In a significant step closer towards improving safety across Pennsylvania, the House Game and Fish Committee has advanced the 961st House Bill.

Named “Jon’s Bill,” the legislation was inspired by the tragic passing of former BPHS teacher Mr. Jon Gentile.

Mr. Gentile lost his life in May 2022 when his kayak was pulled over an unmarked low-head dam in New Hope, Pa, a type of dam that is often associated with a high number of deaths in Pennsylvania.

Nevertheless, the bill, championed by State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, aims to lessen the number of similar tragedies by requiring low-head dams to be clearly marked and accurately mapped.

The legislation directs the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to coordinate efforts to improve public safety information.

Many want the organization to address a pressing issue that causes more deaths in Pennsylvania than any other state.

Now passed with an amendment, the bill heads toward the House of Representatives before then advancing to the Senate and Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Further spreading awareness of the issue, WPXI-TV visited BPHS to speak to fellow BPHS teachers, Mrs. Kathleen Gentile, Mr. Gentile’s widow, and Mr. Richard Casagranda, Mr. Gentile’s friend.

Both shared their thoughts on the bill’s potential to save countless lives around the area while also honoring Mr. Gentile’s memory.

When asked about her reaction upon receiving the news of the bills’ advancement, Mrs. Gentile said, “I felt a wave of emotion when my husband’s bill was voted out of committee—great pride in the progress being made, but also profound sorrow knowing it took his loss to spark this change.”

Even so, the widespread coverage of the bill highlights the community’s dedication to making waterways safer to prevent future losses.

As the bill advances through the legislative process, many within Bethel Park and the surrounding areas hope it will become vital in saving lives in commemoration of a beloved teacher, husband, and father.