PRINTER'S NO. 820
No. 729 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY NOYE, BITTLE, A. K. HUTCHINSON, MILLER,
E. Z. TAYLOR, HOPKINS, RYAN, WASS, HALVERSON, SCHEAFFER,
PANCOAST, ARTHURS, LEVI, BURD, D. S. HAYES, D. R. WRIGHT,
ARMSTRONG, FRYER, SPENCER, GALLAGHER, STUBAN, LETTERMAN,
W. W. FOSTER AND KOWALYSHYN, MARCH 28, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 28, 1977
AN ACT
1 Providing for State-owned colleges and Indiana University to
2 enter into contracts with volunteer fire companies, volunteer
3 ambulance companies and volunteer rescue squads to provide
4 services; providing for certain reimbursements from the
5 Commonwealth; providing for certain legal representation by
6 the Department of Justice or the reimbursement of certain
7 legal costs; establishing a formula base for determining
8 reimbursement and making an appropriation.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. The Commonwealth has a considerable investment in
12 facilities and equipment at the 13 State-owned colleges and
13 Indiana University. Further, the Commonwealth has an obligation
14 to provide protection against loss of facilities, equipment and
15 lives by fire and other disasters on the premises of these
16 colleges and Indiana University.
17 Rather than require the State-owned colleges and Indiana
18 University to equip and staff their own fire companies and
19 ambulance companies, it is more efficient and economically sound
1 for the State-owned colleges and Indiana University to enter
2 into an agreement with existing volunteer fire companies,
3 volunteer ambulance companies and volunteer rescue squads in
4 adjacent municipalities for these essential services.
5 Section 2. The Department of Justice shall provide, without
6 cost to the volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance
7 companies and volunteer rescue squads, legal counsel for the
8 purpose of defending any legal action arising out of or in
9 connection with any services performed on behalf of the
10 Commonwealth by such companies with respect to such facilities
11 or premises.
12 Section 3. In any case where a conflict of interest prevents
13 the Department of Justice from providing legal counsel as
14 provided in section 2, the Commonwealth shall reimburse the
15 volunteer fire company, volunteer ambulance company or volunteer
16 rescue squad for the cost incurred by the company in defending
17 such legal action except that this act shall not be construed
18 to:
19 (1) make the Commonwealth liable for any judgment or
20 liability resulting in such action by virtue of such service;
21 or
22 (2) create a right of reimbursement from the
23 Commonwealth to such volunteer companies with respect to such
24 liability or judgment.
25 Section 4. The formula base for reimbursement to volunteer
26 fire companies, volunteer ambulance companies and volunteer
27 rescue squads shall be on the basis of $4 per on-campus, full-
28 time-equivalent student for the previous fall term at each
29 State-owned college and Indiana University.
30 Section 5. Each State-owned college and Indiana University
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1 shall certify to the Pennsylvania Department of Education the
2 on-campus, full-time-equivalent enrollment as of the third full
3 week of classes for the fall term of the previous year. This
4 shall provide the formula base for an appropriation act each
5 fiscal year to allocate funds for fire protection and ambulance
6 service to the 13 State-owned colleges and Indiana University.
7 Section 6. Each volunteer fire company, volunteer ambulance
8 company and volunteer rescue squad shall certify to each State-
9 owned college and Indiana University for which they provide such
10 services their total operating costs of the current fiscal year
11 for transmittal to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
12 Section 7. The sum of $267,576 is hereby appropriated to the
13 Pennsylvania Department of Education for verification and
14 transmittal to the 13 State-owned colleges and Indiana
15 University who will in turn reimburse the individual volunteer
16 fire companies, volunteer ambulance companies and volunteer
17 rescue squads for services rendered to their campuses.
18 Section 8. This act shall take effect immediately.
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