WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 213

An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for confidential communications involving emergency responders and providing for mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 26 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania bill strengthens mental health confidentiality for emergency responders and mandates mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers to reduce trauma-related crisis among first responders.

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 213

Legislative bill overview

HB 213 amends Pennsylvania's health and safety laws to strengthen mental health protections for emergency responders and 911 dispatchers. The bill expands confidentiality protections for communications between emergency responders and mental health professionals, and establishes mental health evaluation requirements or processes for 911 dispatchers.

Why is this important

Emergency responders and dispatchers face high rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide due to occupational stress and trauma exposure. Strengthening confidentiality protections encourages these workers to seek mental health support without fear of career consequences, while formalized mental health evaluations for dispatchers can identify crisis intervention needs early.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of confidentiality vs. public safety concerns: Defining which communications stay confidential versus when disclosure is required for public safety (e.g., fitness-for-duty determinations) could create legal ambiguity
  • Implementation costs: Establishing mandatory mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers across all Pennsylvania jurisdictions may require significant funding and training resources
  • Employer liability and privacy balance: Employers may worry about liability exposure if mental health records are protected but incidents occur, versus employee privacy rights

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

Sign in to ask a question.