HB 294 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for whistleblower protection and further providing for nonapplicability of subchapter.

PRINTER'S NO.   238

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 294
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, McNEILL, SHUSTERMAN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI,
        SANCHEZ, KENYATTA, CERRATO, KHAN, HOHENSTEIN, DONAHUE,
        SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD, DALEY, GREEN AND MADDEN,
        JANUARY 23, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
        JANUARY 23, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
 3      related offenses, providing for whistleblower protection and
 4      further providing for nonapplicability of subchapter.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 5557.1.   Whistleblower protection.
10      An employee of a business, nonprofit entity or government
11   entity subject to this subchapter shall be deemed to be an
12   employee under the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169),
13   known as the Whistleblower Law, with regard to a good faith
14   report of a potential violation of this subchapter. A business,
15   nonprofit entity or government entity subject to this subchapter
16   shall be deemed to be an employer under the Whistleblower Law
17   with regard to a good faith report of a potential violation of
 1   this subchapter.
 2      Section 2.      Section 5561(b)(6) introductory paragraph of
 3   Title 18 is amended to read:
 4   § 5561.    Nonapplicability of subchapter.
 5      * * *
 6      (b)    Exemptions.--The provisions of this subchapter shall not
 7   apply to the following:
 8             * * *
 9             (6)   Conduct performed on animals actively involved in a
10      bona fide scientific or medical research that is lawful under
11      the laws of the United States or this Commonwealth relating
12      to activities undertaken by a research facility that is one
13      of the following:
14                   * * *
15      Section 3.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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