York County News

Legislation sponsored by Senator Mike Regan (R-Cumberland/York) to expand the list of law enforcement entities covered under the Enforcement Officer Disability Law, also known as the Heart and Lung Act, has achieved final passage in the House of Representatives and now awaits the Governor's signature.

The bill, Senate Bill 429, aims to level the playing field across Pennsylvania's law enforcement community by providing Heart and Lung benefits to individuals who face on-the-job dangers that can result in serious injuries or health impacts causing lost time from work. Senator Regan expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in both the Senate and the House for supporting this legislation and recognizing the need to update the Heart and Lung Act.

Pennsylvania's Heart and Lung Act currently provides for salary and medical expenses to be paid when an officer or firefighter is injured on the job. However, the legislation sponsored by Senator Regan expands these benefits to include several law enforcement entities that were previously not covered. These entities include DCNR Rangers and State Park Officers, members of Fort Indiantown Gap Police, commissioned police officers within the Department of Corrections’ Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence, investigative staff within the Office of State Inspector General, and Allegheny County Housing Authority Police.

In addition, the bill includes opt-in provisions for counties to provide benefits to corrections and probation officers, state-owned, -related, and -aided universities and community colleges to provide benefits to campus police, and housing and transit authorities to provide benefits to authority police officers.

Senator Regan emphasized the importance of extending these benefits to the additional law enforcement officers, stating, "This legislation is long overdue in leveling the playing field across our state’s great law enforcement community and providing Heart and Lung benefits to individuals that face on-the-job dangers."

The bill has received bipartisan support and is now awaiting Governor Shapiro's signature to become law. Senator Regan expressed his anticipation for the Governor's approval, saying, "I look forward to Governor Shapiro signing the bill into law."

For more information, please contact Bruce McLanahan at (717)-787-8524.

Click this link to access more information: https://senatorregan.com/2023/12/13/regan-heart-and-lung-bill-heads-to-governor/