Benham bill classifying 911 dispatchers as first responders to become law
Legislation recognizing telecommunicators, expanding access to benefits heads to governor’s desk
Rep. Jessica Benham October 21, 2026 | 3:49 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 21 – Legislation that would designate 911 telecommunicators as emergency responders has passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously and is now headed to the governor’s desk, the bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Jessica Benham, announced today.
House Bill 453 would add 911 telecommunicators, including call takers and dispatchers, to the state’s legal definition of “emergency responders” to better recognize their critical role and help them access related health benefits, mental health support and stress management resources.
“When someone calls 9-1-1, a telecommunicator is literally the first person to respond,” said Benham, D-Allegheny. “Gathering critical information, coordinating help and guiding people through a life-threatening situation is a difficult and vital role. These professionals deserve formal recognition for their work and access to better mental health supports.”
"With more than 15 years in this profession, it’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” said Allegheny County 911 dispatcher and SEIU 668 911 Committee Chair Michael Steinmiller. “Seeing Pennsylvania finally recognize 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride, joy and emotion after years of fighting for the recognition our profession deserves. This is a moment that honors every voice behind the headset, every life we’ve helped save, and every dispatcher who has ever answered the call. I’d like to personally thank State Representative Jessica Benham for first introducing this legislation in the House, and I’m incredibly grateful for the bipartisan support that has carried it this far. Today, we are celebrating the passage of a bill and the recognition of a profession and the thousands of dedicated professionals who have always been there when Pennsylvania needed them most."
“As 911 dispatchers, we’re often the first to hear someone’s worst moment, and those calls stay with us,” AFSCME Local 1485 member and York County 911 dispatcher Barbara Bowles said. “After York County lost four officers in the line of duty in 2025, the emotional toll of this work became especially personal for our community. Recognizing public safety telecommunicators as emergency responders and expanding access to mental wellness resources is an important step toward ensuring the people who help others through tragedy get the support they need, too.”
“The passage of H.B. 453 is a significant victory for Pennsylvania’s public safety workforce,” said AFSCME Council 13 administrator Jim Howell. “It rightfully defines public safety telecommunicators among first emergency responder roles such as law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS personnel, while also expanding the state’s Emergency Responder Mental Wellness and Stress Management program to all public safety answering point telecommunicators. Additionally, surviving family members of fallen municipal police officers, including sheriffs in second-class counties, will continue to receive critical health care benefits. This is a major milestone that should be expanded to all hazardous public sector positions.”