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HB 1557

An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in COVID-19 enforcement officer disability benefits, further providing for enforcement officer disability benefits.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sheryl Delozier

Pennsylvania bill expands disability benefits for enforcement officers who contracted COVID-19 or suffered related disabilities during pandemic duty enforcement operations.

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
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Bill Summary · HB 1557

Legislative bill overview

HB 1557 amends Pennsylvania's health and safety laws to expand or modify disability benefits for law enforcement and other enforcement officers who suffer injuries or illnesses related to COVID-19 enforcement duties. The bill specifically targets benefits available to those who contracted COVID-19 or experienced related health complications while performing enforcement activities during the pandemic.

Why is this important

Many enforcement officers worked on the front lines of pandemic-related compliance checks and enforcement operations, potentially exposing themselves to heightened COVID-19 risk. This bill addresses whether and how the state compensates officers who suffered permanent disabilities from pandemic-related work exposure, which has real budgetary and policy implications for municipal and state employee benefit systems.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope definition: Determining which enforcement officers qualify (police, health inspectors, fire marshals, etc.) and what counts as "COVID-19 related" disability may be disputed
  • Benefit structure and cost: Expanding disability benefits increases state and municipal pension/benefit liabilities, creating fiscal concerns for local governments
  • Causation standards: Establishing clear medical and occupational causation requirements versus presumptive illness coverage (some states presume COVID-19 as work-related for first responders)

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

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