Waugh and Baker Introduce Tax Credit Bills
 For Volunteer Firefighters and EMS Workers

HARRISBURG – Stressing that Pennsylvania needs to do more to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, Senators Mike Waugh (R-York) and Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) have introduced a three-bill package to provide tax credits to fire and emergency service volunteers and their employers. 

"Pennsylvania was home to our nation's first volunteer fire company, and we are fortunate today to have over 70,000 volunteer emergency personnel.  But over the years it has become increasingly difficult to attract and keep these valuable volunteers," said Baker, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.  "When the Commonwealth acts to assist emergency responders, it is in essence helping communities by investing in the quality of service that is available in times of crisis. That is the goal of this legislation." 

The bills would provide the following tax credits for volunteer fire and emergency workers. 

• A $500 tax credit for active members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services organizations, as certified by the State Fire Commissioner or the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Office in the Department of Health.
• A post-secondary education tuition reimbursement credit of 50 percent of a qualified student's share of tuition for each course credit.  The credit would be paid directly to the community college, state-owned university or state-related university.
• A $1,000 tax credit against an employer's personal income tax for each volunteer fire and emergency services member who is employed.  The credit could not exceed $5,000 per employer during a specific tax year.

"These tax credits will provide much-needed and long-overdue assistance to Pennsylvania's volunteer fire and emergency personnel – who often work full-time jobs outside of their volunteer duties – and the companies that employ them," Waugh said.  "These dedicated personnel work long hours, face enormous risks and often make financial sacrifices to serve the community." 

Baker noted that in 2004, the Senate approved the "Senate Resolution 60 First Responder Commission Report," which included recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission established the previous year under Senate Resolution 60, sponsored by Waugh.  The commission was charged with studying and enhancing emergency services across the Commonwealth.  

"The SR 60 Commission laid the groundwork for us to develop legislation that provides the maximum benefit to Pennsylvania's firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and ultimately all of our citizens," Baker said.   

"To date, legislation has only been enacted in four of the 23 areas targeted by the report.  Our goal is to turn these good recommendations into laws that will provide much needed assistance and improve the delivery of volunteer fire and emergency services everywhere," added Waugh.

Contact:

Carol Maravic (717) 787-6725, Senate Republican Communications
Brian Grove (570) 675-3931, Senator Lisa Baker