Pennsylvania’s volunteer emergency response agencies are facing critical shortages, as the volunteer firefighting force has declined by 90% since 1970 and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies have stopped transporting patients. Challenges to recruiting and retaining volunteer emergency responders include the aging workforce, shortage of willing volunteers, and competing demands of daily life. As such, it is imperative that we take action to address any barriers that could prevent an otherwise willing individual from volunteering.  

 

To address the decrease in recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services EMS personnel and the struggles they often face in participating in necessary and timely training exercises, I plan to introduce legislation that would encourage private employers to permit an employee who is an active volunteer to leave work in response to an emergency call or to take a paid leave of absence to participate in training exercises. Specifically, this legislation would create a tax credit for private employers who allow an employee-volunteer to leave work for training or to respond to an emergency call. My legislation would also require the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions to permit employee-volunteers to respond to an emergency call prior to, or during, work hours, with or without pay, with no loss of time or efficiency rating. Lastly, my bill would prohibit all employers from discriminating against, disciplining, or discharging from employment any employee-volunteer.  

 

At a time when volunteer-based organizations of all types are struggling to recruit volunteers, and first response agencies are restricted by fundraising and other challenges, any efforts to ease their burdens are worth action. Please join me in introducing this legislation to address some of the barriers that may prevent workers in Pennsylvania from volunteering as first responders.