Pennsylvania HB 1629: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for public worker safety and protection.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1970
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1629
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RABB, KINKEAD, BURGOS, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS,
KRAJEWSKI, McNEILL, NEILSON, D. WILLIAMS, HOHENSTEIN, MAYES
AND DOUGHERTY, JUNE 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for public worker safety and
protection.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 71 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 34
PUBLIC WORKER SAFETY AND PROTECTION
Sec.
3401. Definitions.
3402. Workplace violence prevention policies.
3403. Training requirements.
3404. Incident reporting and worker support.
3405. Data collection and oversight.
3406. Enforcement and penalties.
§ 3401. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Employer." A public entity or agency employing outdoor
public workers.
"Outdoor public worker." A public employee whose duties
regularly place the employee in outdoor, public or
nontraditional workplace environments, including, but not
limited to, sanitation workers, crossing guards, utility
workers, code enforcement officers, park maintenance staff,
transportation workers, county assistance workers and other
similar roles designated by regulation.
"Violence." Any act or threat of physical force, harassment,
verbal abuse, intimidation or assault directed at an employee
during the performance of the duties of the employee.
§ 3402. Workplace violence prevention policies.
(a) Plan.--Each employer shall adopt and implement a written
workplace violence prevention plan tailored to the risks faced
by outdoor public workers. The plan shall include:
(1) Procedures for identifying and assessing risk
factors associated with specific work environments.
(2) Methods for reducing risk, including, but not
limited to, staffing protocols, route planning, use of
surveillance equipment and communications systems.
(3) Incident reporting and investigation procedures.
(4) Protocols for emergency response and coordination
with eligible community organizations or employers and law
enforcement.
(5) Regular reviews and updates of prevention
strategies.
(b) Review.--Employers shall review, at least quarterly,
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workplace violence incident reporting data, including reviewing
for patterns in type of incident, type of work, type of outdoor
public worker, location, timing and other commonalities between
incidents, and adapt the workplace violence prevention plans as
needed to reduce incidents.
(c) Threat assessments and safety team.--Employers shall, at
least twice annually, conduct risk and threat assessments at
work sites to further develop the risk management strategy of
the employer. Employers shall create a safety team or teams
consisting of individuals who are familiar with the unique
conditions, challenges and other factors relating to each unique
outdoor public worker role in order to create and update risk
management strategies that are appropriate for each role.
(d) Consultation.--Employers shall consult with employee
representatives or unions during the development and
implementation of the plan.
§ 3403. Training requirements.
(a) Mandatory training.--All outdoor public workers shall
receive mandatory training on workplace violence prevention,
including:
(1) Recognizing signs of aggression or potential
violence.
(2) Deescalation techniques.
(3) Procedures for safely disengaging and seeking
assistance.
(4) Legal rights and responsibilities.
(5) Procedures for reporting incidents and accessing
support services.
(b) Requirements.--Training shall be:
(1) Conducted within 30 days of hire.
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(2) Refreshed at least every two years or upon request.
(3) Delivered in formats accessible to workers of varied
literacy and language backgrounds.
§ 3404. Incident reporting and worker support.
(a) Reporting system.--Employers shall establish a
confidential and accessible reporting system for all incidents
or threats of violence.
(b) Worker support.--Outdoor public workers shall be
provided:
(1) Paid administrative leave for medical or
psychological recovery following documented incidents of
violence and for any court appearances necessary related to
such incident or incidents.
(2) Access to counseling or Employee Assistance
Programs.
(3) Legal support when testifying or pressing charges
related to a work-related assault or threat.
§ 3405. Data collection and oversight.
(a) Records.--Employers shall maintain records of all
reported incidents of violence against o