1Establishing a tuition credit program for certain members of
2volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and
3volunteer rescue squads and their dependent children and
4spouses.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1.  Short title.

8This act shall be known and may be cited as the Volunteer
9Emergency Service Tuition Credit Program Act.

10Section 2.  Definitions.

11The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13context clearly indicates otherwise:

14"Community college."  A public college or technical institute 
15which is established and operated under Article XIX-A of the act 
16of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School 
17Code of 1949, and all branches or campuses of a community 
18college.

1"Firefighter."  A member of a volunteer fire company.

2"State Fire Commissioner" or "commissioner."  The 
3Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner appointed under section 3 
4of the act of November 13, 1995 (P.L.604, No.61), known as the 
5State Fire Commissioner Act.

6"Volunteer."  A firefighter or member of a volunteer 
7ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad.

8"Volunteer ambulance service."  Any nonprofit chartered 
9corporation, association or organization located in this 
10Commonwealth and regularly engaged in the service of providing 
11emergency medical care and transportation of patients.

12"Volunteer fire company."  A nonprofit chartered corporation, 
13association or organization located in this Commonwealth that 
14provides fire protection services and may offer other voluntary 
15emergency services within this Commonwealth. Voluntary emergency 
16services may include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue 
17services.

18"Volunteer rescue squad."  Any nonprofit chartered 
19corporation, association or organization located in this 
20Commonwealth which provides rescue services in this 
21Commonwealth.

22Section 3.  Tuition credit program.

23(a)  General.--A person who is an active member of a
24volunteer fire company, volunteer ambulance service or volunteer
25rescue squad in good standing and the dependent children and
26spouse of such volunteer shall be eligible to enroll in
27postsecondary courses on a tuition-credit basis in a community
28college.

29(b)  Amount.--A volunteer and the volunteer's dependent
30children and spouse shall be eligible to receive tuition credit

1in the aggregate amount of $600 per year, not to exceed an
2aggregate maximum of $2,400 over a four-year service period.

3(c)  Availability.--The tuition credit may be utilized for a
4course offered by the community college provided that available
5classroom space permits and that tuition-paying students
6constitute the minimum number required for the course.

7(d)  Fees.--Nothing in this act shall be construed to
8prohibit a community college from requiring registration and lab
9fees for individuals attending courses under this act.

10Section 4.  Eligibility.

11In order for a volunteer or a volunteer's dependent child or
12spouse to be eligible to receive tuition credit, the volunteer
13shall agree to serve as a member of a volunteer fire company,
14volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad for a
15minimum of four years and sign an agreement with the volunteer
16organization pledging four years of service in exchange for the
17tuition credit. Following each year of active volunteer
18services, the volunteer organization shall provide the State
19Fire Commissioner with a letter verifying that the volunteer has
20been a member in good standing for the past 12 months.

21Section 5.  Verification of service.

22Upon being accepted and enrolled in a community college, the
23volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall provide the community
24college with a sworn or official statement of fact by the
25commissioner attesting that the volunteer has performed the
26service required for the tuition credit. Upon completion of each
27semester, the volunteer shall submit a transcript to the
28commissioner to be maintained in a permanent record. The
29volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall maintain a "C" grade
30average in order to continue eligibility for the tuition credit

1program.

2Section 6.  Issuance of certificate of authorization.

3The commissioner shall issue a certificate of authorization
4to the volunteer, dependent child or spouse to be presented to
5the community college, stating that the volunteer, parent or
6spouse is a member in good standing of a volunteer fire company,
7volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad.

8Section 7.  State Fire Commissioner duties.

9The Office of the State Fire Commissioner shall develop such
10procedures and forms as it deems necessary to carry out the
11provisions of this act.

12Section 8.  Effective date.

13This act shall take effect in 30 days.