PRINTER'S NO. 3367
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
841
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY KLUNK, SOLOMON, FEE, RYAN, CUTLER, CONKLIN,
PICKETT, JAMES, MURT, SCHLOSSBERG, STAATS, CHARLTON, NEILSON,
BERNSTINE, MILLARD, A. DAVIS, R. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE,
J. McNEILL, LONGIETTI, BARBIN, SAYLOR, SCHWEYER, KEEFER,
WARD, MACKENZIE, ORTITAY, MARSICO, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
B. MILLER, HILL-EVANS, DRISCOLL AND D. COSTA, APRIL 18, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, APRIL 18, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to pass, and the
President of the United States to sign, legislation that will
make apprenticeships more affordable for individuals seeking
a skills-based education.
WHEREAS, The current PA 529 College Savings Program applies
to qualified college expenses like tuition, books, room and
board and other learning technologies; and
WHEREAS, PA 529 College Savings Plans make college more
affordable for middle-class families by allowing families to
finance their education tax free; and
WHEREAS, In 2015 and 2016, more than 24,000 Pennsylvanians
benefited from $84 million in earnings from the PA 529
Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) and the PA 529 Investment Plan
(IP) college saving plans; and
WHEREAS, While PA 529 College Savings Plans help individuals
seeking a college education, they do not always help those who
have sought careers in the trades; and
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WHEREAS, States are limited in how far they can depart from
Federal regulations governing college savings plans; and
WHEREAS, If a state allows students to use PA 529 College
Savings Plan distributions at a nonqualifying institution, as
determined by the Internal Revenue Service, the earnings portion
of the distribution is taxed and subject to a 10% penalty; and
WHEREAS, A qualifying institution includes traditional four-
year universities as well as community colleges, vocational
schools and trade schools but does not include an apprenticeship
established by a group of businesses with no ties to a qualified
institution; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians need the ability to save for the
education and training specific to 21st century jobs, whether
they are enrolled in college, attending a short-term training
program or getting a license or credential for a specific trade
or industry; and
WHEREAS, Despite the value of an education through
apprenticeship, the law today does not give enrollees the same
chance to use tax advantage-funds for tools, textbooks and
equipment as is given to college students; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3395 and S. 1822 enable individuals enrolled in
apprenticeship programs to use earnings from a federally-
approved 529 college savings plan to purchase tools and
equipment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to pass, and the President of the United States to sign,
legislation that will make apprenticeships more affordable for
individuals seeking a skills-based education; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
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the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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