See other bills
under the
same topic
PRINTER'S NO. 2376
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1786
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SAINATO, BARRAR, STRUZZI, McCLINTON, YOUNGBLOOD,
CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, PETRARCA, JAMES, READSHAW, FREEMAN,
DEASY, DAVIDSON, KIM, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN,
WARREN, CIRESI, HOWARD AND KOSIEROWSKI, AUGUST 30, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 30, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in incentives for municipal volunteers
of fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical services
agencies, establishing the First Responder Loan Forgiveness
Program; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter D heading of Chapter 79A of Title 35
of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
SUBCHAPTER D
[MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS] PENALTIES
Section 2. Chapter 79A of Title 35 is amended by adding a
subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER E
FIRST RESPONDER LOAN FORGIVENESS
Sec.
79A41. Definitions.
79A42. First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
79A43. Award of loan forgiveness.
79A44. Amount of awards.
79A45. Funding.
79A46. Administration.
79A47. Point system.
79A48. Certification.
79A49. Guidelines.
§ 79A41. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Active first responder." A member of an emergency medical
services agency or a member of a volunteer fire company or
volunteer rescue company.
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Approved institution of higher learning." A degree-granting
or certificate-granting educational institution, including a
vocational school, that:
(1) offers a postsecondary program of education;
(2) is located in this Commonwealth; and
(3) is approved by the agency.
"Approved program of education." A curriculum or course of
study pursued at an approved institution of higher learning as
determined by the agency.
"Emergency medical services agency." An emergency medical
service corporation, association or organization which meets all
of the following:
(1) Is located in this Commonwealth.
(2) Is licensed by the Department of Health.
20190HB1786PN2376 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(3) Is regularly engaged in the provision of emergency
medical services, including basic life support or advanced
life support services and advanced life support squads as
defined in 28 Pa. Code § 1027.1 (relating to general
provisions) and licensed quick response services.
"Program." The First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program
established in section 79A42 (relating to First Responder Loan
Forgiveness Program).
"Qualified applicant." An a ctive first responder who
qualifies for loan forgiveness under section 79A43 (relating to
award of loan forgiveness).
"Volunteer fire company." A nonprofit chartered corporation,
association or organization located in this Commonwealth which
provides fire protection or rescue services and which may offer
other voluntary emergency services within this Commonwealth.
Voluntary emergency services provided by a volunteer fire
company may include voluntary ambulance and voluntary rescue
services.
"Volunteer rescue company." A nonprofit chartered
corporation, association or organization located in this
Commonwealth that provides emergency rescue services.
§ 79A42. First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program.
(a) Program established.--The First Responder Loan
Forgiveness Program is established. The program shall provide
loan forgiveness awards to qualified applicants in accordance
with this subchapter. The agency shall administer the program
for a ctive first responders on a Statewide basis.
(b) Applicants.--An a ctive first responder who meets the
following criteria may apply to the agency for loan forgiveness
under the program:
20190HB1786PN2376 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(1) Is a resident of this Commonwealth.
(2) Has been an a ctive first responder , as certified in
accordance with section 79A48 (relating to certification),
for a period of at least one year in this Commonwealth.
(3) Has enrolled as a student in an approved program of
education.
(4) Provides the approved institution of higher learning
with a sworn or official statement by the Office of the State
Fire Commissioner or the chief or president of the emergency
medical services agency, attesting that the applicant is a
member in good standing of the emergency medical services
agency, volunteer fire company or volunteer rescue company.
§ 79A43. Award of loan forgiveness.
The agency may provide loan forgiveness for an active first
responder who, in the first year as an active first responder
following completion of a postsecondary degree or certification
program and, in each subsequent year, meets all of the following
criteria:
(1) Is a recipient of an agency-administered, federally
insured student loan.
(2) Has completed a certificate or degree program at an
approved institution of higher learning. The certificate or
degree program must be an a pproved program of education.
(3) Is certified as an active first responder, by the
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services or the Office of the
State Fire Commissioner, for four consecutive years preceding
the date of application.
(4) Executes a sworn affidavit, under penalty of
perjury, that the individual does not have a delinquent
payment owing to any Commonwealth agency.
20190HB1786PN2376 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
§ 79A44. Amount of awards.
(a) Loan forgiveness.--Agency-administered, federally
insured student loans for an a pproved program of education
provided to a qualified applicant may be forgiven by the agency
as follows:
(1) The agency may forgive a qualified applicant's loan
in an amount 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 first responder status
following graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not
exceeding 25% of the original qualifying loans.
(ii) Second year of active first responder status
following graduation in an amount up to $4,000, but not
exceeding 25% of the original qualifying loans.
(iii) Third year of active first responder status
following graduation in an amount up to $8,000, but not
exceeding 50% of the original qualifying loans.
(b) Preference.--The agency may give preference in approving
loan forgiveness awards under the program to renewal
applications.
§ 79A45. 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.
20190HB1786PN2376 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
§ 79A46. Administration.
The agency shall promulgate regulations and adopt policies,
procedures and forms as are necessary and not inconsistent with
the provisions of this subchapter.
§ 79A47 . Point system.
(a) General rule.--A point system establishing the
requirements for annual certification of active first responders
shall be developed and implemented by the chief or president of:
(1) a volunteer fire company;
(2) a volunteer rescue company; and
(3) an emergency medical services agency.
(b) Factors.--The point system shall be used to determine
whether to certify an individual as an active first responder
and shall include 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.
(3) Time spent by the individual on administration and
support activities, including 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.
§ 79A48. Certification.
(a) Application.--An applicant for certification as an
active first responder must submit a signed application to the
chief or president of the volunteer fire company, volunteer
rescue company or emergency medical services agency that the
applicant serves.
20190HB1786PN2376 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(b) Local sign-off.--The chief or president of the volunteer
fire company or volunteer rescue company and another officer of
the volunteer fire company or volunteer rescue company, or the
chief or president of the emergency medical services agency and
another officer of the emergency medical services agency, shall:
(1) Sign the application attesting to the individual's
status as an active first responder.
(2) Forward the application to the Office of the State
Fire Commissioner or the Department of Health for final
review and processing.
§ 79A49 . Guidelines.
The agency shall adopt guidelines, including forms, necessary
to administer this subchapter.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB1786PN2376 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14