Volunteer-based first response organizations across Pennsylvania are facing the crisis of not having enough active volunteers to operate. This has caused some companies to rely more on their neighbors for assistance and others to close down operations entirely. In order to support these organizations that answer the call on our darkest days, any support we can provide to help recruit and retain volunteers is worthwhile and necessary.
 
To that end, I will be introducing legislation to establish an education tax credit for active volunteer first responders studying at a Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. The tax credit would encourage more people to serve by providing them with tuition assistance. Active volunteer first responders who are enrolled full-time would be eligible for a scholarship of up to $5,000 and those enrolled part-time would be eligible for up to $2,500.
 
When emergencies arise and every second matters, we rely on timely responses from trained responders. This legislation will incentivize service in hopes to recruit and retain additional volunteers to keep these companies operational and fully staffed.
 
Please join me in support of this legislation to further incentivize becoming a volunteer and better support our first response organizations in need.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1204: P.L.6, No.2