Posted: 07/23/2008

Updated: 07/30/2008

Updated: 07/31/2008


was HB377 now, since passed 7/9/2008, ACT 66 of 2008 {PDF of relevant text} 
It appears from reading the act that there will be a 2 pronged process.
The first is a form you file with your state income tax return and the second is
a form that you submit to your fire company who will certify that you qualify
as an active volunteer and forward your form to the state fire commissioner.
Since this bill was approved by the governor on 7/9/2008, there are many
things that have yet to take place. The fire commissioner must develop the
actual criteria by which someone is considered "active". The forms and
procedure must be developed, printed, disseminated etc.
TAX CREDIT APPROVED AND FUNDED FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS RESPONDERS

PA LEGISLATIVE ALERT: A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PA FIRE
AND EMERGENCY SERVICES INSTITUTE AND THE FIREMEN'S LEGISLATIVE
FEDERATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
=========================================================================
From: CCFCA Admin, Chester County Fire Chief's Association

I received a very special phone call today from Senator Lisa Baker
who informed me of the passage of HB377 to include a Tax Credit for volunteer
fire and ems responders in the amount of $100. Senator Baker indicated
that Representative Solobay was instrumental in gaining support in the House.

The legislation was supported in a bipartisan manner by both the Repubican
and Democrat leadership in the House and Senate and the legislators in both
the House and Senate. It is a pilot program for a one year period and is
funded in the Buget in the amount of 4.5 million dollars for the year.

I will be getting more information for you next week, but wanted to share
the good news. I also want to thank Senator Baker, Representative Solobay,
the House and Senate Leadership and our legislators a for their assistance in
attempting to address the recruitment and retention issues of Pennsylvania's
volunteer emergency responders.

Once again it demonstrates how successful we can be when everyone
supports the same agenda and we work collectively with our elected officials
in Harrisburg to help sustain and improve the delivery of emergency
services across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

We will review the legislation when it becomes available and update you as
appropriate. We need to remain vigilant as there are several other pieces of
legislation that we would like to see action on this session and the remaining
number of session days is small.

If you have not already gone to www.pesla.org and registered for updates
and the capability to quickly communicate with your legislators, do it now
and join the almost 1900 others that are making a difference.