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Bill

HB 2435

An Act imposing dementia care training requirements for certain emergency medical services providers; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Health.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 30 co-sponsors

The bill would require certain EMS providers in Pennsylvania to complete dementia care training, with the Department of Health establishing standards and overseeing compliance.

Referred to Aging & Older Adult Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2435

Summary of HB 2435 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and Intention

HB 2435 is an Act that would establish dementia care training requirements for certain emergency medical services (EMS) providers and outline related powers and duties for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The bill aims to improve the quality of care for individuals with dementia who come into contact with EMS personnel, ensuring responders have at least a minimum level of dementia-specific training.

Key Provisions (Substantive Changes)

  • Dementia Care Training Requirement for EMS Providers
    • The bill mandates that specified EMS personnel receive dementia care training. While the exact frequency, content, and duration of training are not listed in the provided summary, typical provisions would cover recognizing dementia symptoms, communication strategies, handling responsive and disoriented individuals, safety considerations, and best practices for patient rights and dignity.
  • Department of Health Powers and Duties
    • The bill authorizes or directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health to establish, administer, or oversee the dementia care training program for EMS providers. This could include setting training standards, approving curricula, providing or approving training providers, and certifying compliance.
  • Implementation and Compliance Framework
    • Implicitly, there would be mechanisms for EMS agencies to implement the training, track completion, and demonstrate compliance to the Department of Health. This may include reporting requirements, timelines for meeting the training mandate, and consequences for non-compliance.
  • Scope and Applicability
    • The provisions apply to “certain EMS providers.” The exact scope (e.g., emergency medical technicians, paramedics, ambulance services, or other EMS personnel) is defined in the bill text; the summary indicates a targeted subset of EMS personnel rather than all health professionals.

Who Would Be Affected

  • EMS Personnel and Agencies
    • Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and potentially other EMS staff who provide emergency medical services would need to obtain dementia care training.
  • EMS Organizations and Operators
    • Ambulance services, fire-rescue departments, hospital-based EMS programs, and independent EMS providers would be responsible for ensuring staff training compliance.
  • Department of Health
    • The Department would oversee program development, standards, and enforcement, including guidance, curricula approval, and monitoring compliance.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Referred to Committee
    • As of the latest action, HB 2435 has been referred to the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee (April 21, 2026). A public hearing was conducted by the committee on April 27, 2026.
  • Next Steps
    • The bill would need committee consideration, potential amendments, a vote in the House, and then consideration by the Senate, followed by any conferenced adjustments before a final passage and the governor’s signature.
  • Effective Date
    • The summary does not specify an effective date. If enacted, the bill would typically include an effective date or a phased implementation timeline for training requirements.

Notes and Considerations

  • The bill’s text would specify the exact training standards, whether online or in-person, refresher requirements, and any exemptions or transitional provisions for existing EMS staff.
  • The impact could include initial training costs for EMS agencies and potential state funding or grants to support program rollout, as well as improved outcomes for dementia patients during EMS encounters.

If you’d like, I can pull the exact text of the bill to extract detailed provisions (e.g., training duration, content areas, certifications, and enforcement mechanisms) and add a comparison with existing Pennsylvania EMS training requirements.

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

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