The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Certified hazardous material response team member” means a person who is part of a group of individuals who are certified and organized by a Commonwealth agency, a local agency or a regional hazardous material organization for the primary purpose of providing emergency response services which is dispatched by a public safety answering point to mitigate actual or potential immediate threats to public health and the environment in response to the release or threat of a release of a hazardous material, which is certified, trained and equipped in accordance with the act of December 7, 1990 (P.L. 639, No. 165),¹ known as the Hazardous Material Emergency Planning and Response Act. Hazardous material response team members who are dispatched by a public safety answering point may also be certified to perform stabilization actions needed to remove threats to public health and the environment from hazardous material releases. A member of a for-profit hazardous material response team that was not dispatched by a public safety answering point, is acting as an agent on behalf of the spiller or responsible party or is responsible for post-emergency or nonemergency response hazardous materials/hazardous waste clean-up activities is not eligible for compensation that is provided for under this act.

“Department” means the Department of General Services of the Commonwealth.

“Firefighter, ambulance service or rescue squad member or law enforcement officer” means a firefighter; a member of a volunteer fire company; a member of an ambulance service or rescue squad; a peace officer as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 501 (relating to definitions); a public servant concerned in official detention as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 5121 (relating to escape); an officer or employee of a State correctional institution; guards or employees of county jails and prisons; or any other law enforcement officer employed by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision.

“Public safety answering point” means the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency-approved first point at which calls for emergency assistance from individuals are answered, operated 24 hours a day.