HR 280 — A Resolution directing the Department of Corrections to conduct an environmental study of each State correctional institution to determine if individuals housed in each State correctional institution are being exposed to harmful, hazardous or unsanitary conditions and to ensure that individuals housed in each State correctional institution are receiving clean air and pure water.

PRINTER'S NO.    2088

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 280
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, HILL-EVANS, RABB, WAXMAN, PIELLI, WARREN,
        PARKER, K.HARRIS, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        D. WILLIAMS, FLEMING, FIEDLER, KHAN, HADDOCK AND SALISBURY,
        JULY 7, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 7, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Department of Corrections to conduct an
 2      environmental study of each State correctional institution
 3      to determine if individuals housed in each State correctional
 4      institution are being exposed to harmful, hazardous or
 5      unsanitary conditions and to ensure that individuals housed
 6      in each State correctional institution are receiving clean
 7      air and pure water.
 8         WHEREAS, Section 27 of Article I of the Constitution of
 9   Pennsylvania guarantees the right of people in this Commonwealth
10   to clean air and pure water; and
11         WHEREAS, These rights extend to all Pennsylvanians, including
12   those who are incarcerated in State correctional institutions;
13   and
14         WHEREAS, Individuals who are incarcerated in State
15   correctional institutions have found their environments to be
16   unclean, unsanitary and unsafe; and
17         WHEREAS, For example, the former Fayette County Prison was
18   built in close proximity to toxic waste disposal areas, which
19   was hazardous to the health and safety of individuals housed in
 1   that institution and the staff who worked there; and
 2      WHEREAS, While some State correctional institutions have been
 3   moved or rebuilt, incarcerated individuals and State
 4   correctional officers continue to report serious pest
 5   infestations, black mold, exposed wiring, sewer issues, lack of
 6   running water and extreme temperature fluctuations in State
 7   correctional institutions throughout this Commonwealth; and
 8      WHEREAS, Failure to identify and implement changes to provide
 9   individuals who are incarcerated in State correctional
10   institutions with clean, supportive environments directly
11   impacts the rehabilitative goal of incarceration; and
12      WHEREAS, Forcing incarcerated individuals to live in poor
13   conditions directly violates the Eighth Amendment to the
14   Constitution of the United States, which prohibits cruel and
15   unusual punishment; and
16      WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has an obligation to uphold the
17   Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of
18   Pennsylvania and to protect all Pennsylvanians in an equitable
19   manner, including Pennsylvanians who are incarcerated in State
20   correctional institutions; therefore be it
21      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
22   Department of Corrections to conduct an environmental study of
23   each State correctional institution to determine if individuals
24   housed in each State correctional institution are being exposed
25   to harmful, hazardous or unsanitary conditions and to ensure
26   that individuals housed in each State correctional institution
27   are receiving clean air and pure water; and be it further
28      RESOLVED, That the Department of Corrections collaborate with
29   the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of
30   Health, the Department of Human Services and any other State

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 1   agency as necessary to conduct the study; and be it further
 2      RESOLVED, That the study, at a minimum, identify all of the
 3   following:
 4          (1)   Health or safety hazards within each State
 5      correctional institution.
 6          (2)   The impact of each health or safety hazard on both
 7      incarcerated individuals and State correctional institution
 8      staff.
 9          (3)   Estimates on the cost to fix all identified issues
10      for each State correctional institution.
11          (4)   Recommendations for improving the health and safety
12      conditions of each State correctional institution;
13   and be it further
14      RESOLVED, That the Department of Corrections submit a report
15   with its findings and recommendations within 24 months of the
16   adoption of this resolution to all of the following:
17          (1)   The President pro tempore of the Senate.
18          (2)   The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
19          (3)   The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
20      Senate.
21          (4)   The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House
22      of Representatives.
23          (5)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
24      Judiciary Committee of the Senate.
25          (6)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
26      Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives.




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