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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Petrone |
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Petrone to introduce legislation that would provide health care to volunteer firefighters
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – State Rep. Thomas Petrone, D-Allegheny, announced plans to introduce a bill that would provide health insurance to volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania. The bill would offer volunteer firefighters the same health insurance coverage that is currently only provided to state workers.
“There has been a noticeable decline in the number of Pennsylvanians signing up to serve as volunteer firefighters over the last 30 years; add to that the increasing amount of former firefighters who have stopped volunteering their services, and you can see a disheartening trend,” Petrone said. “I want to urge a greater number of Pennsylvanians to join local volunteer fire companies, and I feel that if the state offers incentives such as better health benefits, more people may be encouraged to do so.”
A 2001 study conducted by the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Serves Institute and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania found that 77 percent of fire chiefs ranked recruiting and retaining members as the two most pressing concerns volunteer fire companies face.
“Volunteer firefighters are an asset to each community in our Commonwealth, and it is a shame that companies are encountering such difficulties obtaining and keeping members. I think now is the time to step in and ensure that these valuable teams can continue to operate with full, skilled staffs.”
Petrone said that in order to receive benefits, a volunteer would need to be an active member of a local volunteer fire company and be a participant in continuous fire training at a fire academy.
Funding for the benefits would be provided through a 0.5 percent increase in the Foreign Fire Insurance Tax. Currently, a 2 percent tax is levied on the gross premiums on fire and casualty insurance companies resulting from business conducted in Pennsylvania. Petrone said that by increasing the tax to 2.5 percent, the Commonwealth could raise an additional $20 million annually.
Petrone is currently seeking co-sponsors for this bill.
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CONTACT: Casey Kockler |