Pennsylvania 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 for State Fire Commissioner 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.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1122 PRINTER'S NO. 1624
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 980
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY YAW, MILLER, MALONE, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK,
PENNYCUICK, STEFANO, J. WARD, CULVER, VOGEL, ROBINSON, FARRY,
STREET AND SANTARSIERO, AUGUST 25, 2025
SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
AS AMENDED, APRIL 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 protective equipment; in grants to fire
companies and emergency medical services companies, further
providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. 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
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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. P ROTECTIVE 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:
§ 7390. Protection against PFAS chemicals.
(a) Firefighting foam management.--
(1) Except as provided under this subsection, beginning
July 1, 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 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,
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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: equipment and agents). If a Federal
requirement to include a PFAS chemical in class B
firefighting foam is revoked after July 1, 2025 JANUARY 1,
2027 , this subsection shall not apply for one year after the
requirement is revoked. The commissioner shall transmit
notice of the date of revocation to the Legislative Reference
Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(4) This subsection shall not apply to any part of an
exempt facility.
(b) Duties of commissioner.--The commissioner shall have the
following duties:
(1) Assist a firefighting entity with evaluating and
determining how to transition to the use of class B
firefighting foam that does not contain an intentionally
added PFAS chemical.
(2) I n consultation with the Department of Environmental
Protection, develop a plan for the responsible disposal,
transportation, storage and destruction of any unexpended
stock of class B firefighting foam containing an
intentionally added PFAS chemical upon request by a
firefighting entity. 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
containing an intentionally added PFAS chemical.
(3) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL
SERVICES, MAINTAIN A LIST OF VENDORS AUTHORIZED TO REMOVE AND
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INCUR LIABILITY IN THE TRANSPORT AND REMOVAL OF THE CLASS B
FIREFIGHTING FOAM CONTAINING AN INTENTIONALLY ADDED PFAS
CHEMICAL.
(c) Enforcement.-- The Department of Environmental Prot