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Representative Briggs’ amendment to campus medical-amnesty survives close vote as House approves bill
Summary
The House approved an amendment to House Bill 19 44 that broadens immunity for people who seek help for medical emergencies and then passed the bill as amended after a partisan, closely contested vote.
Representative Briggs urged colleagues to back Amendment A03654 to House Bill 19 44, saying it "moves the immunity language to section 2705 and creates an exception for individuals causing the underlying medical emergency," and argued the change addressed concerns raised about the bill. Representative Bonner opposed the amendment, calling it "too broad" and saying it would allow delayed reporting and grant immunity without the on-site safeguards in prior statutes: "This amendment then makes no sense." Representative Kinkade defended the amendment, recounting two Bloomsburg University students who rendered aid and were charged with reckless endangerment and saying the bill aims to ensure people who call for help "are not punished for doing so."
The House voted on the amendment (ayes 106, nays 96) and agreed to it. The body then agreed to House Bill 19 44 as amended; the bill will be reprinted to reflect the change. Supporters framed the change as clarifying and streamlining protections so that those who seek to help during medical emergencies are not criminalized, while opponents said the amendment expanded immunity beyond appropriate limits and risked undermining other accountability provisions.
Next steps: the amended bill will be reprinted for the official record and proceed according to the House calendar.
