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 em, the official text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1533, 2885
PRINTER'S NO.  3058
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
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 23, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 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.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Section 2172(a) and (c) of Title 53 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
SECTION 1.  THE DEFINITION OF "POLICE ANIMAL" IN SECTION 5531
OF TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED
TO READ:
§ 5531.  DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS SUBCHAPTER
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
* * *
"POLICE ANIMAL."  AN ANIMAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
DOGS AND HORSES, USED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE, A POLICE
DEPARTMENT CREATED BY A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
OPERATING UNDER 74 PA.C.S. CH. 17 (RELATING TO METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES), A POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED UNDER
THE ACT OF APRIL 6, 1956 (1955 P.L.1414, NO.465), KNOWN AS THE
SECOND CLASS COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY ACT, THE CAPITOL POLICE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, A
COUNTY FACILITY OR OFFICE OR BY A MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT,
FIRE DEPARTMENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT OR AGENCY OR HANDLER
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT
OR AGENCY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUNCTIONS OR DUTIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT OR AGENCY, WHETHER THE ANIMAL
IS ON DUTY OR NOT ON DUTY. THE TERM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
LIMITED TO, AN ACCELERANT DETECTION DOG, BOMB DETECTION DOG,
NARCOTIC DETECTION DOG, SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG AND TRACKING
ANIMAL.
* * *
SECTION 2.  SECTION 2172(A) AND (C) OF TITLE 53 ARE AMENDED
TO READ:
§ 2172.  Canine training standards for police officers.
(a)  Establishment.--The commission, in collaboration with
the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police department
canine units or officers, shall establish police officer canine
training and certification standards, including all of the
following:
(1)  Standards for initial certifications.
(2)  Standards for maintenance certifications.
(3)  Record-keeping policies and procedures for police
department canine units or officers.
(4)  Standards for    safety protocols for canine units that
may be exposed to      fentanyl. In developing the    standards under
this paragraph, the following shall be consulted:
(i)  Experts that train canines to imprint on
controlled substances.
(ii)  Law enforcement that use canines to detect
controlled substances.
(iii)  Experts on the training of canines for use by
law enforcement.
(iv)  Licensed medical professionals and
veterinarians with    experience    in:
(A)       Standard      protocols to minimize exposure of
canines and canine      handlers to opioids and opioid
derivatives, including      fentanyl and fentanyl
derivatives.
(B)  Detecting clinical signs of fentanyl
exposure.
(C)  Intervening with timely and appropriate
medical and veterinary medical treatment in the
field, during stabilization and transport, and in-
hospital following exposure to opioids and opioid
derivatives, including fentanyl and fentanyl
derivatives.
* * *
(c)  Notice.--The commission shall transmit notice of the
standards established and updated under this section to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Section 2 3.  This act shall take effect in 180 days.