BRISTOL, PA − April 30, 2026 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Representative Tina Davis (D-141), joined by former State Representative John Cordisco, today announced the introduction of legislation to improve emergency preparedness at high-risk care facilities, following the explosion that claimed three lives at Bristol Health & Rehab Center on December 23rd, 2025. The press conference was held in front of the ruins at the site of the explosion.
Last year’s explosion was a tragic reminder that when an emergency occurs in a setting filled with elderly, medically fragile, or otherwise vulnerable individuals, there is no margin for confusion or delay. In those first critical moments, local police, firefighters, and EMS personnel are tasked with making life-or-death decisions—often without knowing a building’s layout, utility shutoffs, evacuation protocols, or how many people must be accounted for. When seconds matter, access to clear, facility-specific emergency information can save lives.
Current law does not explicitly require that these facilities’ emergency plans be shared with local first responders who are responsible for responding in the first moments of a crisis. This legislation will strengthen emergency preparedness and response across high-risk care facilities by requiring that existing emergency plans be shared with local police, fire, and rescue squads and reviewed on an annual basis. In addition, the legislation will establish minimum baseline elements to ensure these plans are actionable during a crisis.
Plans will have to include clear procedures for accounting for all residents, staff, and visitors; identification of a designated on-site emergency coordinator who can communicate directly with first responders; and essential pre-incident information such as facility layout, building systems, and evacuation procedures. This commonsense approach ensures that emergency plans are not only maintained, but are accessible and usable by first responders when every second matters, improving response times and protecting residents, staff, visitors, and emergency personnel.
“In an emergency, preparation is not optional, and coordination between local first responders and high-risk care facilities is critical,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Our first responders demonstrated their bravery and heroism on December 23rd but they were operating blind. This bill is critical to ensuring our first responders have the details they need to operate as quickly and safely as possible to protect the most vulnerable, as well as staff and visitors, when emergencies happen at facilities like Bristol Health and Rehab Center. I hope our colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate and House will move quickly on this legislation. Pennsylvania’s seniors and vulnerable residents deserve nothing less.”
“In facilities that serve our most vulnerable residents, every second counts, and preparation is everything,” said Representative Davis. “This legislation would make sure the right information is in the right hands before an emergency happens — so police, firefighters, and EMS can act quickly, decisively, and save lives.”
Senator Santarsiero and Representative Davis also thanked Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito who was in attendance for his assistance and input in crafting this legislation based on his experiences on December 23rd.
Former State Representative John Cordisco also spoke at the press conference in favor of the legislation. He is one of the 3 lead attorneys representing the victims of the Bristol Nursing Home tragedy.
“This harm could have been prevented,” said Cordisco. “It’s sad that we’re here with three people dead and so many injured. With Senator Santarsiero and Representative Davis’ help, we can make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again. As a state, we have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable and ensure their safety when emergencies happen.”
A recording of the press conference can be found here. Photos from the event can be found here and may be used with credit to the Office of Senator Steve Santarsiero: https://adobe.ly/4cRQzgA.
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