The way that emergency responders assist individuals who are going through mental health crises or who have disabilities is often criticized, and new, alternate ways of handling these situations have been proposed. One tool that a few localities across the country have adopted is the creation of voluntary registries with emergency responders for vulnerable populations, including individuals who live with physical and mental disabilities.
 
To give our 911 call centers and first responders better information at the first point of contact, we will be introducing legislation requiring the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.to establish a database that allow individuals with disabilities and their family members to voluntarily provide information on the individuals’ specific disabilities and information that could enhance first responders’ ability to respond in the event of an emergency.
 
These voluntary registries are legal and ethical ways for our first responders to have more information when they are called to situations concerning individuals with disabilities, thus reducing the chances that these calls end in tragedy.
 
I look forward to your support for this legislation to give our first responders another tool in the toolbox to allow them to better assist vulnerable populations.