HB 1344 — An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for definitions; and, in employees, further providing for canine training standards for police officers.

PRINTER'S NO.     1533

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1344
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY ARMANINI, JAMES, SMITH, M. MACKENZIE, GILLEN,
        SCHEUREN, MENTZER, MIHALEK, RIGBY, KAUFFMAN, GAYDOS, FEE AND
        CIRESI, APRIL 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 30, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in employees, further providing for
 3      canine training standards for police officers.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.     Section 2172(a) and (c) of Title 53 of the
 7   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
 8   § 2172.    Canine training standards for police officers.
 9      (a)    Establishment.--The commission, in collaboration with
10   the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police department
11   canine units or officers, shall establish police officer canine
12   training and certification standards, including all of the
13   following:
14             (1)   Standards for initial certifications.
15             (2)   Standards for maintenance certifications.
16             (3)   Record-keeping policies and procedures for police
17      department canine units or officers.
18             (4)   Standards for the training and certification of
 1      canine units to detect fentanyl. In developing the training
 2      and standards under this paragraph, the following shall be
 3      consulted:
 4                (i)    Experts that train canines to imprint on
 5            controlled substances.
 6                (ii)    Law enforcement that use canines to detect
 7            controlled substances.
 8                (iii)    Experts on the training of canines for use by
 9            law enforcement.
10                (iv)    Licensed medical professionals and
11            veterinarians with expertise in:
12                       (A)   Developing and implementing protocols to
13                minimize exposure of canines and canine handlers to
14                opioids and opioid derivatives, including fentanyl
15                and fentanyl derivatives.
16                       (B)   Detecting clinical signs of fentanyl
17                exposure.
18                       (C)   Intervening with timely and appropriate
19                medical and veterinary medical treatment in the
20                field, during stabilization and transport, and in-
21                hospital following exposure to opioids and opioid
22                derivatives, including fentanyl and fentanyl
23                derivatives.
24      * * *
25      (c)   Notice.--The commission shall transmit notice of the
26   standards established and updated under this section to the
27   Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
28   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
29      Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.



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