Pennsylvania HB 1810: An Act providing for workplace violence prevention and emergency preparedness standards for retail employers and employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2225
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1810
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, WAXMAN AND
SANCHEZ, AUGUST 18, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, AUGUST 19, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for workplace violence prevention and emergency
preparedness standards for retail employers and employees;
imposing duties on 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 Retail Worker
Safety and Preparedness 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:
"Covered location." A permanent physical establishment that
is operated by a retail employer and open to the public in this
Commonwealth.
"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
"Larger facility." A commercial or public premises that
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contains one or more distinct business entities and is operated
under unified management or ownership, including an airport,
sports venue, shopping mall or convention center.
"Master operator." The person or entity responsible for the
overall security and emergency management operations of a larger
facility.
"Plan." The workplace violence prevention plan required
under section 3(a).
"Retail employer." A business entity that employs 15 or more
employees at a physical commercial location where goods or
services are sold directly to consumers.
"Workplace violence." An act or threat of physical violence,
harassment, intimidation or similar disruptive behavior that
occurs at a retail workplace.
Section 3. Workplace violence prevention plan.
(a) Development.--A retail employer shall develop and
maintain a written workplace violence prevention plan. The plan
shall include all of the following:
(1) Identification of potential workplace violence risks
specific to each covered location.
(2) Procedures for responding to incidents of workplace
violence.
(3) Designation of a supervisor or manager responsible
for implementation of the plan.
(4) Emergency contact and evacuation information posted
clearly in employee-accessible areas.
(b) Updates and access.--A retail employer shall review and
update the plan at least annually and shall make the plan
available to employees upon request.
Section 4. Employee training requirements.
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(a) Requirements.--A retail employer shall provide annual
training to employees on all of the following topics:
(1) Recognition of workplace violence or threats and
appropriate responses.
(2) Procedures for deescalation and seeking assistance.
(3) Procedures for reporting incidents of workplace
violence to a supervisor, manager or law enforcement
official, as appropriate.
(b) Language accessibility.--A retail employer shall provide
training in a language understood by each employee and shall
make translated training materials available when necessary to
ensure comprehension.
Section 5. Emergency communication devices.
(a) Applicability.--Except as provided under subsection (d),
this section shall apply to a retail employer that operates a
covered location with 40 or more on-site employees.
(b) Installation.--A retail employer shall install and
maintain panic buttons or similar emergency communication
devices at key frontline stations, including all of the
following:
(1) Checkout counters.
(2) Customer service desks.
(3) Security posts or loss prevention offices.
(c) Functionality.--A retail employer shall ensure that each
panic button or emergency communication device is configured to
immediately notify all of the following:
(1) On-site managers or security personnel.
(2) Local emergency services or an internal security
system with the capacity to escalate the alert to external
emergency responders.
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(d) Exception.--This section shall not apply to a covered
location that is situated within a larger facility if a master
operator is responsible for the security and emergency response
plan for the larger facility and the retail employer does not
control or maintain a separate emergency response plan for the
covered location.
Section 6. Enforcement.
(a) Administration.--The department shall administer and
enforce this act. For the purpose of administering and enforcing
this act, the department may:
(1) develop sample plans, templates and guidance
materials for retail employers;
(2) conduct inspections and request documentation to
verify compliance with this act; and
(3) issue notices of noncompliance and require
corrective action.
(b) Penalties.--The following shall apply to vi