Nov. 03, 2022
HARRISBURG – Two bills Rep. Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) had a hand in drafting and moving through the legislative process are now law.
Pennsylvania teenagers seeking their first jobs will now have an easier route to employment after the governor signed Ecker’s
House Bill 1829 into law.
“First jobs are a rite of passage for nearly every teen. These jobs not only provide extra pocket cash, but also serve as teaching opportunities in which youth learn the value of hard work,” Ecker said. “This new law not only further opens employment for teens, but also removes an unneeded government regulation.”
For a teen to receive a work permit under existing law, he or she must sign the permit in front of the issuing officer, who must then examine it. This signature regulation was waived by the administration during the pandemic.
Act 117 of 2022, formerly House Bill 1829, permanently removes the requirement, making it easier for teens to obtain a work permit.
The governor also signed companion legislation of Ecker’s
House Bill 2268 to better prepare junior firefighters for active fires.
“As volunteer fire departments continue to struggle with decreased membership, it is my hope this law will help keep junior firefighters interested and committed to the fire service,” said Ecker, a former junior firefighter.
Act 155 of 2022, formerly
Senate Bill 1027 sponsored by Sen. Patrick Stefano (R- Fayette/Somerset/Westmoreland), allows a 17-year-old junior firefighter to complete the Interior Firefighting Module with the Live Burns training program. Previously, only people age 18 and older were permitted to enroll in the training program.
In order to take the additional training at 17, junior firefighters would need to have the permission of their parents and fire chief. This would mean that when a junior firefighter turns 18 years old, he or she would immediately be able to serve their communities as a full-fledged firefighter.
Both laws take effect in 60 days.
Representative Torren Ecker
193rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepEcker.com / Facebook.com/RepTorrenEcker