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HB 2646

An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in quality health care accountability and protection, further providing for medical policies and clinical review criteria.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nate Davidson and 4 co-sponsors

Creates six regional Special Emergency Response Teams within the PA State Police, with mutual training and defined duties to handle high-intensity incidents.

Referred to Insurance
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2646

Summary of HB 2646 (Session 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to amend Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by adding a new chapter that establishes and governs Special Emergency Response Teams (SERTs) within the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).
  • The underlying focus appears to be on organizing tactical response capabilities across six regional teams to respond to incidents requiring timely and skilled intervention.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of six Special Emergency Response Teams (SERTs):
    • The PSP shall establish six regional response teams comprised of PSP officers or members to handle high-intensity, tactical incidents.
  • Geographic implementation:
    • One SERT will be assigned to each of six geographic regions: 1) Northwest 2) North Central 3) Northeast 4) Southeast 5) Central-South Central 6) Southwest
  • Duties and scope of operations:
    • The Commissioner of PSP, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), will determine the scope of duties for the SERTs.
  • Training requirements:
    • Mandatory training for SERTs, including:
    • Safe entry into buildings and room clearing
    • Internal team coordination and communication
    • Threat identification and decision-making under stress
    • Use of cover and concealment in dynamic environments
    • Prevention of friendly fire and crossfire
    • Scenario-based training emphasizing officer safety, civilian protection, and lawful use of force
  • Selection process:
    • The Commissioner will determine how officers/members are selected for inclusion in the SERTs and will provide the criteria to PSP personnel across regions.
  • Definitions:
    • The bill provides definitions for terms used in the section, including Commission (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency), Commissioner (PSP Commissioner), and Response Team (SERT established under the section).
  • Effective date:
    • The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Who or what would be affected

  • Primary entity: Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) would create and manage the six regional SERTs.
  • Governing/auditing bodies: The PSP Commissioner, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), would define duties and oversee training and selection criteria.
  • Regional jurisdictions: Six predefined geographic regions would each house a dedicated SERT, potentially impacting regional budget allocations, staffing, and training resources.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: As of action history, the bill was introduced and referred to the Judiciary committee (December 3, 2025).
  • Subsequent actions: On June 17, 2026, the bill was referred to the Insurance committee. Note: The action history in the record shows Insurance as the latest committee referral, which may indicate a cross-jurisdictional routing or a labeling inconsistency in the record.
  • Effective date: 60 days after enactment (calendar timing to be determined post-enactment).

Potential implications and considerations

  • Establishing SERTs could enhance tactical response capabilities across Pennsylvania but may require substantial funding for personnel, training, equipment, and ongoing operations.
  • The collaboration with PCCD suggests a broader framework for crime and delinquency programming, potentially integrating with other public safety and crisis response initiatives.
  • Training requirements emphasize safety, civilian protection, and lawful use of force, which could influence department policies and operating procedures.
  • The bill’s alignment with the Insurance Committee (per current referral in the record) may reflect cross-cutting considerations or a procedural routing anomaly; further committee review would clarify the intended jurisdiction and scope.

If you’d like, I can track amendments, provide a side-by-side with current law, or summarize fiscal implications once a fiscal note is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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