HB 1303 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in other required equipment, providing for heat detection devices in emergency vehicles.

PRINTER'S NO.     1497

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1303
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, GIRAL, HILL-
        EVANS, CIRESI, HADDOCK, HOWARD, HARKINS AND GREEN,
        APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 28, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in other required equipment, providing for heat
 3      detection devices in emergency vehicles.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.     Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 4574.    Heat detection devices in emergency vehicles.
 9      (a)     Heat detection device.--An emergency vehicle
10   transporting a K-9 officer shall be equipped with a heat
11   detection device.
12      (b)     Minimum requirements.--A heat detection device installed
13   in an emergency vehicle transporting a K-9 officer shall, at a
14   minimum:
15             (1)   alert the vehicle operator that the vehicle has a
16      cabin temperature that is unsafe for the K-9 officer by
17      utilizing the horn, sirens and lights; and
 1            (2)   automatically roll down two windows when the vehicle
 2      reaches an unsafe cabin temperature.
 3      (c)   Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
 4   regulations governing the type, function, installation,
 5   temperature limits and use of heat detection devices, taking
 6   into consideration different requirements for different classes
 7   or types of vehicles. The department shall have the authority to
 8   regulate the performance of heat detection devices on a vehicle.
 9      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
10   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
11   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
12      "Heat detection device."    An apparatus that measures the
13   temperature inside a vehicle passenger space, alerts the vehicle
14   operator of an unsafe temperature inside the vehicle and
15   activates the vehicle's electromechanical systems in order to
16   cool the vehicle to a safe temperature.
17      "K-9 officer."    A dog used by the Pennsylvania State Police,
18   a police department established by a metropolitan transportation
19   authority operating under 74 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to
20   metropolitan transportation authorities), a police department
21   established by a port authority established under the act of
22   April 6, 1956 (1955 P.L.1414, No.465), known as the Second Class
23   County Port Authority Act, the Capitol Police, the Department of
24   Corrections, a county facility or office or a municipal police
25   department, fire department, search and rescue unit or agency or
26   handler under the supervision of the department, search and
27   rescue unit or agency in the performance of the functions or
28   duties of the department, search and rescue unit or agency,
29   whether the animal is on duty or not on duty. The term includes
30   an accelerant detection dog, bomb detection dog, narcotic

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1   detection dog, search and rescue dog and tracking animal.
2      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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