Pennsylvania SB 406: An Act providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; establishing the industry workers' rights coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 361 PRINTER'S NO. 1809
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 406
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, SAVAL, FONTANA, COLLETT,
KEARNEY, STREET, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, COSTA, KANE, L. WILLIAMS,
SANTARSIERO, FARRY, PISCIOTTANO AND PICOZZI, MARCH 10, 2025
SENATOR ROBINSON, LABOR AND INDUSTRY, AS AMENDED, JUNE 10, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing
industry by creating facility health and safety committees in
the workplace; establishing the industry workers' rights
coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry; and
imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Meat Packing
and Food Processing Protection Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
"Employee." An individual who is employed by an employer.
"Employer." A business that employs 100 or more employees at
a single facility, including independent contractors and
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employees hired by a temporary hiring or staffing agency located
in this Commonwealth, and meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The business is any of the following:
(i) Licensed under the act of July 9, 1968 (P.L.304,
No.151), known as the Pennsylvania Meat and Poultry
Hygiene Law of 1968.
(ii) A food establishment subject to 3 Pa.C.S. Ch.
57 Subch. B (relating to food safety).
(iii) Subject to inspection by the Food Safety
Inspection Service under 21 U.S.C. Ch. 12 (relating to
meat inspection) or 15 (relating to egg products
inspection).
(2) The business is registered as a food facility under
THE Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness
and Response Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-188, 116 Stat. 594).
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TERM "FOOD FACILITY"
SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS "FACILITY" UNDER 21 CFR PT. 1
SUBPT. H (RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF FOOD FACILITIES) AS OF
MAY 1, 2026.
"Facility." The location of an employer where the employees
perform job-related duties or the following occurs, but shall
not be limited to the following:
(1) slaughtering or butchering;
(2) meat canning, meat packing or meat manufacturing;
(3) poultry canning, packing or manufacturing;
(4) pet food manufacturing;
(5) egg production;
(6) processing of meat packing products;
(7) commercial packaging;
(8) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling,
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baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of meat
products; or
(9) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling,
baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of products
intended for human consumption.
"Facility health and safety committee" or "committee." A
committee authorized and established under section 5.
"Industry workers' rights coordinator" or "coordinator." The
coordinator appointed by the secretary under section 5(j).
"Secretary." The Secretary of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
Section 3. Training provided by employer.
(a) Language.--Upon hire, an employer must provide to an
employee in the language that the employee speaks, if at least
5% of the employer's workforce speaks the language, information
on the following:
(1) Health risks directly associated with the duties of
employment, including repetitive strain injuries,
musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards under 29
U.S.C. Ch. 15 (relating to occupational safety and health)
and related Federal regulations.
(2) The employee's right to seek medical care for
injuries that occur as a result of employment under the act
of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
Compensation Act.
(3) A summary of the rights and requirements under 29
U.S.C. Ch. 15 and related Federal regulations.
(4) The facility health and safety committee established
under section 5.
(5) The employee's right to seek workers' compensation
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for work-related injuries.
(b) Training provided.--
(1) An employer shall provide worker safety training to
new employees during normal working hours and at the standard
rate of compensation.
(2) Training shall be available in languages spoken by
at least 5% of employees.
(3) Training shall be provided without a penalty imposed
by the employer.
(4) An employee shall have the right to additional
training, upon request, within 30 days of the employee's hire
date.
(5) An employee shall be paid the regular rate of pay
during training.
Section 4. Emergency medical transportation benefits.
If an employee is injured or becomes ill at the facility as a
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