For Immediate Release
June 10, 2008
Contact:  Lisa Landis
Legislative Director
717-787-6709
Back

Senate Approves Tax Credits, Tuition Reimbursement for First Responders

Brubaker supports fire and EMS volunteer incentives

HARRISBURG – The state Senate approved a package of bills on Monday to help fire companies and emergency medical service companies recruit and retain volunteers, according to Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36).

"This legislation offers a positive step toward the goal of promoting volunteer service with Pennsylvania's fire and EMS companies," Brubaker said. "Our volunteers have unselfishly donated their time and talents to our safety, and I am proud to support their efforts through these bills."

Senate Bill 1314 would establish a $500 personal tax credit for individuals certified as active members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services organizations by the State Fire Commissioner or the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Office in the Department of Health. The tax credit would help to defray the additional costs that many volunteers incur through their service, Brubaker said.

The package also includes legislation that would create an undergraduate tuition reimbursement program for active volunteers. Under Senate Bill 1315, volunteers could receive a 50 percent reimbursement for each course credit at Pennsylvania community colleges, State System of Higher Education schools and state-related universities. Also, for those attending independent institutions, the credit would be 50 percent of the state-related institutions' average tuition cost.

A third bill in the package, Senate Bill 1316, would establish a $1,000 tax credit against an employer's personal income tax, corporate net income tax, or capital stock and franchise tax for each member of a volunteer fire and/or emergency services employed full-time. Tax credits for employers may not exceed $5,000 per employer during a specific tax year.

Brubaker said that the package of bills would provide nearly $23 million in tax credits and tuition reimbursements by fiscal year 2009-10 for fire and emergency medical services volunteers and their employers.

"This Commonwealth's fire and EMS companies provide billions of dollars in community service while risking their lives on a daily basis, and these types of initiatives are crucial to maintaining a future of active volunteers," Brubaker said.

The package of legislation is the result of a bi-partisan commission of legislators, emergency responders, and local government representatives convened to review the needs of Pennsylvania's fire and emergency medical services communities. All three bills now go before the state House of Representatives for its consideration.