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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 18, 2018 01:30 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ed Neilson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Providing a Tax Credit for the Purchase of Classroom Supplies |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would amend Act 2 of 1971, also known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, to provide a tax credit for teachers who have incurred personal expenses due to the purchasing of classroom supplies. Similar legislation has been introduced by Senator Hughes as Senate Bill 204 of 2017. In recent years, due to severe budgetary constraints, many school districts located throughout Pennsylvania have faced a significant decrease in the purchasing of teaching materials and resources. Many of Pennsylvania’s school districts have had to do more with less, or have in some cases simply gone without certain items in the classroom. However, a large majority of the Commonwealth’s teachers are committed to providing their students with the necessary items they feel are essential for a positive learning environment. Therefore, many teachers often purchase items and resources at their own expense, sometimes spending hundreds of dollars a year on basic classroom supplies. During these hard economic times of massive budget cuts, school closings, and teacher layoffs, the Commonwealth’s dedicated teachers continue to provide vital support and the resources needed to try to ensure that their students have every opportunity to succeed. Therefore, I believe it is only fair that our dedicated teachers be eligible to receive a tax credit for the reimbursement of out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Under this legislation, items covered under the tax credit would include books, supplies, computers and related equipment, related software and services, other equipment, and supplementary materials. Each teacher who purchases covered items would be eligible for up to $500 in tax credits and, statewide, no more than $15 million in tax credits would be issued. I hope you will join me in supporting this important measure. |
Introduced as HB2517