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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 23, 2013 11:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kevin Haggerty |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Volunteer Emergency First Responders Tax Credit |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation offering a $500 state income tax credit to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical technicians/paramedics, and volunteer members of ambulance services and rescue squads. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of Pennsylvania’s emergency service organizations are volunteer organizations. Furthermore, these organizations are credited with saving Pennsylvania taxpayers as much as $6,000,000 annually. Unfortunately, however, the number of volunteer emergency responders has been rapidly diminishing in recent years. These organizations have seen their numbers decline by over 50 percent in the last three decades.This is a problem which must be addressed before the Commonwealth someday faces a potentially huge public safety crisis. My legislation, providing a tax credit for all volunteer emergency responders, is a small incentive that could go a long way in maintaining the ranks of these vitally important organizations. Furthermore, it would serve as a token of appreciation to those people that routinely risk their lives, for little or no benefit to themselves, so that the rest of us can feel secure. I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB1815