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Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 780-134. Administration of act

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Except as may be otherwise provided by law, the provisions of this act shall be administered by the department.  The secretary is authorized to employ personnel and to fix their compensation subject to the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 177),  1. known as “The Administrative Code of 1929.”

(b) The secretary is authorized and directed to establish a Bureau of Drug Control within the department and to employ therein sufficient personnel to perform the duties imposed upon the department by this act.

(c) The secretary may designate specific officers and employes of the Bureau of Drug Control as law enforcement personnel and authorize such personnel to:

(1) Carry firearms in the performance of his official duties;

(2) Execute and serve search warrants, arrest warrants, administrative inspection warrants, subpoenas, and summonses issued under the authority of the Commonwealth;

(3) Make arrests without warrant for any offense under this act committed in his presence, or if he has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a violation of this act which may constitute a felony;

(4) Make seizures of property pursuant to this act;  or

(5) Perform other law enforcement duties as the secretary designates.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit the authority of the Bureau of Drug Control, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Department of Justice or any other law enforcement agency in dealing with law enforcement matters with respect to persons engaged in the unlawful importation, manufacture, distribution, sale and production of controlled substances, other drugs or devices or cosmetics nor the authority of the council in performing any duties imposed upon it by the “Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Act.”   2

1  71 P.S. § 51 et seq.
2  71 P.S. § 1690.101 et seq.
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 780-134. Administration of act - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-35-ps-health-and-safety/pa-st-sect-35-780-134/

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