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

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
 1   Amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for public worker safety and
 3      protection.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Title 71 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 8                                CHAPTER 34
 9                    PUBLIC WORKER SAFETY AND PROTECTION
10   Sec.
11   3401.   Definitions.
12   3402.   Workplace violence prevention policies.
13   3403.   Training requirements.
14   3404.   Incident reporting and worker support.
15   3405.   Data collection and oversight.
16   3406.   Enforcement and penalties.
17   § 3401.   Definitions.
18      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 1   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 2   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 3      "Employer."     A public entity or agency employing outdoor
 4   public workers.
 5      "Outdoor public worker."     A public employee whose duties
 6   regularly place the employee in outdoor, public or
 7   nontraditional workplace environments, including, but not
 8   limited to, sanitation workers, crossing guards, utility
 9   workers, code enforcement officers, park maintenance staff,
10   transportation workers, county assistance workers and other
11   similar roles designated by regulation.
12      "Violence."     Any act or threat of physical force, harassment,
13   verbal abuse, intimidation or assault directed at an employee
14   during the performance of the duties of the employee.
15   § 3402.    Workplace violence prevention policies.
16      (a)    Plan.--Each employer shall adopt and implement a written
17   workplace violence prevention plan tailored to the risks faced
18   by outdoor public workers. The plan shall include:
19             (1)   Procedures for identifying and assessing risk
20      factors associated with specific work environments.
21             (2)   Methods for reducing risk, including, but not
22      limited to, staffing protocols, route planning, use of
23      surveillance equipment and communications systems.
24             (3)   Incident reporting and investigation procedures.
25             (4)   Protocols for emergency response and coordination
26      with eligible community organizations or employers and law
27      enforcement.
28             (5)   Regular reviews and updates of prevention
29      strategies.
30      (b)    Review.--Employers shall review, at least quarterly,

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 1   workplace violence incident reporting data, including reviewing
 2   for patterns in type of incident, type of work, type of outdoor
 3   public worker, location, timing and other commonalities between
 4   incidents, and adapt the workplace violence prevention plans as
 5   needed to reduce incidents.
 6      (c)    Threat assessments and safety team.--Employers shall, at
 7   least twice annually, conduct risk and threat assessments at
 8   work sites to further develop the risk management strategy of
 9   the employer. Employers shall create a safety team or teams
10   consisting of individuals who are familiar with the unique
11   conditions, challenges and other factors relating to each unique
12   outdoor public worker role in order to create and update risk
13   management strategies that are appropriate for each role.
14      (d)    Consultation.--Employers shall consult with employee
15   representatives or unions during the development and
16   implementation of the plan.
17   § 3403.    Training requirements.
18      (a)    Mandatory training.--All outdoor public workers shall
19   receive mandatory training on workplace violence prevention,
20   including:
21             (1)   Recognizing signs of aggression or potential
22      violence.
23             (2)   Deescalation techniques.
24             (3)   Procedures for safely disengaging and seeking
25      assistance.
26             (4)   Legal rights and responsibilities.
27             (5)   Procedures for reporting incidents and accessing
28      support services.
29      (b)    Requirements.--Training shall be:
30             (1)   Conducted within 30 days of hire.

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 1             (2)   Refreshed at least every two years or upon request.
 2             (3)   Delivered in formats accessible to workers of varied
 3      literacy and language backgrounds.
 4   § 3404.    Incident reporting and worker support.
 5      (a)    Reporting system.--Employers shall establish a
 6   confidential and accessible reporting system for all incidents
 7   or threats of violence.
 8      (b)    Worker support.--Outdoor public workers shall be
 9   provided:
10             (1)   Paid administrative leave for medical or
11      psychological recovery following documented incidents of
12      violence and for any court appearances necessary related to
13      such incident or incidents.
14             (2)   Access to counseling or Employee Assistance
15      Programs.
16             (3)   Legal support when testifying or pressing charges
17      related to a work-related assault or threat.
18   § 3405.    Data collection and oversight.
19      (a)    Records.--Employers shall maintain records of all
20   reported incidents of violence against outdoor public workers,
21   including the nature of the incident, time, location and
22   response measures taken.
23      (b)    Oversight.--The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
24   Delinquency shall:
25             (1)   Aggregate data annually and submit a report to the
26      General Assembly.
27             (2)   Monitor compliance and recommend best practices.
28             (3)   Establish a grant program for local government units
29      to improve safety infrastructure and training for public
30      outdoor workers.

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1   § 3406.   Enforcement and penalties.
2      (a)    Fines and corrective action.--Employers who fail to
3   implement the requirements of this chapter shall be subject to
4   administrative fines and required to submit a corrective action
5   plan.
6      (b)    Retaliation.--Employees who are retaliated against for
7   reporting incidents or participating in training shall have
8   recourse under State labor and employment protections.
9      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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