PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2376, 2509
PRINTER'S NO. 2764
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, KOSIEROWSKI, RIGBY, SCHWEYER, SNYDER,
MURT, FARRY, BOBACK, BURNS, THOMAS, MUSTELLO, HANBIDGE,
GOODMAN, QUINN, KORTZ AND POLINCHOCK, AUGUST 30, 2019
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OCTOBER 22, 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.
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79A42. First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program.
79A43. Award of loan forgiveness.
79A44. Amount of awards.
79A45. Funding.
79A46. Point system.
79A47. Certification.
79A48. Regulations.
§ 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 fire company or volunteer
rescue company. A FIRST RESPONSE ORGANIZATION.
"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." As defined in section
8103 (relating to definitions).
"Fire company." A volunteer fire company.
"EXECUTIVE OFFICER." THE CHIEF OR PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST
RESPONSE ORGANIZATION THAT A QUALIFIED APPLICANT SERVES.
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"FIRST RESPONSE ORGANIZATION." ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCY.
(2) A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
(3) A VOLUNTEER RESCUE COMPANY.
"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." As defined in section 7802
(relating to definitions).
"Volunteer rescue company." As defined in section 7802.
§ 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 must meet the
following criteria to apply for loan forgiveness under this
subchapter :
(1) Is a resident of this Commonwealth.
(2) Has been an a ctive first responder , as certified in
accordance with section 79A47 (relating to certification),
for a period of at least one year in this Commonwealth FOR AT
LEAST THE 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE APPLICATION .
(3) Enrolled as a student in an approved program of
education and completed a postsecondary degree or
certification program AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
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SECTION .
(4) Provides the agency with a sworn or official
statement by the chief of the fire company or the chief or
president of the emergency medical services agency, EXECUTIVE
OFFICER attesting that the applicant is a member in good
standing of the emergency medical services agency, fire
company or volunteer rescue company FIRST RESPONSE
ORGANIZATION .
§ 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 AGENCY APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION MADE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION 79A42 (RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDER LOAN FORGIVENESS
PROGRAM) and, in each subsequent year, meets all of the
following criteria:
(1) Is a recipient of an agency-administered, A
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 approved program of education.
(3) Is certified as an active first responder, by the
chief or president of the emergency medical services or chief
of the fire company, 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.
§ 79A44. Amount of awards.
(a) Loan forgiveness.-- Agency-administered, federally
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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
ORIGINAL QUALIFYING LOANS in an amount up to $16,000.
(2) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE AWARD SHALL NOT EXCEED $135
PER CREDIT HOUR EARNED IN THE APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION.
(2) (3) Payment of the award shall be made in accordance
with the procedures established by the agency.
(3) (4) A qualified applicant may receive loan
forgiveness awards as follows:
(i) First year of active first responder status
following graduation QUALIFIED APPLICATION 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 QUALIFIED APPLICATION 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 QUALIFIED APPLICATION 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
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event that funding is insufficient to fully fund administration
and awards to all qualified applicants, the agency shall prorate
loan forgiveness awards.
§ 79A46 . 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 fire company;
(2) a volunteer rescue company; and
(3) an emergency medical services agency EXECUTIVE
OFFICER .
(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 or drills .
(3) Time spent by the individual on administration and
support activities, including maintenance of facilities and
equipment.
(4) Involvement by the individual in fundraising and
other projects that directly benefit the organization's
financial viability, emergency response or operational
readiness.
§ 79A47 . Certification.
(a) Application.--An applicant for certification as an
active first responder must submit a signed application to the
chief or president of the fire company, volunteer rescue company
or emergency medical services agency that the applicant serves
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER .
(b) Local sign-off.--The chief or president of the 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,
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND ANOTHER OFFICER OF THE FIRST RESPONSE
ORGANIZATION shall:
(1) Sign the application attesting to the individual's
status as an active first responder.
(2) Forward the application to the agency for final
review and processing.
§ 79A48. Regulations.
The agency shall promulgate regulations and establish rules
or adopt guidelines, including forms, necessary to administer
this subchapter.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. AS
FOLLOWS:
(1) THE ADDITION OF 35 PA.C.S. § 79A42 SHALL TAKE EFFECT
JULY 1, 2020.
(2) THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT
IMMEDIATELY.
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