on the premises with information on a dangerous transmissible disease.”
State Senator Linda Schlegel Culver told colleagues last fall that the bill would help address outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu.
“While this legislation would address the current outbreak of HPAI, the language would apply to any transmittable disease outbreak posing a danger to domestic animals”
SB 1111, introduced by Republican State Senators Lisa Baker and Gene Yaw, strengthens Megan’s Law by adding language noting that a sexually violent predator may be an individual who attempts, conspires, or solicits to commit a sexually violent offense.
The Governor also signed SB 945, which amended the County Code, into law.
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