2020 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 54 - HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ACT - PHOTO IDENTIFICATION TAG REGULATIONS

Session of 2020

No. 2020-54

SB 842

AN ACT

Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and duties of the Department of Health; establishing and providing the powers and duties of the State Health Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice; providing for certification of need of health care providers and prescribing penalties," in licensing of health care facilities, further providing for photo identification tag regulations.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 809.2(a)(1) and (c) of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, are amended and subsection (a) is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

Section 809.2.  Photo identification tag regulations.

(a)  Regulations.--Except as provided under subsection (c), the department shall promulgate regulations under subsection (b) to require employees to wear a photo identification tag when the employee is working. The following shall apply:

(1)  The photo identification tag shall include a recent photograph of the employee, the employee's first name, the employee's title and the name of the health care facility or employment agency.

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(4)  A notation, marker or indicator included on an identification badge that differentiates employees with the same first name is considered acceptable in lieu of displaying an employee's last name.

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(c)  [Exceptions] Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), [the following shall apply:

(1)  An] an employee shall not be required to wear an identification badge while delivering direct care to a consumer if not clinically feasible.

[(2)  The last name of the employee may be omitted or concealed when delivering direct care to a consumer who exhibits symptoms of irrationality or violence.]

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 1st day of July, A.D. 2020.

TOM WOLF