PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 788
PRINTER'S NO. 3488
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
804
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, HENNESSEY, HOHENSTEIN, A. DAVIS, KULIK,
SANCHEZ, STRUZZI, D. WILLIAMS, MADDEN, RYAN, HILL-EVANS,
COOK, FREEMAN, ROZZI, DeLUCA, GALLOWAY, WEBSTER, THOMAS,
DELLOSO, SAINATO, PISCIOTTANO, GILLEN, MALAGARI AND BURNS,
MARCH 8, 2021
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in fees, providing for exemption of active first
responders from fees.
AMENDING TITLE 75 (VEHICLES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES, IN FEES, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR EXEMPTION OF
PERSONS, ENTITIES AND VEHICLES FROM FEES.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1901.1. Exemption of active first responders from fees.
(a) General rule.-- N o fees may be charged under sections
1305 (relating to application for registration) and 1309
(relating to renewal of registration) to an active volunteer
first responder certified under subsection (b) for a vehicle
owned by the active volunteer first responder for the purpose of
responding to emergencies.
(b) Certification.--To receive an exemption under subsection
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(a), an individual shall apply for certification as an active
volunteer first responder. To obtain certification under this
subsection:
(1) An applicant shall submit a signed application to
the executive officer of the first response organization.
(2) The executive officer and another officer of the
first response organization shall:
(i) Sign the application attesting to the
individual's status as an active volunteer first
responder.
(ii) Forward the application to the department for
final review and approval and include vehicle information
for the vehicle used by the active volunteer first
responder to respond to emergencies.
(3) In reviewing an application for certification, the
department shall consider the following factors:
(i) The number of emergency calls to which the
volunteer responds.
(ii) The level of training and participation in
formal training and drills of the volunteer.
(iii) The total amount of time expended by the
volunteer on administrative and other support services,
including fundraising and facility or equipment
maintenance.
(iv) The involvement of the volunteer in other
events or projects that aid the financial viability,
emergency response or operational readiness of a
volunteer fire company or a nonprofit emergency medical
services agency.
(c) Guidelines.--The department shall adopt guidelines,
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including forms and applications, necessary to implement this
section.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Active volunteer first responder." A member of a first
response organization who does not receive compensation for the
member's services.
"Emergency medical services agency." As defined in 35
Pa.C.S. § 8103 (relating to definitions).
"Executive officer." The chief or president of the first
response organization that a qualified applicant serves.
"First response organization." Any of the following:
(1) An emergency medical services agency.
(2) A volunteer fire company.
(3) A volunteer rescue company.
"Volunteer fire company." As defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7802
(relating to definitions).
"Volunteer rescue company." As defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7802.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
SECTION 1. SECTION 1901(C) AND (D)(2) OF TITLE 75 OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES ARE AMENDED TO READ:
§ 1901. EXEMPTION OF PERSONS, ENTITIES AND VEHICLES FROM FEES.
* * *
(C) PROCESSING FEE IN LIEU OF REGISTRATION FEE.--NO
REGISTRATION FEE SHALL BE CHARGED FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED BY ANY
OF THE FOLLOWING BUT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CHARGE A FEE OF $10 TO
COVER THE COSTS OF PROCESSING FOR ISSUING OR RENEWING THE
REGISTRATION:
(1) HOSPITAL.
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(2) HUMANE SOCIETY.
(3) NONPROFIT YOUTH CENTER.
(4) AMERICAN RED CROSS.
(5) CHURCH.
(6) GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
(7) BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
(8) SALVATION ARMY.
(9) DULY CHARTERED POSTS OF NATIONAL VETERANS'
ORGANIZATIONS.
(10) YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
(11) YOUNG MEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION.
(12) YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
(13) YOUNG WOMEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION.
(14) JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.
(15) NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS OF MUSICAL MARCHING GROUPS
OF YOUTHS.
(16) ANY PERSON WHO IS RETIRED AND RECEIVING SOCIAL
SECURITY OR OTHER PENSION AND WHOSE TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME DOES
NOT EXCEED $19,200. UNLESS THE RETIRED PERSON IS PHYSICALLY
OR MENTALLY INCAPABLE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE RETIRED
PERSON SHALL BE THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT MAY
FROM TIME TO TIME AUTHORIZE ANOTHER PERSON TO DRIVE THE
VEHICLE IN HIS OR HER STEAD.
(17) ANY VETERAN WHO LOST A LIMB OR EYE OR WHO BECAME
PARTIALLY PARALYZED WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES.
(18) A PERSON WHO, AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF
THE UNITED STATES, WAS CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY DURING WORLD WAR
I, WORLD WAR II, THE KOREAN EMERGENCY, THE VIETNAM CONFLICT
OR IN A FUTURE ARMED CONFLICT FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF
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DEFENSE AUTHORIZES A CAMPAIGN MEDAL.
(19) ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR.
(20) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CARE FOR OR OTHERWISE
PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY OR THE INFIRM.
(21) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH PRINCIPALLY SERVE
MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED OR DISABLED PERSONS.
(22) NONPROFIT MOBILE AVIATION MUSEUM.
(23) NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS THAT PROVIDE AMBULANCE OR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
(24) AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER WHO DOES NOT
RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE VOLUNTEER'S SERVICE TO AN
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMPANY, A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
OR A VOLUNTEER RESCUE SERVICE. THE ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIRST
RESPONDER SHALL BE THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT
MAY FROM TIME TO TIME AUTHORIZE ANOTHER PERSON TO DRIVE THE
VEHICLE IN HIS OR HER STEAD. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, THE TERMS "EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMPANY,"
"VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY" AND "VOLUNTEER RESCUE SERVICE" SHALL
HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN 35 PA.C.S. § 7363
(RELATING TO DEFINITIONS).
(D) LIMITATIONS.--
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(2) ONLY ONE PASSENGER CAR OR TRUCK WITH A REGISTERED
GROSS WEIGHT OF NOT MORE THAN 9,000 POUNDS MAY BE REGISTERED
TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (B)(4) AND
SUBSECTION (C)(16), (17), (18) [AND], (19) AND (24).
* * *
SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 90 DAYS.
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