|
Emergency Services Legislative Package Unveiled
Bill Would Provide Assistance
to Pennsylvania's First responders
HARRISBURG -- Recognizing
the major issues facing Pennsylvania's firefighters and ambulance services, the
General Assembly is poised to act on a legislative package based on
recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission established last year to study
emergency services across the Commonwealth.
Senator Don White
(R-Indiana), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness, was among a group of legislators gathered at a Wednesday press
conference in the Capitol Rotunda to show their support for the package of
bills.
“The Commission developed a
set of recommendations that provided the first step toward providing needed
assistance to Pennsylvania's emergency service providers. Using that background
information as a guide, Senators and Representatives, Republicans and Democrats
developed the individual bills that are part of this legislative package,”
Senator White said.
“These bills provide
assistance in a variety of ways and they address many of the issues facing
Pennsylvania's fire departments and ambulance services,” Senator White
continued. “Several of these bills are already moving through the legislative
process and one, Act 59 -- which increased the death benefit for emergency
responders and National Guard members who die in the line of duty -- has already
been enacted into law.
Senator Mike Waugh (R-York),
author of the legislation creating the Senate Resolution 60 Commission, is the
prime sponsor of Senate Bill 976, a bill that would establish a tuition credit
program for certain members of volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance
services and volunteer rescue squads and their dependent children and spouses.
“The SR 60 Commission
provided us with guidelines by which we can look at those areas of interest and
develop legislation that provides the maximum benefits to Pennsylvania's
firefighters and emergency medical service providers,” said Senator Waugh, a
former volunteer firefighter who serves as Chairman of the Senate Fire and
Emergency Service Caucus.
A working group of Senators
and Representatives will continue to coordinate with the Pennsylvania Fire and
Emergency Services Institute and Dr. William F. Jenaway, the SR 60 Commission
Chairman, to study additional ways to assist Pennsylvania's first responders.
“This legislative package is
a good start and shows what we can accomplish when we work together,” Senator
Waugh said. “I hope we can continue to work together to implement additional
recommendations from the SR 60 Report in the future.”
Other bills in the
legislative package to assist Pennsylvania's emergency responders include:
-
Senate Bill 23 (O'Pake):
An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as
the Tax Reform Code of 1971, authorizing a tax credit for volunteer
firefighters for purposes of personal income tax.
-
Senate Bill 24 (O'Pake):
An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as
the Tax Reform Code of 1971, authorizing a tax credit for volunteer
emergency medical services (EMS) personnel for purposes of personal income
tax.
-
Senate Bill 210
(Greenleaf): An Act amending the act of December 19, 1990
(P.L.1200, No.202), known as the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable
Purposes Act, further providing for audit of certain financial reports.
-
Senate Bill 867
(Tomlinson): An Act making an appropriation to the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of funding grants under the Act
of July 31, 2003 (P.L.73, No.17), known as the Volunteer Fire Company and
Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act.
-
House Bill 105
(Payne): An Act amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for cooperative purchase of
fire, rescue and ambulance company supplies.
-
House Bill 172
(J. Taylor): An Act establishing the Municipal Firefighter
Education and Training Program.
-
House Bill 599 (Nailor):
Known as the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance
Service Grant Act, further providing for award of grants, for expenses
incurred by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and providing for
allocation of appropriated funds.
-
House Bill 875
(Hutchinson): Referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement
Personnel Death Benefits Act, further providing for death benefit
eligibility and for definitions. (Act 59 of 2005)
-
House Bill 1282
(Causer): An Act amending the Act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164,
No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act, amending the title of
the Act; creating the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Agency; and
providing for transfer of duties of the Department of Health under the Act
to the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Agency.
 
White
Tomlinson
From left, Sen. Bob
Regola, Sen. Tommy Tomlinson and Sen. Don White at a Nov. 2 news conference in
the Capitol rotunda to announce a package of legislation
based on
recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission to study
emergency services across the Commonwealth.
|
