Pennsylvania Statutes Title 42 Pa.C.S.A. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 8332.4. Volunteer-in-public-service negligence standard

(1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, no person who, without compensation and as a volunteer, renders public services for a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3), (4) or (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (68A Stat. 3, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), (4) or (6)) or for a Commonwealth or local government agency conducting or sponsoring a public service program or project shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in rendering such services unless the conduct of such person falls substantially below the standards generally practiced and accepted in like circumstances by similar persons rendering such services and unless it is shown that such person did an act or omitted the doing of an act which such person was under a recognized duty to another to do, knowing or having reason to know that such act or omission created a substantial risk of actual harm to the person or property of another. It shall be insufficient to impose liability to establish only that the conduct of such person fell below ordinary standards of care.

(2) Except as provided otherwise in this section, no design professional who, without compensation and as a volunteer, provides professional services related to a declared national, State or local emergency caused by a major earthquake, hurricane, tornado, explosion, collapse or other similar disaster or catastrophic event at the request of or with the approval of a Federal, State or local public official, law enforcement official, public safety official or building inspection official acting in an official capacity shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in rendering such services unless the conduct of such design professional falls substantially below the standards generally practiced and accepted in like circumstances by similar persons rendering such professional services and unless it is shown that such design professional did an act or omitted the doing of an act which such design professional was under a recognized duty to another to do, knowing or having reason to know that such act or omission created a substantial risk of actual harm to the person or property of another. It shall be insufficient to impose liability to establish only that the conduct of such design professional fell below ordinary standards of care.

(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting or modifying the liability of such person for acts or omissions relating to the transportation of participants in a public service program or project or others to or from a public service program or project.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting or modifying any existing legal basis for determining the liability, or any defense thereto, of any person not covered by the standard of negligence established by this section.