In licensing of health care facilities, providing for firearms policy.
Summary
HB1064 would amend Pennsylvania’s Health Care Facilities Act to require health care facilities to adopt and publicly post a firearms policy. Each covered facility would have to state whether firearms and firearm accessories, including ammunition, are prohibited or allowed on the premises. If firearms are allowed, the policy must address safe carrying and storage; if firearms are prohibited, the policy must explain what employees should do if someone enters with a firearm.
The bill defines “health care facility” broadly to include facilities regulated under the Health Care Facilities Act, facilities under the Mental Health Procedures Act, urgent care centers, dental offices or treatment facilities, and any other location where medical services are rendered. The measure would take effect 60 days after enactment and would add a new section to the licensing provisions of the Health Care Facilities Act.
Impact
The bill would create a new statutory requirement for covered medical providers and facilities to maintain and publicly disclose a firearms policy, adding a new Section 823 to the Health Care Facilities Act. It would affect hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities, urgent care centers, dental practices, and other sites where medical services are provided by imposing policy-development and notice obligations, and potentially requiring staff procedures for responding to armed individuals. The bill does not itself ban or authorize firearms in health care settings; instead, it requires facilities to make their rules explicit and operational.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available record shows no documented public sentiment, amendments, or floor debate. The bill’s sponsors suggest an interest in clarifying firearms rules in health care settings, but there is no evidence in the provided materials of formal support or opposition beyond the introduction of the measure.
Contention
The main policy tension is between health care facility safety and firearm access on private or quasi-public medical premises. Supporters are likely to favor clearer, publicly available rules and staff procedures for handling firearms in clinics and hospitals, while opponents may object to the burden on facilities, the breadth of the definition of covered locations, or the possibility that the bill normalizes firearms in sensitive health care environments. Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, specific legislators or stakeholder groups cannot be identified from the record.
In licensing of health care facilities, providing for hospital pricing transparency; providing for acquisition of health care facilities; and conferring powers to the Department of Health and Attorney General.