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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Carroll |
  
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FROM: State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe
TO: Editor, Community Express
RE: Firefighter bills
Pennsylvanians rely on their volunteer first responders in times of crisis. But volunteer companies are facing a crisis of their own as their ranks shrink more each year. I co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that would provide an incentive for more men and women to answer the call and join their local volunteer fire and EMS companies.
House Bill 377, now known as Act 66 of 2008, creates the Volunteer Responder and Recruitment Tax Credit bill, which gives volunteer, fire, ambulance and rescue personnel a state income tax credit based on the amount of time they serve their community. The maximum credit the first year will be $100. The maximum credit will increase by $100 each year until it reaches a $500 maximum in 2013.
The benefit could help volunteer companies attract new members and hang on to the members they have. Volunteer fire, ambulance and rescue companies save Pennsylvanians $6 billion in tax dollars every year. Most first responders spend many hours of personal time to serve their communities and update their training; the tax credit shows Pennsylvania’s appreciation for what they do.
House Bill 1197 and H.B. 2096 are companion bills that would permit volunteer fire companies to receive telephone service, Internet access and utilities at residential rates to make them more affordable.
House Bill 378 would allow volunteer firefighters' relief association funds to be used to cover reasonable expenses incurred in EMT training, such as basic life support and advanced life support. Currently, relief association funding can only be used for firefighting and rescue training.
There are a number of other bills that are part of this package that would support emergency services workers, including one (H.B. 1768) would provide workers' compensation benefits for certain situations. Another bill (H.B. 705) would provide state benefits to the spouse, children or parents of a member of a hazardous response team killed in the line of duty.
Volunteer firefighters and other emergency personnel are critical in protecting our residents. We need to provide them with the finances, training and equipment they need to keep our communities safe.
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