Pennsylvania § 79C13 - Recipients.

§ 79C13. Recipients.

(a) Recipient.--An award may be awarded to any of the following:

(1) A first responder who suffers a career-ending injury in the line of duty.

(2) The surviving next of kin of a first responder who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.

(3) A Federal law enforcement officer who suffers a career-ending injury in the line of duty assisting a State or local law enforcement agency in this Commonwealth.

(4) The surviving next of kin of a Federal law enforcement officer who sustains a fatal injury while assisting a State or local law enforcement agency in this Commonwealth.

(b) Submission of information to committee.--The head or executive officer of an entity or agency that a first responder was a member or employee of may submit to the committee in writing the name and a description of an individual under the following categories:

(1) A first responder who was killed or suffered a career-ending injury in the line of duty.

(2) A Federal law enforcement officer who was killed or suffered a career-ending injury assisting a State or local law enforcement agency in this Commonwealth.

(c) Rules and guidelines.--

(1) The committee shall establish rules and guidelines for its operations, for the execution of this subchapter and for the submission of information and criteria for eligibility under subsection (b).

(2) The committee shall issue a rule for awards issued in 2024 that permits the consideration of first responders or Federal law enforcement officers under subsection (a) who were injured or killed in the line of duty on or subsequent to three years prior to the effective date of this section.

(d) Construction.--

(1) Nothing under this subchapter shall be construed to apply to:

(i) The act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act.

(ii) The act of June 28, 1935 (P.L.477, No.193), referred to as the Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law (Heart and Lung Act).

(iii) The act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.

(iv) Any other determination of benefits.

(2) Receipt of any benefit from a statute listed in paragraph (1) may be used by the committee for the purposes of section 79C12(c)(3) (relating to Keystone First Responder Award).

(e) Purpose of award.--The award shall only be for recognition purposes.

(f) First awards.--Awards issued under this chapter shall be issued no sooner than January 1, 2024.