Pennsylvania SB 1399: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, providing for emergency preparedness requirements for covered facilities; and imposing duties on the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1855
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1399
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, HAYWOOD, CAPPELLETTI, COSTA, VOGEL,
KIM, TARTAGLIONE, HUGHES, KANE, KEARNEY, MALONE, COMITTA,
SCHWANK, COLLETT, MILLER AND L. WILLIAMS, JUNE 26, 2026
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
JUNE 26, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, providing
for emergency preparedness requirements for covered
facilities; and imposing duties on the Department of Health,
the Department of Human Services and the Department of Drug
and Alcohol Programs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 73 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER B.1
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS
FOR COVERED FACILITIES
Sec.
7329.1. Definitions.
7329.2. Emergency preparedness plan.
7329.3. Coordination and distribution.
7329.4. Review and update of plan.
7329.5. Enforcement.
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7329.6. Confidentiality.
7329.7. Regulations.
§ 7329.1. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Covered facility." A facility licensed or regulated by the
Commonwealth that is any of the following:
(1) A health care facility licensed by the Department of
Health under the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
as the Health Care Facilities Act, including a long-term care
nursing facility.
(2) A personal care home or assisted living residence
licensed by the Department of Human Services.
(3) A child day-care center, group child-care home or
family child-care home regulated by the Department of Human
Services.
(4) A drug and alcohol treatment facility or recovery
house licensed, certified or regulated by the Department of
Drug and Alcohol Programs.
(5) Another residential or day-use facility that serves
a vulnerable population and that is licensed or regulated by
the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services,
as determined by the Department of Health or the Department
of Human Services.
"Emergency preparedness plan." A written plan developed,
maintained and implemented by a covered facility under section
7329.2(a) (relating to emergency preparedness plan).
"Local emergency responder." Any of the following that
provides or may provide emergency response services to a covered
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facility:
(1) A law enforcement agency.
(2) A fire department or fire company.
(3) An emergency medical services agency.
(4) A rescue squad.
(5) A county emergency management agency.
"Material revision." A revision to an emergency preparedness
plan that revises the information required under section
7329.2(b) or otherwise revises the information provided under
section 7329.3 (relating to coordination and distribution).
§ 7329.2. Emergency preparedness plan.
(a) Plan required.--A covered facility shall develop,
maintain and implement a written emergency preparedness plan to
address fire, explosion, evacuation, shelter-in-place and other
hazards that may threaten the health or safety of a resident,
staff member or visitor.
(b) Minimum requirements.--An emergency preparedness plan
shall include all of the following:
(1) Procedures to account for each resident, staff
member and visitor during an emergency, including methods to
track the status of and communicate information about an
individual to a local emergency responder.
(2) Identification of a designated on-site emergency
coordinator who has authority during an emergency and is
responsible for communication and coordination with a local
emergency responder.
(3) Essential preincident information necessary to
support an emergency response, including information relating
to facility layout, building systems, access points, utility
shutoffs and evacuation procedures.
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§ 7329.3. Coordination and distribution.
(a) Distribution requirement.--A covered facility shall
provide to each local emergency responder a current copy of the
facility's emergency preparedness plan or a standardized summary
of the plan in the form required by the Department of Health ,
the Department of Human Services and the Department of Drug and
Alcohol Programs for covered facilities under their respective
jurisdictions.
(b) Timing.--A covered facility shall provide the emergency
preparedness plan or summary required under subsection (a):
(1) upon initial development of the plan;
(2) after each annual review required under section
7329.4 (relating to review and update of plan); and
(3) within 30 days after a material revision to the
plan.
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