Harrisburg, PA — Legislation in Pennsylvania aimed at protecting public school employees from workplace violence and funding health care facility threat assessments has advanced in the state House with bipartisan support.
H.B. 2341, sponsored by Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny/Washington) and approved by the House Health Committee on June 2, would establish a health care facility threat assessment grant program. The program would help facilities conduct security risk assessments and upgrade safety measures, which could include purchasing equipment such as metal detectors, lighting, emergency communication tools, deadbolt locks and trauma kits.
The grants also could be used for training on safety, security, and threat awareness and response.
“These are important initiatives to help vulnerable workers at a time when attacks are sadly too common,” bill co-sponsor Rep. Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) said in a press release.
Mehaffie also sponsored H.B. 1919, which would guarantee a public school employee injured in an assault by a student, parent or guardian full pay and benefits for up to a year while they recover.
The bill, approved by the House Education Committee on June 2, would also ensure injured public school employees – including teachers, social workers and aides – don’t lose accumulated sick or paid leave and that they continue to receive full pension credit during recovery.
“I’m hopeful the bipartisan support of these measures will help them get quick review and overwhelming approval by the full House,” Mehaffie said in the release. “These are common sense and overdue.”