Pennsylvania House Bill HB2385

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/15/26
• Refer: 4/15/26

Caption

In miscellaneous provisions relating to emergency management services, providing for minors serving in volunteer emergency service organizations; making a repeal; and making an editorial change.

Summary

HB2385 would create a new section in Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes governing the participation of minors in volunteer emergency service organizations. It sets age-based limits and safety restrictions for minors who are at least 14 years old and participate in volunteer fire, ambulance, rescue, forest firefighting, or similar emergency service organizations. The bill allows limited training and support activities for younger minors, while imposing stricter rules for firefighting, live-burn training, and the operation of fire apparatus and specialized equipment. The bill also preserves and updates an existing high school EMS recruitment pilot program so that it is conducted under the new Title 35 section rather than the repealed Child Labor Act provision. It repeals the prior Child Labor Act definition and section governing volunteer emergency service organizations, but states that the new Title 35 provision is a continuation of the old law, meaning existing rules, orders, and agreements generally remain in effect unless changed. The act would take effect one year after enactment.

Impact

HB2385 would shift the legal framework for minors in volunteer emergency services from the Child Labor Act into Title 35, while largely maintaining the substance of the existing rules. It would directly affect volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance organizations, volunteer rescue organizations, volunteer forest firefighting organizations, and related emergency service personnel organizations, as well as minors ages 14 through 17 who participate in those groups. It also preserves the State Fire Commissioner’s authority to restrict hazardous activities by regulation and updates the statutory basis for the EMS recruitment and training pilot program for high school students.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a technical recodification with safety guardrails rather than a major policy change, which suggests a generally practical and administrative purpose. The inclusion of detailed age limits, supervision requirements, and equipment restrictions indicates an emphasis on child safety and controlled participation.

Contention

The main policy tension in the bill is between recruiting and training young volunteers for emergency services and limiting potentially dangerous work by minors. Supporters would likely emphasize workforce development, volunteer recruitment, and structured training opportunities for teens, especially in rural or volunteer-dependent communities. Potential concerns would focus on whether minors should be allowed to participate in live-burn training or firefighting at all, even with parental consent, chief approval, and instructor supervision, as well as whether the bill adequately protects younger teens from hazardous tasks.