Pennsylvania HB 2385: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to emergency management services, providing for minors serving in volunteer emergency service organizations; making a repeal; and making an editorial change.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3199
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2385
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY STENDER, CAUSER, FLEMING, KEPHART, KUZMA AND
WATRO, APRIL 14, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 15, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating
to emergency management services, providing for minors
serving in volunteer emergency service organizations; making
a repeal; and making an editorial change.
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 a section to read:
§ 7715. Minors serving in volunteer emergency service
organizations.
(a) Limitations of minors.--
(1) An individual who is 14 years of age or older who is
a member of a volunteer emergency service organization may
participate in training and emergency service activities
except as follows:
(i) A minor may not operate a truck, ambulance or
other official fire vehicle.
(ii) A minor may not operate an aerial ladder,
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aerial platform or hydraulic jack.
(iii) A minor may not use rubber electrical gloves,
insulated wire gloves, insulated wire cutters, life nets
or acetylene cutting units.
(iv) A minor may not operate the pump of a fire
vehicle while at the scene of a fire.
(v) A minor may not enter a burning structure under
any circumstance except when engaged in a training
session for an interior firefighting module with live
burns and all of the following apply:
(A) The minor is 17 years of age or older.
(B) The minor has permission to engage in the
training from a fire chief and a parent or guardian
of the minor.
(C) The minor is under the supervision of a
credentialed Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
instructor.
(vi) A minor may not engage in firefighting
activities unless all of the following apply:
(A) The minor is 16 years of age or older.
(B) The minor has successfully completed a
course of training equal to the standards for basic
firefighting established by the State Fire
Commissioner.
(C) The minor is under the direct supervision
and control of the fire chief, an experienced line
officer or a designated forest fire warden.
(2) In addition to the limitations under paragraph (1),
the activities of individuals over 13 years of age and under
16 years of age shall be further limited as follows:
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(i) An individual who is over 13 years of age and
under 16 years of age shall only be permitted to perform
the following activities:
(A) Training.
(B) First aid.
(C) Cleanup service at the scene of a fire,
outside the structure and after the fire has been
declared by the fire official in charge to be under
control.
(D) Serving food and beverages.
(ii) An individual who is over 13 years of age and
under 16 years of age may not do any of the following:
(A) Operate high pressure hose lines except
during training activities. A high pressure hose line
is any water hose used for fire suppression with a
pressure greater than 150 psi, any air hose with a
pressure greater than 100 psi and any hydraulic hose
used for rescue tools with a pressure greater than
1,000 psi.
(B) Ascend ladders except during training
activities.
(b) Authority of State Fire Commissioner.--
(1) The State Fire Commissioner, in consultation with
the State Fire Advisory Board, may prohibit other activities
that the State Fire Commissioner deems hazardous to the
health of minors through regulation.
(2) Until modified or deleted by the State Fire
Commissioner, 34 Pa. Code § 11.67 (relating to training and
firefighting) shall be deemed regulations of the State Fire
Commissioner under this subsection.
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(c) Restrictions on activities of minors.--
(1) Except as provided for under this subsection, this
section does not supersede any other provision of this title
or any regulation promulgated under this title.
(2) A minor may continue serving in answer to a fire
call until excused by the individual acting as chief of the
fire company if the minor:
(i) is 16 years of age or older;
(ii) is a member of a volunteer fire company; and
(iii) answers a fire call while lawfully employed.
(3) An individual who is 14 or 15 years of age may
engage in training or firefighting activities permitted under
this section until 10 p.m. before a school day if the minor:
(i) is a member of a volunteer fire company; and
(ii) has the written consent of the minor's parent
or legal guardian.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Minor." An individual under 18 years of age.
"Volunteer