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HB 676

An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the First Responder Resilience Grant Program and the First Responder Resilience Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 13 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania bill establishes a grant program and fund for first responder mental health and resilience services, managed by the state Emergency Management Agency.

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
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Bill Summary · HB 676

Legislative bill overview

HB 676 establishes a new grant program in Pennsylvania designed to support first responders' mental health and resilience. The bill creates both the First Responder Resilience Grant Program and a dedicated funding mechanism (the Grant Program Fund), while assigning implementation responsibilities to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Why is this important

First responders face elevated rates of PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and suicide compared to the general population. Dedicated grant funding could enable police departments, fire departments, EMS services, and other agencies to implement peer support programs, mental health training, and crisis intervention services that many smaller departments cannot currently afford.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source and amount: The bill does not specify how the fund will be financed (general revenue, dedicated tax, grant allocations) or what budget level is anticipated, raising questions about fiscal sustainability
  • Eligibility and distribution criteria: Unclear whether grants will favor larger urban departments or include rural/volunteer departments, and what metrics determine funding priority
  • PEMA's administrative capacity: Assigning implementation to the Emergency Management Agency (typically focused on disaster response) rather than health or labor departments may create implementation challenges or turf conflicts

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

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