THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WATSON, SCHRODER, GEIST, BOYD, BARRAR, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, J. EVANS, FLECK, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, METZGAR, MICOZZIE, MILLER, MURT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, SIMMONS, TALLMAN, J. TAYLOR, TOBASH, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND BEAR, APRIL 25, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 25, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing the Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness

Program; and providing for the powers and duties of the

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, the State

Fire Commissioner and the Director of the Emergency Medical

Services Office in the Department of Health.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Volunteer

First Responder Loan Forgiveness Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Active volunteer first responder" or "active volunteer."  A

volunteer for a volunteer ambulance service, volunteer fire

company or volunteer rescue company certified as meeting the

criteria of this act as set forth under section 7.

"Agency."  The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance

Agency.

"Commissioner."  The State Fire Commissioner appointed under

section 3 of the act of November 13, 1995 (P.L.604, No.61),

known as the State Fire Commissioner Act.

"Director."  The director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical

Services in the Department of Health.

"Program."  The Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness

Program.

"Qualified active volunteer first responder applicant."  A

person who, in that person's first year of active volunteer

service following completion of a postsecondary degree or

certification program and, in each subsequent year, meets all of

the following criteria:

(1)  Has graduated from a postsecondary institution in

this Commonwealth.

(2)  Is certified by the Office of the State Fire

Commissioner.

(3)  Executes a sworn affidavit, under penalty of

perjury, that the person does not have a delinquent payment

owing to any Commonwealth agency.

(4)  Is currently an active volunteer or becomes an

active volunteer subsequent to the effective date of this

section.

"Volunteer organization."  A volunteer ambulance service,

volunteer fire company and volunteer rescue company as defined

under section 102 of the act of July 31, 2003 (P.L.73, No.17),

known as the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance

Service Grant Act.

Section 3.  Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program.

(a)  Establishment.--The Volunteer First Responder Loan

Forgiveness Program is established.

(b)  Active volunteer first responder loans.--Qualified

active volunteer first responder applicants who are selected for

the loan forgiveness awards under the program in accordance with

this act shall be eligible for payment by the agency of a

portion of a loan under the agency administered Federal Family

Education Loan Program, including a Stafford or Consolidation

loan, provided that the loan is for the education of the

volunteer first responder and is owned, serviced or guaranteed

by the agency.

Section 4.  Loan forgiveness awards.

(a)  Qualifications.--A recipient of a loan forgiveness award

must be an active volunteer first responder who is certified by

the commissioner or director. The active volunteer must submit

such documentation of continued eligibility as the agency may

require.

(b)  Amount of awards.--

(1)  If the applicant is a current active volunteer and

certified as such by the commissioner or director for four

consecutive years, the agency may forgive the active

volunteer applicant's loan of up to $16,000.

(2)  Payment of the award shall be made in accordance

with the procedures established by the agency.

(3)  A qualified applicant may receive loan forgiveness

awards as follows:

(i)  First year of active volunteer status following

graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not exceeding

25% of the original qualifying loans.

(ii)  Second year of volunteer status following

graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not exceeding

25% of the original qualifying loans.

(iii)  Third year of volunteer status following

graduation in an amount up to $8,000, but not exceeding

50% of the original qualifying loans.

(c)  Preference.--The agency may give preference in approving

loan forgiveness awards under the program to renewal

applications.

Section 5.  Funding.

The agency may approve loan forgiveness awards only to the

extent that funds are appropriated by the General Assembly and

are sufficient to cover administration of the program. In the

event that funding is insufficient to fully fund administration

and awards to all qualified applicants, the agency shall prorate

loan forgiveness awards.

Section 6.  Administration.

The agency shall administer the program and shall adopt such

regulations, policies, procedures and forms as are necessary and

not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.

Section 7.  Point system.

(a)  General rule.--The commissioner and the director shall

jointly develop and implement a point system establishing the

annual requirements for certification of active volunteers.

(b)  Factors.--To determine whether to certify an individual

as an active volunteer, the point system shall consider the

following factors:

(1)  The number of emergency calls to which the

individual responded.

(2)  The individual's level of training and participation

in formal training and drills.

(3)  Time spent by the individual on administration and

support activities, including fundraising and maintenance of

facilities and equipment.

(4)  Involvement by the individual in other projects that

directly benefit the organization's financial viability,

emergency response or operational readiness.

Section 8.  Certification.

(a)  Self-certification.--The active volunteer must sign and

submit the application to the chief of the volunteer fire

company or the president of the volunteer ambulance service or

volunteer rescue company that the active volunteer serves.

(b)  Local sign-off.--The chief and another officer of the

volunteer fire company, the president and another officer of the

volunteer ambulance service or rescue company shall:

(1)  Sign the application attesting to the individual's

status as an active volunteer.

(2)  Forward the application to the department for final

review and processing.

Section 9.  Guidelines.

The agency shall adopt guidelines, including forms, necessary

to administer this act.

Section 10.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.