Pennsylvania House Bill 453 was signed into law, adding 911 telecommunicators to certain statutory definitions of “emergency responder.”

The law defines a telecommunicator as an individual employed by a public safety answering point (PSAP) whose primary responsibility includes receiving, processing, transmitting or dispatching emergency and nonemergency calls, including call takers, emergency dispatchers, and supervisors.

For workers’ comp stakeholders, the change reflects Pennsylvania’s broader recognition of 911 telecommunicators as part of the emergency-response workforce, including within provisions addressing emergency responder mental wellness and stress management.

The law also updates Pennsylvania’s Next Generation 911 framework and establishes health benefit protections for eligible surviving family members of certain law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.

The law takes effect December 21, 2026.